Stay’n drop in

What came first: the village or the castle? In Staindrop, County Durham, you’ll find Raby Castle, one of the largest medieval castles in England. Historically, Staindrop is the estate village of Raby; its name a derivative of the Danish word ‘steinndrup’, which means ‘stony valley’ or ‘valley of Stein’, a common Viking name.

The Neville family built the castle in the 14th century, but lost it in the mid-16th century when they led the failed Rising of the North. Lord Barnham’s descendents have had a much better run of Raby; the family purchased it from the Crown in 1626 & still lay claim to it 380 years later. Perhaps owing to its stable ownership, the castle is in excellent condition. Inside, the medieval, Regency & Victorian interiors are beautifully preserved. The same can be said of the historic medieval towers, turrets & embattled walls that form the exterior.

Raby Castle is open to the public from Easter until the end of September, so a tour of the deer park, walled gardens & carriage collections is always in season. You can purchase tickets for free-flow visits of the park & gardens or the castle, park & gardens, & groups of 12 plus get a discount of around 10% off the regular price.

With its fine furniture, artwork & architecture, a tour of the castle is worth the supplementary cost. You can choose between standard & VIP tours, & the details of each can be found at www.rabycastle.com or by calling 01833 660202. Besides reduced admission rates, other perks for groups include flexible payment terms, free car & coach parking, & familiarization visits for GTOs.

Hart-y welcome

Setting out from Staindrop, a 30-mile drive east takes you from landscape to seascape. And if the best of the northeast’s coast is what you’re after, you can kill three birds with one stone by taking in Hartlepool Historic Quay, Museum of Hartlepool, & HMS Trincomalee all on the same ticket.

Three of Hartlepool’s most popular tourist attractions have joined forces in an effort to improve their services & to offer better value for money. Their new encompassing name is Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience, & admission gives you access to the whole site, which includes a tour of the oldest warship afloat in the UK, the historic quayside & shops, costumed guides, & regular demonstrations of sword fighting & cannon firing. You can also explore the Admiral’s house or the grim naval prison where French prisoners of war lie in cramped cells.

Hartlepool’s Museum Experience is set in Hartlepool's marina, amidst a good selection of restaurants & cafés, as well as an extensive retail park. Groups benefit from free coach parking, free guided tours of the quayside, & half-price adult admission at £3.50 per head. To find out more ring 01429 860077 or email info@ hartlepoolsmaritimeexperience.com.

Two-for-one

We’ve raised the stakes with a three-for- one maritime experience, so thankfully the north-east provides a handy two-for-one urban adventure for the city slickers in your group. Newcastle & Gateshead face each other across the River Tyne, coming together at the Quayside. Here you’ll find loads of restaurants, bars, cafés, & attractions, including the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, the Sage Gateshead, & the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, which was voted one of the 20th century’s best inventions.

Over the summer months, there’s plenty of other reasons to schedule a city break to NewcastleGateshead. The World Summit on Arts & Culture takes place in NewcastleGateshead from 14 to 25 June, & during that time the city’s hosting international & local art exhibitions, theatre, dance & music recitals.

From 21 to 23 July there’s SummerTyne at the Sage Gateshead. This year’s theme will focus on American music, & the programme includes country, blues, soul, & performances by Tony Joe White & Dwight Yoakam. The following weekend, you can visit the Gateshead Summer Flower Show. You can find out more about what’s going on in NewcastleGateshead by logging on to www.visitnewcastlegateshead.com.