Walk Leader
Douglas Johnson
Capacity
8
Bide-A-Wee is in a former quarry with a small pond at the bottom.. It has a huge variety of perennials, shrubs, grasses and ferns in formal and informal settings, including a National Collection of Centaurea. It has grass paths and steep stone steps slippery when wet. So sturdy footwear is advised. It is not large. So there are no large distances to be covered.
Entry costs £4.00. The site includes a small nursery where plants, honey and ice cream are for sale. There is also a toilet and a self-service tea room with an honesty box (cake is often available). No dogs are allowed.
Photo opportunities include macro, interesting plant groupings, skyline shots and views down into, and upwards from, lower points of the quarry.
The garden is not far from other sites of interest such as Belsay Hall, Castle and Garden (EH) and Cragside Estate (NT). Landscape shots into the Northumberland countryside can be taken from the garden and the approach road (e.g., Simonside Hills).
Walk Location
55.204283870645, -1.7938184738159
Walk Directions
Take the A1 to the Morpeth/Ashington exit, then take the first exit on the roundabout (if travelling north) or the third (if travelling south when you have to pass under the A1 to take the first exit). After 170 yards turn right into St Leonard's Lane then left westwards on the B6343 through Pigdon until you reach a junction with a postbox (about 4 miles). Turn right, up the steep hill past Stanton Hall to near the top and park on the left off the road ensuring that the lane is left clear. This is our meeting point.
What3words: ///elastic.unstated.indicate
Postcode: NE65 8PR.
Website: bideawee.co.uk
Accessibility
The site has grass paths at the top with steep paths and stone steps down to the bottom pond. It is not suitable for wheelchair users or anyone with mobility issues. Otherwise there is not a lot of walking.
Sturdy footwear is advised.
Feedback Meeting Type
Zoom
Feedback Talk Date and Time