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Ford & Etal Estates with Heatherslaw Light Railway

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Contact Details

Please mention visitnorthumberland.com

The Visitor Centre
Heatherslaw
Cornhill on Tweed
Northumberland
TD12 4TJ

Tel: +44 01890 820338

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Gradings

VAQAS VB Attraction VAQAS

Awards

Visit Britain VAQAS 2009
Visit Britain Code of Practice 2008
Regional and Miscellaneous North East England Small Visitor Attraction of the Year Silver 2008

Prices

Ticket Type	Ticket Tariff
Adult/Child/Concessions - free entry	Free

Entry to Estate is free. Individual attractions, ie Heatherslaw Railway, Heatherslaw Cornmill, Lady Waterford Hall and Etal Castle all charge admission - please see website for details.

Opening Times

Open All Year

Opening Times (01/01/2012 - 31/12/2012)

* Estates open and accessible all year round. Individual businesses have varying opening times and many are seasonal (March-October). Please see website for details.

Between the Scottish Border, the Cheviot Hills and the dramatic Northumbrian coastline lies Ford & Etal Estates. Centred on the picturesque villages of Ford & Etal this traditional country estate, with its long and sometimes tumultuous history, has been in the ownership of the Joicey family for over 100 years. Spanning over 6,000 hectares the area is a haven for wildlife, boasts stunning views and offers a host of unique attractions, activities and places to stay.

Perhaps the biggest attraction to young and old alike is Heatherslaw Light Railway - enjoy the leisurely pace of yesteryear, travelling with one of the 15” gauge steam engines as they journey from Heatherslaw to Etal, a return trip of 6.4km. Take a wander into Etal village where the white painted buildings and thatched roofs are picture-postcard perfect – visit the Lavender Tearooms for local delicacies such as Border Tart, or enjoy a pint of ale with your lunch at the Black Bull pub. And don’t forget 14th Century Etal Castle, where you can learn about the bloody history of Border warfare.

Continue the nostalgia trail by visiting Heatherslaw Cornmill, a working watermill on the banks of the River Till. There’s been a mill on this site for over 700 years and today the restored 19th century machinery still produces flour using traditional methods: here you can view the milling process, watch the giant water wheel and even buy the finished product in the shop.

In Ford Village you’ll find arts and crafts as well as the Lady Waterford Hall which for nearly a century served as the village school. Housing magnificent life-sized murals, paintings and sketches by Louisa Waterford, an acclaimed 19th century artist, there’s plenty to discover for children or the child in you.

Footpaths, bridleways and part of Sustrans Route 68 crisscross the estate, giving fantastic opportunities for walking, cycling and outdoor activities. You can even hire a bike for the day to explore the area! Outdoor attractions include Duddo Standing Stones, Ford Moss Nature Reserve, Maelmin Heritage Trail and the famous Flodden Battlefield, where in 1513 as many as 14,000 men were killed in a single afternoon.

With quirky shops, traditional tearooms, picnic areas and the only thatched pub in Northumberland there are plenty of places to relax and soak up the peaceful atmosphere. Come rain or shine there’s so much to discover – one visit may not be enough!

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