Hollinside Manor

This is another relatively new find for us at Fabulous North. Hollinside Manor is set in the Derwent Walk Country Park in a field, with stunning views all around it. You might need to get your walking boots on for this one as there are some steep, rocky paths up to it, but it's worth the walk.

Hollinside is a medieval Manor House of the first-floor type. There are other examples of this style of house in Northumberland, such as Aydon Castle near Corbridge. The doorway to the castle was built on the first floor and an external staircase provided access inside the castle. This was a defensive feature, but Aydon and similar castles were fortified further during the outbreak of the border wars from the 1290s onwards.

Hollinside Manor was first recorded in 1317 when Thomas de Hollinside granted it to William de Boineton of Newcastle. It later passed to the Harding family until around 1732, when it became part of the Gibside Estate. It was purchased by George Bowes for around £10,000. By the early 19th century, it was abandoned and fell into ruin.

Hollinside Manor is now situated in the Derwent Walk Country Park which contains a number of waymarked walks. It runs from Swalwell to Rowlands Gill through the Derwent Valley and there are a number of other interesting features throughout the park. There is the 150m long Nine Arches viaduct, the sculpture trail in Thornley Woods and a bird hide for some birdwatching. This area is famous for it's wildlife and you can often spot Red Kites soaring over the park and on the nearby Gibside Estate.