Gardenside Lodge

11/09/2026

Absolutely love this little wood mouse with his big ears and cute little button eyes! Wonder if he is stocking up for winter or just enjoying the equivalent of breakfast in the sun 🐭

31/08/2026

The daughters been again and left with half of the garden. 🤣 😂

14/08/2026

🦢 Spotted this morning: one extremely elegant swan, absolutely nailing the "effortless morning glide" while some of us were still snoozing😴
Meanwhile the ducks were doing their best impression of "just five more minutes, heads down, bums up, in no rush whatsoever.
This gorgeous scene was at Witton Castle, just down the road from Gardenside Lodge. No filter needed , just sunshine, still water, and one very smug-looking swan who clearly knows he's the star of the show.
What a beautiful way to start the day!
If you fancy a bit of swan-watching, we've got just the spot for you. Self-catering, dog-friendly, and a five-minute drive from proper "stare at the view" mornings. 💚
Book your peaceful escape at Gardenside Lodge – the swans are waiting! 🦢

🤔 Team Swan (glide gracefully) or Team Duck (five more minutes)? Which one are you ?
And have you spotted the Witton Castle swans yourselves? Tell us your best wildlife encounter nearby!

01/08/2026

Today is my beautiful and fabulous m**s birthday, it was spent eating banoffee pie and drinking coffee, just how she likes it 😍 Mam and Dad also put together a fab bouquet from their garden for me 🤣 Happy Happy Birthday Mam, love you always xx

29/07/2026

My dad looking for the owl, can anyone see it ? 😂😂 What a fabulous day at Kynren day show.

09/07/2026

Saw this over Gardenside Lodge at 6.15 this morning.
What a great way to spend a sunny, warm, Thursday morning
We got a ride in one for Kenny a few years ago as he was always saying" I would love to go on a hot air ballon ride" When he saw the voucher he said" I never thought some daft person would actually get me one" he was a bit worried but said afterwards it was absolutely amazing and he would love to do that again.
This one leaves from Witton Castle, 1 mile away from us.
Have you been in one?

02/07/2026

I can guarantee that my daughter will be going to this! Any other Bowie fans, this may be perfect for you!

Some remarkable objects will be on show

24/06/2026

Our garden can be enjoyed in many different ways but Princess moments are still one of our favourites 😍

19/06/2026

I’ve spent the last few days weeding at Gardenside Lodge.

Somewhere between the couch grass and the thistles I realised I was actually in the middle of a tiny wildlife neighbourhood meeting. A rabbit was sitting in the borders giving me the eye, a little newt popped up when I moved a clump of weeds near the pond, and a very determined hedgehog marched past like it owned the place. I was very excited to see the hedgehog as we haven't seen them for a while

At that point I decided the weeding could wait. I didn’t want to evict anyone from their homes, so a few “wild areas” are staying exactly where they are. If you come to stay, you might just spot some of our little garden lodgers going about their business while you relax with a cuppa.

08/06/2026

All Aboard!! Looking for a stress-free summer day out from Gardenside Lodge?

The brand-new Durham Explorer bus service is here, making it easier than ever to explore some of County Durham’s best attractions without the hassle of driving.

Running weekends and bank holidays until 31 August, you can hop on and visit local favourites like The Auckland Project in Bishop Auckland, Locomotion in Shildon, Beamish Museum, Raby Castle, The Bowes Museum, and even enjoy a scenic trip out to High Force Waterfall.

With fares from just £2.50, it’s an easy and affordable way to make the most of your stay.

So… where will your next adventure take you?