Howick Hall and snowdrops

The much loved snowdrop walks at Howick Hall Gardens near Longhoughton will begin early in February. Rated by BBC Gardener’s World magazine as one of the top five coastal gardens in the country, Howick boasts one of the best collections of woodland snowdrops in the North of England. Head gardener Robert Jamieson is anticipating a good show for visitors this month, despite the very wet winter months. He said “We have several varieties of Galanthus, the largest drifts of which are the Galanthus nivalis – the common single snowdrop, but there are also doubles and the Northumberland Yellow, Galanthus nivalis “Sandersii Group”.
Later in the month Sweet Box, Sarcococca confusa will be fragrant in the Acer glade as will Viburnum x bodnantense Pink Dawn with its small tubular pink flowers.

The snowdrops will be followed from late March by hosts of pre-war planted daffodils for which this garden is famous.

The gardens and the Earl Grey Tearoom are open from February 7 from 12 – 4pm, and will be open Saturday, Sundays and Wednesdays until April 1, after which they will be open every day from 12 – 6 pm. For more information visit: Howick Hall
Howick Spring Festival Flyer pdf


Why not book a break in The Old School in Howick Village and get a free pass to Howick Hall Gardens.

Craster to Howick and back along the coast

Our walk started at the car park just outside Craster.This is the site of an old dolerite quarry. From here it took us across fields with evidence of ancient field systems ( look for the terraces under the grass).

A little further on you pass Hips Heugh ridge on your left and then shortly we entered Howick Hall Gardens via a one way gate. After a brief stop beside a small lake we exited the gardens , again through a one way gate, onto the beach.

We then followed the coastal path northwards past the Bathing House, round the cliffs and into Craster.

All in all it took us about 3 hours, but we were a long time at Howick Hall and we dawdled along the cliff tops.

These are pictures we took

This ridge is called Hips Heugh...it lies just before the entrance to Howick Hall.A heugh is the name given to places where the Whin Sill makes a ridge.

After we had walked through Howick Hall gardens we came out at the coast on a small rather stony beach. Here we turned left ( or north) and started to climb up the cliff path
















This is the view back to the small coastal bay where we came out after the gardens















These are one of the small bays along the coastal path heading north towards Craster.















The Bathing house ....
















Craster harbour















With its memorial plaque