I don't know about you, but I always feel like everybody else has a secret life they delve into on Sundays, a ritual in which they squeeze every last drop out of the weekend - except me. I never really know what to do with myself, half of me wants to get up at the crack of dawn and do five different things with my day to make the most of it, while the other half wants to lounge around making brunch and reading a good book.
Well lovely readers, I've cracked it. I spent today enjoying delicious afternoon tea in one of the most beautiful gardens hidden in Durham city centre!
Having received a kind invite to visit Crook Hall and Gardens for afternoon tea and a meander around the gardens, I hopped in the car and journeyed south with my mother and her broken leg in tow. Neither of us knowing what to expect, we pulled up on an unsuspecting lane just around the bend from the riverbank and Radisson Blu hotel. Hidden completely from view was Crook Hall, the family home of Maggie and Keith Bell and ancient medieval manor.
Look at the sight which greeted us!
The smell of the sweet peas was incredible as we made our way through the gardens!
A little further along was a stunning wildflower meadow and maze, the land i'm told was a 40th birthday gift from Keith to Maggie - how romantic! Everywhere you looked was colour, texture and my favourite little touch, hidden settings for afternoon tea! You would turn a corner or unlock a gate and stumble upon the most perfect setting, as though fairies had set it up and invite you to sit down for a spot of tea.
Our lovely host Maggie led my mam and I to the most perfect sheltered setting near the house where a veritable feast awaited us. Three tiers of homemade goodies were beautifully decorated with flowers from the garden. Everything looked perfect!
Our afternoon tea for two consisted of:
TIER ONE
- egg mayonnaise and prawn cocktail 'drops'
- A selection of cheese and pickle, salmon and cream cheese, ham and mustard and cucumber sandwiches
- fresh lettuce, tomato celery and carrot sticks from the garden
TIER TWO
- Two plain homemade scones with the most amazing clotted cream, strawberry jam and fresh strawberries and raspberries from the garden (which were unbelievably good)
TIER THREE
- Ginger parkin with garden mint
- Chocolate eclairs
- Sponge rolls
- Homemade meringues
- Caramel shortbread
Look how beautifully everything was presented! After devouring everything in sight (and taking home a snip of lettuce for the guineapig!) we were invited to explore the gardens. I don't want to spoil the surprise too much, so i'll say this; Crook Hall's series of old Walled Gardens and Orchard are incredibly tranquil, beautiful to behold and full of surprises around every corner. Just have a look at some of the photos I took!
I struggle to choose my favourite part as I loved absolutely everything, but if I had to, i'd choose the Shakespeare Garden. It is so peaceful and beautiful. The planting scheme just draws your eye at every angle, I can really imagine myself sitting there on a sunny day and writing.
I loved the Orchard too, full of cooking apples and plums. Our lovely, knowledgeable guide (and the wedding manager) Nicola told me they invite people to come and pick hoardes of the fruit at the end of the season to make tarts and sauces.
My mam's favourite part was the vegetable garden, which I imagined to be like Mr McGregors garden from Beatrix Potter. It was full of raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers and onions. They also grow a few unusual plants too, such as celery parsley and strawberry spinach.
I had such a brilliant day here, it was a pleasure to visit and I can't wait to be back.
Crook Hall will be opening more during winter this year too, imagine how magical the whole place will look when covered in a carpet of snow, the frosty leaves and branches twinkling in the sun. There's plenty of roaring fires indoors to keep you warm, and can you imagine the Christmas-inspired afternoon tea in the beautiful Georgian dining room which looks out over the gardens and ginormous Christmas tree.
For somebody as rubbish with directions as me, Crook Hall was actually really simple to find. It's just left towards the passport office just as you come off the A1 and arrive in Durham and a 20 minute or so walk from the train station. I can't recommend the place enough, you'll have a lovely day regardless of whether you're six or sixty. Go for a picnic on a sunny day and definitely for a birthday/special afternoon tea treat!
Visit their website www.crookhallgardens.co.uk for opening times and more information.
Thank you for having us!
