Residents Festival 2015 by Northumberland County Council

The Alnwick Garden

FREE or reduced entry to many of Northumberlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top attractions

21-22 March 2015 www.northumberland.gov.uk

Northumberland Residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Festival Our people, our places Free or reduced entry to many of Northumberland's top attractions 21st and 22nd March Be an ambassador for Northumberland... â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are very lucky to live in such a beautiful county with so many unique landscapes, visitor attractions and friendly market towns. Every year thousands of visitors are drawn to Northumberland, either on a day visit or to stay overnight. It is no surprise that tourism is one of our biggest industries. We hope you enjoy the 2015 Residents' Festival and afterwards please help spread the word by telling as many people as possible about our beautiful county. Policy Board Member for Community Infrastructure and Culture Cllr Val Tyler

How to participate l To take part in the 2015 Northumberland Residents' Festival you need

to cut out and complete the reverse of the vouchers in this brochure. l On arrival at your chosen attraction you should hand over one

completed voucher per party to gain the offer valid at that particular venue. l Please bring proof of residence with you as you may be asked to produce this. A driving licence, utility bill or bank statement will all be accepted. l Details of the offers relating to each individual venue can be found under each attraction description. l Vouchers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers at participating venues. l Please note that some attractions may have car parking charges or special exhibitions which may not be included in the festival weekend offer. l Vouchers can only be used at the participating venues listed in this leaflet during the festival weekend 21st and 22nd March 2015.

1 The Alnwick Garden Denwick Lane Alnwick NE66 1YU Tel: 01665 511350 Special Residents' Weekend offer: 50% off with Festival voucher. Step into the unexpected to explore acres of fascinating plants, get lost in our bamboo maze, discover the infamous poison garden, play in our water sculptures and climb the world's largest wooden treehouse. Special activities during Festival weekend: Budding Artists – free family arts and crafts activities. Lunch Time Music – free live music concerts in the Pavilion. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 10am – 5pm. Last admission: 4pm. Wheelchair access.

2 Bailiffgate Museum 14 Bailiffgate Alnwick NE66 1LX Tel: 01665 605847 www.bailiffgatemuseum.co.uk Special Residents' Weekend offer: £1 with Festival voucher. The Bailiffgate Museum and Gallery celebrates the history and heritage of Alnwick and the surrounding area in artefacts, pictures, words and interactive displays. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm. Last admission: 3.30pm. Wheelchair access.

3 Bamburgh Castle Bamburgh NE69 7DF Tel: 01668 214208 www.bamburghcastle.com Special Residents' Weekend offer: 2 for 1 admission with Festival voucher. Experience the sights, stories and atmosphere of over 2000 years of exhilarating history. With fourteen public rooms and over 3000 artefacts including arms and armour, porcelain, furniture and artwork. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 10am – 5pm. State rooms from 11am. Last admission: 4pm. Wheelchair access: Partial.

4 Bellingham, The Heritage Centre Bellingham NE48 2DF Tel: 01434 220050 Special Residents' Weekend offer: 50% off with Festival voucher. An accredited, volunteer run museum covering many aspects of the history and heritage of North Tynedale and Redesdale. Special facilities - names and photography databases which are useful for family historians. Museum building and two railway carriages, one of which is an excellent tearoom. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4.30pm. Last admission: 3:30pm. Wheelchair access.

5 Belsay Hall, Castle & Gardens Nr Ponteland NE20 0DX Tel: 01661 881636 www.english-heritage.org.uk/belsay Special Residents' Weekend offer: 50% off with Festival voucher. At Belsay Hall, Castle & Gardens you can spend hours exploring both inside and out. The Hall is an architectural masterpiece and outside roam the huge grounds and grade 1 registered heritage gardens. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm. Last admission: 3.30pm. Wheelchair access: Partial.

6 Blyth Battery The Links Blyth Tel: 01670 368816 www.blythbattery.org.uk Special Residents' Weekend offer: Free with festival voucher. Unique WW1 and WW2 coastal defences on the Blyth sea front . Tearooms and guided tours available. Special themed activities for festival weekend. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 11am – 4pm. Last admission: 3.30pm. Wheelchair access: Partial.

7 Chesters Roman Fort and Museum Chollerford NE46 4EU Tel: 01434 681379 www.english-heritage.org.uk/chestersfort Special Residents' Weekend offer: 50% off with Festival voucher. Set in the picturesque valley of the North Tyne River, Chesters is the best preserved example of a Roman cavalry fort. Inside the museum there's also an amazing collection of Roman items found during the excavation of the wall. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm. Last admission: 3.30pm. Wheelchair access: Partial.

8 Chillingham Castle Chillingham NE66 5NJ Tel: 01668 215359 www.chillingham-castle.com Special Residents' Weekend offer: 50% off with Festival voucher. A remarkable castle steeped in history situated in romantic grounds. Relive the atmosphere of the torture chamber and visit the gift shop and tea rooms. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 12pm – 5pm. Last admission: 4.30pm. No wheelchair access.

9 Corbridge Roman Town Corbridge NE45 5NT Tel: 01434 632349 www.english-heritage.org.uk/corbridge Special Residents' Weekend offer: 50% off with Festival voucher. The only place in Britain where you can walk along the surface of a Roman “high street”. The Corbridge Hoard is a display of armour and possessions from a Roman soldier and one of the most influential Roman time capsules ever discovered in Hadrian's Wall country. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm. Last admission: 3.30pm. Wheelchair access: Partial.

10 Dunstanburgh Castle Craster NE66 3TT Tel: 01665 576231 www.english-heritage.org.uk/dunstanburgh Special Residents' Weekend offer: 50% off with Festival voucher. Built on the most magnificent scale, Dunstanburgh Castle stands on a remote headland, in one of the most stunning places on the Northumberland Coast. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm. Last admission: 3.30pm. No wheelchair access.

11 Etal Castle Etal TD12 4TN Tel: 01890 820332 www.english-heritage.org.uk/etal Special Residents' Weekend offer: 50% off with Festival voucher. Set in the charming village of Etal, this Northumberland castle is the ideal location for a family day out. The award-winning exhibition outlines the interesting story of the bloody Anglo-Scottish warfare of this border castle. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm. Last admission: 3.30pm. Wheelchair access.

12 Hexham Old Gaol Hexham NE46 1XD Tel: 01670 624523 www.hexhamoldgaol.org.uk Special Residents' Weekend offer: Adults £2, concessions £1 with Festival voucher. The oldest purpose-built prison in England! Come and explore crime and punishment in the area and find out about the Border Reiver families. Use the glass lift to travel round the building, from the dungeon where the poorest prisoners were kept to the top floor where the richest prisoners lived. Special activities during Festival weekend: Family craft activities both days, 11am – 3pm, included in admission charge. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 11am – 4.30pm. Last admission: 4pm. Wheelchair access.

13 Housesteads Roman Fort Haydon Bridge NE47 6NN Tel: 01434 344363 www.english-heritage.org.uk/housesteads Special Residents' Weekend offer: 50% off with Festival voucher. Set high on a dramatic escarpment of Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site, Housesteads Roman Fort is the most complete example of a Roman fort in Britain. There are some stunning panoramic views to enjoy from the walls of this ancient fortress that was once home to around 1000 soldiers. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 10am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4pm. Last admission: 3.30pm. Wheelchair access: Partial.

14 Kielder Observatory Black Fell Please note: Off Shilling Pot Saturday only Kielder NE48 1EJ Tel: 07805 638469 www.kielderobservatory.org Special Residents' Weekend offer: Free with Festival voucher. A public astronomical observatory and a remarkable place to visit Kielder Observatory is a magical and unique visitor attraction situated under the finest dark skies in England. Special activities during Festival weekend: Observatory will be open to residents so they may see our telescopes and gain better insight of what we offer members of the general public. Please note: We will not be observing on this event. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday only: 2pm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4pm Last admission: 3.45pm Wheelchair access.

15 Kielder Water Birds of Prey Centre Leaplish Waterside Park Kielder NE48 1AX Tel: 01434 250400 www.kwbopc.com Special Residents' Weekend offer: Adult £4, child/conc £2.50, family £12 with Festival voucher plus free parking. A unique experience in Northumberland, this is your chance to get up close and personal with some fascinating birds and other animals. An opportunity not to be missed. Daily flying demonstrations (arrive before 1.30pm). Special activities during Festival weekend: Throughout the day you will have the chance of a close encounter with our wonderful owls and fabulous falcons, not forgetting “Hope,” our Steller's Sea Eagle, the largest breed of eagle in the world. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 11am – 4pm. Last admission: 3pm. Wheelchair access.

16 Kielder Water & Forest Park Tel: 01434 220616 www.visitkielder.com Special Residents' Weekend offer: Free parking in all Kielder Water & Forest Park car parks – please display one of your vouchers on your windscreen. The Park is home to the biggest man-made lake in northern Europe and the biggest working forest in England. It covers 250 square miles and features multiple visitor centres and activities. Festival weekend opening times: The Park is open all year round – visitor centre opening times vary.

17 Kielder Castle Café Kielder Water & Forest Park Tel: 01434 250100 www.visitkielder.com Special Residents' Weekend offer: Free parking and 20% off food with Festival voucher (excludes gift shop). The Park is home to the biggest man-made lake in northern Europe and the biggest working forest in England. It covers 250 square miles and features multiple visitor centres and activities. Come and enjoy light snacks and hearty warming meals. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 9.30am – 5pm. Last admission: 4.30pm. Wheelchair access.

18 Kirkley Hall Zoological Gardens Ponteland NE20 0AQ Tel: 01670 841235 www.kirkleyhallzoo.co.uk Special Residents' Weekend offer: 50% off with Festival voucher. We have over 130 species of animals including lemurs, meerkats and wallabies. With a rolling programme of kids' activities and play areas, forest trails and garden walks, there really is something for all the family. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm. Last admission: 3pm. Wheelchair access.

19 Lindisfarne Priory Holy Island TD15 2RX Tel: 01289 389200 www.english-heritage.org.uk/lindisfarnepriory Special Residents' Weekend offer: 50% off with Festival voucher. Original home to the Lindisfarne Gospels, an important centre of early Christianity and the home of St Cuthbert. Today you can marvel at the ornate carvings on the extensive ruins of the monastic buildings and enjoy the serenity that first drew the monks here. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm (check tides). Last admission: 3.30pm. Wheelchair access: Partial.

20 Paxton House Gallery and Country Park Berwick-upon-Tweed TD15 1SZ Tel: 01289 386291 www.paxtonhouse.com Special Residents' Weekend offer: Adults £4 (to include annual grounds pass), children free with Festival voucher. Family friendly historic house set in lovely gardens and grounds. House tours, adventure playground, delicious home cooking and baking in Stables Tearoom and a fantastic gift shop. Family events and activities all year round. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday: House tours 11am – 3.30pm, Tearoom and shop 10am – 5pm, Grounds 10am – sunset. Last admission: House: 3.30pm, Grounds: sunset. Wheelchair access: Partial. Paxton House is just outside Northumberland, on the Scottish side of the border – we are delighted that they have joined us for 2015!

21 RNLI Grace Darling Museum Bamburgh NE67 7AE Tel: 01668 214910 www.rnli.org.uk/gracedarling Special Residents' Weekend offer: Free entry with Festival voucher. Commemorating the life of Grace Darling who risked her life to rescue others from certain death in a terrible storm, the museum includes the rescue coble and a cornucopia of commemorative ware. Special activities for Festival weekend: Join in a trail to help Eddie the Teddy find his RNLI yellow wellies. Opening weekend of our family friendly temporary exhibition “Hope in the Great War”. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 10am – 5pm. Last admission: 4.15pm. Wheelchair access.

22 Warkworth Castle Warkworth NE65 0UJ Tel: 01665 711423 www.english-heritage.org.uk/warkworth Special Residents' Weekend offer: 50% off with Festival voucher. Magnificent cross-shaped keep crowning a hilltop above the river Coquet. Once home to the powerful Percy family who now reside at Alnwick Castle, Warkworth was and remains one of the largest and most impressive fortresses in North East England. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm. Last admission: 3.30pm. Wheelchair access: Partial.

23 Whitehouse Farm Centre North Whitehouse Farm Morpeth NE61 6AW Tel: 01670 789998 www.whitehousefarmcentre.co.uk Special Residents' Weekend offer: 50% off with Festival voucher. Meet and feed animals, reptiles and owls. Bottle feed lambs, hug bunnies, stroke anything from a snake to a skunk or be mesmerised by meerkats and marmosets! Indoor and outdoor play areas. Hands on activities for all. “Farmtastic” fun whatever the weather! Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 10am – 5pm. Last admission: 4pm. Wheelchair access: Partial.

24 Woodhorn Museum QE11 Country Park Ashington NE63 9YF Tel: 01670 624455 www.experiencewoodhorn.com Special Residents' Weekend offer: 2 for 1 admission to the exhibition with Festival voucher. Cheapest ticket free. Take a fun and fascinating journey of discovery as you learn of Northumberland's industrial past and its proud people. Explore original colliery buildings and the work of the Pitmen Painters. Special activities for Festival weekend: Enjoy a discounted visit to Woodhorn's big exhibition for 2015, Brick Planet, and see buildings, wonders of the world and landmarks recreated in LEGO by artist Warren Elsmore. Festival weekend opening times: Saturday and Sunday 10am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4pm. Last admission: 3pm. Wheelchair access.

Northumberland Leisure Centres Swimming Special Residents' Weekend offer: Buy one get one free (cheapest goes free.) We are delighted that Northumberland's leisure centres have joined the festival this year. The county is fortunate to have some first class leisure facilities so why not take the opportunity to try out a new venue? Please check with the individual venues for opening times and access arrangements. www.activenorthumberland.org.uk Participating venues: Willowburn Leisure Centre ? Alnwick Tel: 01665 605030 ? Ashington Leisure Centre

Tel: 01670 532380 ? Swan Centre for Leisure

Berwick-upon-Tweed Tel: 01289 330603 ? Blyth Sports Centre

Tel: 01670 542222 ? Concordia Leisure Centre

Cramlington Tel: 01670 542222

? Wentworth Leisure Centre Hexham Tel: 01434 607080 ? Ponteland Leisure Centre Tel: 01661 825441 ? Prudhoe Waterworld

Tel: 01661 833144 ? Riverside Leisure Centre,

Morpeth Tel: 01670 514665 ? Rothbury Pool

Tel: 01669 622834

We've included as much as we could in this year's festival but there is much more to explore in Northumberland. Below is just a taste of a few other things not to miss in Northumberland during 2015..…

Visit… Hexham Abbey In 2014 a new visitor centre opened within the grounds of Hexham Abbey. The centre has an interactive exhibition charting the history of one of the oldest and important monastic buildings in the country, as well as new visitor facilities, including a café. www.hexhamabbey.org.uk

Explore… Northumberland North Pennines The Allen Valleys A stunning landscape shaped by industry and re-worked by nature. Here you will find bastle houses and lime kilns alongside some truly unique wildlife - black grouse, water voles, lapwings, curlews, oyster catchers and many more! You can explore the area on foot or by bike or even on horseback. There is also a large range of quality independent shops, pubs, cafés and accommodation. www.visitnorthumberland.com/countryside/allen-valleys

Hexham Abbey

Experience… Berwick Walking Festival A visit to the beautiful walled town of Berwick-upon-Tweed is an amazing experience in itself. You can explore the famous Elizabethan town walls, ramparts and gun emplacements for free all year round! Between the 11th – 16th April 2015 Berwick will hold its second walking festival, encouraging people to explore the remarkable range of walks in and around the town. www.visitberwick.co.uk

Don't forget... The Farne Islands The world famous colony of seabirds is just a few miles off the Northumberland Coast. Visitors can explore the islands on one of the excellent guided boat trips which run from Seahouses. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/farne-islands

Dark Skies Events National Park Centre, Once Brewed Military Road, Bardon Mill, Hexham, NE47 7AN Tel: 01434 344396 www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk Special Residents' Weekend offer: Free, but donations welcome for the National Park's Good Nature Fund. National Park Centre, TIC and gateway to Hadrian's Wall Heritage Site and Northumberland National Park. Special activities during Festival weekend: Your Dark Sky Park. Family-based astronomy with children's activities during the afternoon, followed by an evening talk on Eclipses and the possibility of star gazing observations using solar and telescopes, weather permitting. Please wrap up warm. Opening times: Saturday only: Family session: 4pm – 6pm. Evening talk and Observations: 7pm – 10pm. Restricted numbers: Please phone 01434 611521 to book a place. Wheelchair access.

Venue location map

20 Holy Island

Berwick

19 A1

13 Wooler

3 Bamburgh 10

8 1

Craster

Alnwick

A697

22 Rothbury A1068 A1

A68

Kielder Water and Forest

16 14

Otterburn

Morpeth

A68 A696

Belsay Haltwhistle A69

A69 Hexham

23 18

Blyth 6

A69

Corbridge

A68

Allendale

For further information on Northumberland Residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Festival and future events, please visit: Website: residentsfestival.northumberland.gov.uk facebook.com/northumberlandevents twitter.com/EventsNE visitnorthumberland.com

Please be aware that you must bring proof of residence when presenting these vouchers. A driving licence, utility bill or bank statement will all be accepted. To save time, please complete the vouchers before arrival at the venue.

Residents’ Festival 2015 21st and 22nd March

1 Voucher

Valid for use by residents of Northumberland and employees of Northumberland County Council to gain free or reduced entry at the participating attractions listed. Residents must complete the reverse and hand in one voucher at their chosen attraction to gain the offer available. Details of the various offers are stated within each attraction description. Valid for use only on 21st and 22nd of March 2015. Please bring proof of residence or proof of your employment with NCC (e.g. Staff pass, payslip or ID Card) with you as you may be asked to produce this. A driving licence, utility bill or bank statement will be accepted as proof of residence. Not valid in conjunction with any other offers at participating venues. To save time, please complete the vouchers before arrival at the venue.

Residents’ Festival 2015 21st and 22nd March

1 Voucher

Residents’ Festival 2015 21st and 22nd March

1 Voucher

Residents’ Festival 2015 21st and 22nd March

1 Voucher

Name: Address: Email: The above information may be used by the attractions for marketing purposes, should you not wish to be contacted, please tick this box.