The rock gardens extend all around the house and cover 4.5 acres. Most of the rock has been man-laid, using fell sandstone from the surrounding moors. This garden had become badly overgrown and since 1988 has been gradually restored, with the work still ongoing.
There are three distinct areas. The oldest, of the 1870s, north and west of the house, it is most unusual, with an almost ‘tumbling’ effect; this may be the last surviving example of its type. The two cascades in the design bring into the garden the movement and sound of water. Below, the lower west rock garden of the mid-1880s is more ordered in construction. South and east of the house, a large band of natural rock is enhanced with late 1880s-early 1890s pavement and strata-style rock.*
*From Cragside Garden Leaflet.
Those “craggy” landscapes are sometimes nicer than the symmetrical.
I think they give you the chance to explore. The formal gardens are coming up over the next few days
What a beautiful place Cherie. I’m exhausted just thinking about all the work involved, but the result is well worth it.
The place is just unbelievable and Armstrong was such an innovator.
Reminds me of the approach up to St Michael’s Mount Marazion Cornwall…had the best holiday of my life down there and the best memory of climbing it with my wife and sharing carrying our baby on our backs. It was a wonderful holiday….spent 3 nights in Devon after the jaunt to Cornwall. After having 2 children with the wrong woman and missing out on walking around fantastic romantic locations in Britain with a family…it meant so much to have a second chance with my Wife and our baby….I just wish i could have done it with the other kids
That does sound such a fantastic holiday
I have spent time there a few years ago with my Brother and his kids 
It is sad that you didn’t get the chance with your other kids. But I think maybe having such fun with your wife now (and all the other memories you have) is life’s way of making up for that missed opportunity xx
God has been very kind to me CherryPie and the Devil has been very cruel. But I am a lucky man.
Here is an apt song that I think I gave to James Higham…can’t remember…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mD4jpZwTmY
It sums up how I feel about life….always makes me cry….Always.
I ‘know’ that good always prevails over evil.
That is a lovely song
Between you and me the song that always makes me cry is ‘I did it my way’ sung by Sid Vicous.
Beautiful, simply beautiful.
Some more of the gardens coming up soon
Thank you for the lovely tour, Cherie – much-appreciated in the parched south!
I still have a few more steps to go
Was just noticing the sunset picture you have at the right top corner of your header. It’s mesmerizing – kept staring at it, and the clouds kept moving…
They are lovely pics, although I really want to swap them over from some of mine, which I know won’t be so good!
I love rock gardens.
This one is quite fascinating.