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- 7th Oct 2026
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Raby Castle new estate tour shows a side of County Durham you’ve never seen before
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Raby Castle, Park and Gardens has just launched the Raby Estate Tour, a new way to explore the Durham Dales by private Land Rover, and it’s the kind of day out you’ll have never experienced in County Durham before.
For the first time, small groups of up to six can head out across the working estate with hosts who know every field, wall and moorland track.
It’s a three-hour journey through Upper Teesdale, from quiet villages and open moor to the wild edges of Cow Green Reservoir, finishing with elevenses at Raby Castle.
It’s one of the most exciting new things to do in County Durham this autumn, and with Christmas on the horizon, it’s also a strong contender for the gift that isn’t another candle.
WHAT’S NEW AT RABY CASTLE, PARK AND GARDENS?
Most of us know Raby for its castle, deer park and walled gardens. The new Estate Tour, the latest addition to Raby’s Estate days and stays collection, heads well beyond all that, out across the working land that rolls into the Durham Dales.
You’ll ride in a Land Rover Defender with one of the Estate Hosts, who shapes the route and the stories around your group.
That means no two tours are quite the same. If your group is into wildlife, you’ll spend more time scanning the moorland. If history is your thing, expect more on the estate’s mining past and the secrets tucked into its farm buildings. Either way, it’s slow, personal and completely unhurried.
It’s a side of Raby Castle that’s never been open to visitors like this before.
CURLEWS, LAPWINGS AND PLANTS FROM THE ICE AGE
The route takes in some of Upper Teesdale’s most striking scenery, from Harwood Valley to the vast, open water of Cow Green Reservoir. Up here, the sky feels enormous and the silence is broken mainly by birdsong.
Depending on the season, you can look out for lapwings tumbling over the fields and the haunting, bubbling call of the curlew. Keep an eye on the ground too. Teesdale is home to a rare collection of arctic-alpine plants known as the Teesdale Assemblage, which has clung on in this corner of the North Pennines since the last Ice Age.
Every season brings something different, so it’s worth going back.
THE STORIES HIDDEN IN THE STONEWORK
Estate Hosts have a knack for pointing out the details you’d drive straight past. There are historic features built into the stonework of the estate’s farms, traces of the area’s lead mining heritage, and tales of Raby’s first Duchess, whose forward-thinking ideas reshaped the way the estate’s farms worked.
You’ll also get a real feel for the centuries of farming, stewardship and conservation that keep this landscape thriving today.
“We’ve created a slow and absorbing experience that gives people the time and opportunity to see Raby from a completely different perspective – not simply as a visitor, but through the lens of the people who live and work on the estate and help care for this extraordinary landscape.”
Claire Jones, head of leisure and tourism at Raby Estates.
“Our hosts have an incredible depth of knowledge about the estate, from its wildlife and farming heritage to the conservation work taking place today. Every season brings a different experience, and the private hosting ensures every moment feels personal, unhurried and deeply connected.”
ELEVENSES IN A WICKER HAMPER
After a morning on the moors, the tour winds up at Raby Castle, where a traditional wicker hamper is waiting. Inside, you’ll find elevenses made with locally sourced and estate produce, the perfect reward after all that fresh Pennine air.
And the day doesn’t have to end there. Your ticket includes complimentary access to Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, so you can wander the grounds, spot the deer and explore at your own pace.
MAKE A WEEKEND OF IT AT HIGH FORCE
If one day in the Dales isn’t enough, pair your tour with a stay at High Force Hotel. It’s part of the Raby Estate and sits around 30 minutes’ drive from the castle, within the North Pennines National Landscape and UNESCO Global Geopark.
On the hotel’s doorstep is High Force Waterfall, one of England’s most famous waterfalls, where the River Tees plunges over a dramatic rock face. Follow the circular woodland trail down to the base of the
A NEW GIFT THEY WON’T HAVE HAD BEFORE
The Estate Tour costs £179 for two people, including the three-hour experience and hamper refreshments. Groups who book all six spaces get an exclusive discount, making it a brilliant shout for a family celebration or a get-together with friends.
Because the tour is so new, it’s a gift your loved ones almost certainly won’t have experienced yet. Vouchers are available to buy now, so you can hand someone a morning they’ll actually remember, whether it’s for Christmas, a birthday or an anniversary.
To book all six spaces, call 01833 622336 or email [email protected].
Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop, Darlington DL2 3AH
Rachael Ellis
Head of Content
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
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