Northumberland's Cragside reopens as National Trust adds to the list of properties available to pre-book

Cragside, Wallington and Gibside are offering outdoor only experiences and all visits must be pre-booked.

A National Trust spokesperson said: “We've made careful decisions about which gardens and parklands can open, and we have limited their capacity to ensure everyone can adhere to social distancing to maintain the safety of our visitors, staff and volunteers, which remains our top priority.

“All visitors must book in advance, through our booking system, even members. Anyone who doesn’t book will be turned away.”

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Visitors can expect to see a few differences as a result of public safety measures.

For this reason, not all parts of the usual experiences will be open. At Cragside, near Rothbury, the formal garden is still closed.

Visitors may be asked to follow arrows, follow a one-way system, or slow their pace.

The Trust will offer a limited range of take away refreshments wherever it can safely do so but is advising visitors to check its website for detailed information before they travel.

It is also urging everyone to stay local and avoid busy places.

The charity has now reopened more than 100 gardens and parklands in England and Northern Ireland.

Many of its countryside and coast sites in the North East are also open, with no need to book.

All houses remain closed for now, including Lindisfarne Castle. The Farne Islands are also closed.

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