The Virgin Money Cyclone Festival of Cycling drew to a close yesterday (June 21) with a day of action packed elite racing that saw some of the world’s best riders descend on the picturesque Northumberland village of Stamfordham.Taking the trophy in the National Women’s Road Race, the Curlew Cup, was team IKON-Mazda cyclist, Laura Massey. Elizabeth Holden of team Giordana-Triton took second position with Eleanor Dickinson also of team Giordana-Triton, celebrating third place. In the UCI Beaumont Trophy, it was Christopher Latham of the Great Britain National Team that powered to victory. Putting in a strong fight and taking second position was Tom Stewart of Madison Genesis. Third place went to Yanto Barker of One Pro Cycling.Spectators gathered in Stamfordham, the official race HQ, were treated to glimpses of one of the strongest fields of riders to date including Olympic gold medallist and Team WIGGINS cyclist, Andy Tennant; 2014 Elite Road Race Series winner and One Pro Cycling rider, Yanto Barker; and British Road Race Champion, JLT Condor cyclist, and defending champion, Kristian House.Speaking on the course and her win in the Curlew Cup, Massey said: “It was a funny race, it started off quite slowly and sedately. It was cold and we were soaking wet, with numb hands and numb feet, you couldn’t feel your legs, so on the first few laps there weren’t that many attacks, people were saving themselves for the big climb.“I approached the Ryals with numb legs, which isn’t nice, but hey, it’s a race. I kicked at the right time just before we came around the bend and then as we came into the finish, gave it all for the win.“It’s a good challenging course, a challenging race and today, challenging environments; I wish we had more road races with similar conditions.”The elite races rounded up three days of action packed cycling in what is the ninth year of the Virgin Money Cyclone Festival of Cycling. On Saturday June 20, over 2,300 cycling enthusiasts got into the saddle testing their stamina in the Virgin Money Cyclone Challenge rides.Weather conditions were variable but nothing could dampen the spirits of riders as they embraced the 34, 64 and 106 mile routes, many in aid of charity. All routes took in the beautiful Northumberland countryside, including the infamous Ryals.Earlier on Friday June 19, families, friends and solo riders gathered to mark the official launch of the Virgin Money Cyclone and participate in the festival’s opening event, the Tyne Six Bridges.With more than 300 riders participating in the 10.5 and 15.5 mile rides, many more enjoyed the waterfront festival atmosphere, with award-winning freestyle mountain bike stunt team, Savage Skills, providing nail-biting displays to the watching crowd.The Virgin Money Cyclone also hosted its first-ever Rollapaluza standing races, with riders battling it out on mounted bikes to the fastest 500m sprint. A barbecue feast dished up by local trader Kielder Organic Meat, completed the night.Rounding off another fantastic year for all of the events, Virgin Money Cyclone, Festival Founder and Event Organiser, Peter Harrison, said; “Today saw good hard races in the professional men’s and women’s events. It’s been a really successful weekend with over 3,700 riders participating. I wish I could control the weather and take the showers away but it’s been fantastic none the less.”Virgin Money Head of Sponsorship, Andrew Nicholson, added: “The response to this year’s event has been overwhelming, it’s wonderful to see so many riders participate, fulfil a personal ambition and raise funds for a variety of deserving causes.”This year marked the ninth anniversary of the Virgin Money Cyclone with over 3,700 riders participating throughout the course of the weekend.For more information about the Virgin Money Cyclone Festival of Cycling visit www.virginmoneycyclone.co.uk

There’s nothing better than rolling your trousers up for a paddle, feeling the sand between your toes and heading to the seaside for the day, and this summer the National Trust is inviting everyone to celebrate the great British coast with their Big Beach Picnic.On 4 July National Trust beaches across England and Wales will be hosting picnicking events with activities for all the family.From sand sculpture competitions and big beach art to ‘50 things to do before you're 11 ¾’ activities and beach games; it’s a great day out for all the family to enjoy and to show your love for the coast. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can have a go at some surfing, orienteering or geocaching and even discover some crazy creatures in a rock pool.The event marks the 50th anniversary of the National Trust Neptune Coastline Campaign. It’s a great opportunity to discover more about the 775 miles of coastline the charity looks after and its role in protecting the coast.Search for a Big Beach Picnic event near you: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bigbeachpicnic and take a picture of your seaside adventure to show why you #lovethecoast and share online.Big Beach Picnic top destinations in Northumberland:St Aiden’s Beach, SeahousesBig Beach Picnic, 4 July, 10.30am – 1.30pmThe sandy beach in the bustling seaside town of Seahouses is a great place to gather for this summer picnic. With the backdrop of the Farne Islands, arguably one of the best wildlife experiences in the UK, you’ll be able to wildlife spot from your picnic blanket. Pack your best sarnies or pick up some fish and chips and join National Trust rangers for a day of rock pooling, sand sculpting and beach games.Price: Free eventNote: The event is taking place at St Aiden’s beach in SeahousesFor more information, please call 01289 389244www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bigbeachpicnicHave a go at these ‘50 things to do before you're 11¾’ activities on the beachNot many things beat a day by the seaside. And when it comes to dreaming up things to do while you’re at the beach, children often have the best ideas. Whether it’s discovering crazy creatures in a rock pool, skimming a stone or jumping over waves, there’s lots of ‘50 things to do before you're 11¾’ activities to get stuck into on the coast this summer. Here are our top 10 picks for a great family day out at the beach:Check out the crazy creatures in a rock poolSkim a stoneFly a kiteCatch a fish with a netJump over wavesGo on a barefoot walkHunt for fossils and bonesCatch a crabGo swimming in the seaGo star gazingFind out more at: www.50things.org.ukAs these are outdoor events, please check access to the beaches before visiting, weather forecasts and the National Trust website.

Runners are being urged to get on their marks to secure a place in Britain’s most beautiful marathon.Spaces are filling up quickly for Kielder Marathon’s weekend of events, happening on Saturday October 3 and Sunday October 4, 2015.Last year, the Kielder 10K and Run-Bike-Run races reached a record-breaking number of entrants, with more than 1000 people taking part in the two events in total.Organisers are predicting that they will reach full capacity again this year, and with over 800 entries into the main marathon so far, it’s thought that too will also reach a record number of runners.The new Half Marathon has also proven a popular addition to the weekend of events with nearly 500 entries since registration opened in February. Former Olympic athlete and Event Director, Steve Cram, said: “Kielder Marathon weekend is into its sixth year now and the number of participants just keeps on growing.“I’m delighted with the huge success of the event and this year is particularly exciting for us as we introduce the new half marathon to the weekend.”Supported by Active Northumberland, Kielder Marathon takes place at Kielder Water & Forest Park in Northumberland and follows the Lakeside Way, a trail that stretches right around the shoreline of Northumbrian Water’s Kielder Water. Billed as ‘Britain’s most beautiful’, it has become a firm favourite in the racing calendar thanks to its spectacular location and off-road courses.The sporting weekend welcomes more than 3,000 runners from around the UK, and further afield, with just as many supporters, families and friends present.Entries for all events are being accepted at www.kieldermarathon.com. For enquiries telephone 01434 689 040 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm).The Kielder Marathon team is delighted to be working with Active Northumberland and Northumberland County Council. Northumbrian Water is once again hosting the event at Kielder Water & Forest Park, with support from the Forestry Commission. THE EVENTS Kielder 10K on Saturday 3 October 2015 £23 for affiliated/ £25 unaffiliated runnersKielder Run-Bike-Run on Saturday 3 October 2015 For individuals or teams of three – the marathon route in three stages. First, an 11k run, second a 26km cycle ride and finally 5km sprint. Individuals: £57 for affiliated individuals/ £60 for unaffiliated individuals (Affiliated to a Triathlon England Club) Teams: £80 for teamsActive Northumberland Kielder Marathon on Sunday 4 October 2015 £36 for affiliated/ £38 unaffiliated runnersKielder Half Marathon on Sunday 4 October 2015 £32 for affiliated/ £30 unaffiliated runnersKielder Junior Runs on Sunday 4 October 2015 £8 for all age groups The Osprey (880m race for children aged seven to nine) The Roman Mile (1.48km race for children aged ten to twelve) The Centurion (2.5km race for children ages thirteen to fifteen)Click here to see the Kielder Marathon 2015 launch video.

Sunderland cycling star Anna Turvey will join a host of local, national and international athletes when she takes to the starting line at one of the UK’s most respected and established cycling events, the Virgin Money Cyclone Festival of Cycling, June 19 – 21.Anna, a former champion triathlete who represented Scotland in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, will contest Women’s National Series road race, the Curlew Cup, on Sunday June 21, riding for Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International. It will be the first time the North East local tries her hand at the Northumberland event.Heading up internationally recognised men’s event, the Beaumont Trophy, on the same day are national and international teams including Sir Bradley Wiggins’ Team WIGGINS and ONE Pro Cycling, the newest British Continental team backed by England test cricketer, Matt Prior.Both races are part of the Virgin Money Cyclone Festival of Cycling, a three day celebration of all things cycling. There is just one week left to enter the non-competitive Virgin Money Cyclone Challenge rides taking place on Saturday June 20. The rides depart Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club in Kingston Park and trace the path of professional cyclists through scenic Northumberland in 34, 64 and 106 mile routes for all ages and abilities.Those looking to start small or simply take in the festival atmosphere are invited to greet the weekend on the banks of the River Tyne. The Tyne Six Bridges Leisure Ride tours Newcastle’s iconic bridges in easy distances for families and less experienced cyclists, with an evening of free entertainment and activities taking place at The Cycle Hub.Anna Turvey commented on the event: “It’s my first time at the Virgin Money Cyclone and the Curlew Cup will be one of my first competitive road races so I’m looking forward to some strong competition. In the year of the second Women’s Tour of Britain, it’s great to be able to fly the flag for women in cycling, especially on home soil.”Virgin Money Cyclone Festival of Cycling Founder and Organiser, Peter Harrison, added: “It’s fantastic that local athletes like Anna Turvey are getting behind the Virgin Money Cyclone and inspiring cyclists at all levels to do the same. Entries to the Challenge rides close in one week and we’d like to have as many people possible taking part in a fun festival weekend.The Virgin Money Cyclone Festival of Cycling returns to Newcastle and Northumberland June 19 – 21. For full event information and to register yourself or a team for a Challenge ride before June 10, visit www.virginmoneycyclone.co.uk

With over 800 excellent museums from all over Britain nominated for The Family Friendly Museum Award, Woodhorn Museum is thrilled to have been selected as one of the top 20 of those that go the extra mile to welcome families.“Families are very important to us at Woodhorn,” explains Keith Merrin, Director of Woodhorn, “and reaching this longlist of attractions recognises the concerted efforts everyone has been making over the last twelve months to make a visit even more enjoyable and rewarding.“Staff have developed new activity trollies to encourage families to play and learn in an informal and fun way, implemented a programme of free craft activities and short colliery tours, improved the catering offer for children and provided new baby changing facilities. We’ve also worked with an artist to design fun, pocket sized Family Trails which have won an international award for their design. Most recently, an exciting young people’s project at Woodhorn called The Mindfuls, has developed the Thought Kit – an interactive toolkit to help young people who visit the museum explore and interact with the art at Woodhorn.“It is great for Woodhorn to be recognised for its work to make families welcome, but it’s even better to see the results of the work and the children, parents and grandparents having a fantastic visit and enjoying every aspect of the museum experience.”Over coming weeks, the longlist of museums will be put before a panel of experts, including Kids in Museums' Patron and celebrity children’s author Damian Dibben and historian and broadcaster Helen Castor. They will choose a shortlist of six and these six museums, all excellent at welcoming families, will be road-tested anonymously by families. The families will pick the winner. If you would like to be one of the mystery family museum judges and help choose who wins Britain’s biggest museum award, email [email protected] with a bit of information about your family and why you want to be judges.The Family Friendly Museum Award is sponsored by Telegraph Newspaper Group

From the 23 May, a brand new interactive installation awaits to be discovered by visitors to National Trust’s Cragside in Northumberland.A place of invention, innovation and experimentation, Cragside has always had the wow factor.This year, a collaboration between the National Trust and various creative artists aims to carry this ethos into the 21st Century, bringing the place to life in new experimental and innovative ways.Historically, Cragside was the dream home of Victorian engineer William Armstrong, a place where he brought his own ideas about energy, water power and electricity to life.As part of Trust New Art, the National Trust’s programme of contemporary arts inspired by places, a creative collaboration sets out to bring together Lord Armstrong’s passion for energy and electricity with play and art to create the Musical Box, a new installation hidden deep within the heart of Cragside’s Labyrinth.The National Trust has been working with living artists since the 1980s, and in 2009 created Trust New Art through a partnership with Arts Council England. The programme makes contemporary arts available in National Trust properties, builds new and diverse audiences and offers new opportunities to artists to work in new contexts.Formed from a converted treehouse in the centre of a Rhododendron Labyrinth, the Musical Box is a result of a collaboration between a variety of different artists brought together to produce an unexpected installation waiting to be discovered by visitors to the National Trust property in Rothbury, Northumberland.Brought together by Alnwick-based Creative Event & Project Management company Culture Creative, this collaboration intends to inspire visitors and invite them to harness their energy to discover the hidden delights of the Musical Box. Director Zoe Bottrell enthused “We hope that children and adults alike are drawn to the labyrinth to discover this unique piece of play, engineering and art. The Musical Box truly reflects the spirit of Cragside – striking from the outside, fascinating beneath the surface. We’re bringing a little bit of magic to the heart of the labyrinth”.Dan Fox, Ulverston based Sound Artist, who has previously been involved with other art installations at Cragside, will be delivering a unique and delightful sound experience as part of his work with the Musical Box.He explained: “The Musical Box is a really exciting opportunity for me to collaborate with a small group of artists on the creation of an off-grid experience. Cragside is an inspiring and challenging location and I am really looking forward to creating a piece that juxtaposes 18th century automatic musical instruments with redundant military hardware, phonograph horns and LED lighting.”“Using Armstrong’s innovation as a starting point, I aim to create a piece that is fun, educational, interactive, engaging for all ages, durable and beautiful to listen to.”Cumbrian born Sculpture artist Steve Blaylock, whose signature stainless steel sculptures have been widely covered by the media and appreciated as far afield as New Zealand, will be showcasing his unique steel sculptures as part of the design.The panel designs for the Musical Box have been created by Newcastle based graphic design studio Founded. Director, Simon Douglas said: “We were immediately excited by the concept of the Musical Box and the collaboration of artists, engineers and designers and believe the finished piece will be a unique and highly successful attraction”.Both adults and children alike will be fascinated by bright, bold patterns bursting out of the landscape within the Labyrinth, and be inspired to discover the engineering behind the spectacle.The existing octagonal treehouse will be converted so that each side has its own eye-catching and interactive installation, which plans to intrigue visitors through the cause and effect of playing with various pieces around the structure, in order to harness the potential energy within.Visitors will be invited to generate electricity using a swan pedalo to illuminate a lightbulb, use a giant lever to pump water, turn a crank handle to generate sound and cycle on a tandem to create movement.To satisfy curiosity, there will also be an internal viewing point where visitors will be able to take a look at the engineering inside, and discover how these effects are being generated.This show within aims to fascinate; cogs will turn, sounds will emerge and water will rise and fall.Cragside Property Curator Andrew Sawyer explained: “Lord Armstrong was described as the ‘Wizard of the North’ in a book on the heroes of Victorian industry in 1886, his creative thinking and partnership with others was at heart of his great success. Always thinking outside the box to achieve new ideas, the labyrinth installation has thought outside the musical box, with playful imagination, to create an exciting piece of wizardry in the heart of a Rhododendron forest.”“As a child, Armstrong was known to enjoy taking his toys apart to find out what the workings looked like on the inside. He was always trying to solve the riddle of what was going on; always looking for solutions. One of the panels on the Musical Box gives visitors the opportunity to look inside the structure and take a glimpse of the inner workings, something Lord Armstrong would no doubt approve of!”The swan pedalo - a nod to Lord Armstrong’s support of Joseph Swan’s invention of the incandescent lightbulb – which forms one of the sides of the Musical Box will be created by Auto and Marine Composites Ltd, a specialist design and fabrication company also based in the North East.Scott Crabtree explained: “I was intrigued when Culture Creative approached me with the idea of creating a land-based swan pedalo, but delighted to be a part of such an unusual and exciting project. I'm looking forward bringing my kids along to have a play!” The infrastructure and engineering will be created by designer/maker Dan Pearson, who has over ten years’ experience working in theatre and high-profile events.Andrew Sawyer commented: “The Musical Box will allow visitors to experience some of the joy Armstrong must have felt when it came to solving riddles and problems. We hope visitors will enjoy the journey of exploration to find the Musical Box, and delight in discovering the magical mechanical workings and potential energy within.”Work has already commenced on the Musical Box which will be open for visitors to discover on 23 May 2015.

School children from Bellingham Middle School became scientists for the day thanks to the Northumberland National Park Authority and Albion OutdoorsThe pupils were taking part in MICCI, the Moorland Indicators of Climate Change Initiative; a scheme of practical scientific experiments based on peat bog ecology.Peat covers roughly 15% of the UK and holds about 2300 million tonnes of carbon. Peat bogs are very vulnerable to changes in management practices such as drainage and forestry.Specialist fieldwork providers Albion Outdoors and staff from the Northumberland National Park Authority gave the pupils an overview of peat bogs, how they are formed and their importance to the environment. They were also taught about the different types of vegetation that is found on peat bogs and how to identify them.After lunch the students headed out head off onto upland moorlands of Padon Hill Mire to conduct experiments and collect data. Working in small groups the pupils helped to take samples of peat, check soil and water pH levels, temperatures and wind speed.John Hartshorne from Albion Outdoor, who has been running MICCI sessions with local school and university students for more than three years said, “We had a fantastic day on the moorland with the pupils from Bellingham. It’s always exciting to be able to provide school children with experiences of these important local areas.”Teacher Elizabeth Armstrong said, “All of the school children thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Having such a hands-on experience and getting to take part in different experiments really helped to bring the learning to life. The pupils were able to see a real link between their local environment and the global issue of climate change”All the data the pupils help to collect will now be sent to the Peak District National Park to be then analysed by the Moors for the Future partnership. The data is used by scientific researchers who are trying to work out how to best improve and conserve moorland environments to enable them to absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere and combat climate change.Caroline Cope from the Northumberland National Park Authority said, “We’d like to thank Albion Outdoors and the pupils from Bellingham Middle School for taking part in the Moorland Initiative. We are thrilled to be able to support the school’s curriculum while showcasing the special qualities of the National Park’s environment.”

Less than a month after its launch, the new Northumberland National Park Authority website has picked up its first accolade.The new ‘visitor-friendly’ website showcases the stunning Northumberland National Park; its places, activities and events has been award a glowing five star review from Web User Magazine.One of the UK's best-selling internet magazines, Web User Magazine offers simple-to-follow internet and computing advice alongside authoritative hardware, software and website reviews.The review stated, “This marvellous site promoting the delights of the Northumberland National Park provides all the maps and info you need. Discover things to do, such as the Hethpool Wild Goat Walk; places to go, including Sycamore Gap on Hadrian’s Wall; and where to stay, from castles to campsites.”The new website is the result of over twelve months hard work from Northumberland National Park Authority staff and their partner, Newcastle based digital agency, Indigo Multimedia.The new site has completely rebuilt to act as a digital information hub, providing visitors with information about everything from planning a trip to what they can get involved in whilst they’re visiting the area.The website also offers a range of new features including weather updates and a unique ‘Your Park’ service which provides visitors a build-your-own itinerary feature. From the Cheviot Hills to Coquetdale; Hadrian’s Wall country to Redesdale, the site connects the many breath-taking locations across the Park in a simple, easy-to-use format which will open the door to discovery for visitors.Duncan Wise, Visitor Development Manager at Northumberland National Park, said:“We are delighted at the response we’ve had to our new website and over the moon that Web User has awarded us five stars for the redesign of our website.”“Our staff and our partners, Indigo Multimedia, have put a tremendous amount of effort into the redesign over the last twelve months. They have worked hard to ensure the new website is not only easily accessible and compatible with today’s modern tablet and smartphone technology but also incredibly useful to our visitors.”Stuart Evans, Head of Corporate Services for Northumberland National Park Authority continued, “Our intention with this project was to offer people visiting the National Park everything they need whilst ‘on the go’. ““Seeing this highlighted by the review is fantastic. Web User has a strong consumer voice and it is hugely rewarding to know that they find the end result worthy of their maximum five star rating." The new website has also been designed to integrate more effectively with Northumberland National Park’s social media sites, including its popular Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram feeds. Visitors will be able to discover the latest on all the exciting projects that the National Park is currently undertaking, including the flagship Sill project, a national landscape discovery centre in the heart of Hadrian’s Wall country, which will help people learn about and explore Northumberland’s finest natural landscapesThe website was designed and developed by Newcastle firm, Indigo Multimedia. Indigo's Digital Director, Andrew Graney, says of the project:"We were delighted with this commission from NNPA because the whole project is rooted in an ambition to create a digital gateway to one of the most beautiful areas in the UK, and to inspire people to visit and support the local economy. At Indigo we put the user at the centre of the process and focus on creating genuine engagement opportunities. The NNPA website is a showcase for digital engagement. It posed creative and technical challenges which the Indigo team, I'm proud to say, took on and met with gusto."The development of the website doesn’t end there. The Northumberland National Park Authority are partnering with Google throughout the month of May on their Trekker Programme.Authority staff and volunteers will capture interactive 360° imagery of the Northumberland National Park including Hadrian’s Wall and the Pennine Way. The images will be added to the Google Street View service; making these unique and remote locations accessible to all.

It was a bumper night for Northumberland businesses at the prestigious VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2015 Ceremony, scooping awards in all four of the categories they were nominated.The winners were presented with their awards at a glittering Awards Ceremony which was held on 11 May 2015 at The Sage, Gateshead.Matfen Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa was awarded Gold in the Large Hotel of the Year category, which is the highest Award for Excellence that VisitEngland can bestow.Kielder Winter Wonderland – already Gold Award winners at the North East Tourism Awards 2014 – scooped Silver for Tourism Event of the Year.St Cuthbert’s House in Seahouses was awarded Silver for Sustainable Tourism.Seafield Caravan Park, also of Seahouses, was awarded Bronze in the Holiday Park/Holiday Village of the Year.Commenting on the Awards James Berresford, VisitEngland’s Chief Executive said “We received hundreds of applications of an exceptionally high quality making the competition extremely tough. It is therefore a tremendous achievement for Matfen Hall, Kielder Winter Wonderland, St Cuthbert’s House, and Seafield Caravan Park. They have raised the bar for excellence for others to aspire to and I warmly congratulate them on their exemplary contribution to tourism in this country."Speaking on behalf of Northumberland Tourism, general manager Jude Leitch said: “We are so proud to see these four businesses recognised on a national level for the fantastic work they do for tourism in Northumberland. They are a wonderful asset to our county and long may it continue.”

As the days get warmer and evenings become longer, May half term is the perfect time to head outdoors and experience some of nature’s wonders.The National Trust, which looks after some of the region’s most iconic countryside including Hadrian’s Wall and the Cragside estate in Rothbury, has an action-packed half term with events and activities every day to keep both you and your kids entertained.Lend a hand doing wildlife surveys, get a taste of adventure with rock climbing and abseiling or stay indoors and get crafty making your very own working lighthouse.Every trip to a National Trust place helps the charity to look after the special in its care, so your adventures will ensure that places can be explored for generations to come.Here are some great ways to keep kids and parents entertained this May half term…Coastal BioblitzHawthorn Dene, Durham CoastSaturday 23 May, 9am – 10pmLend a hand with a marathon habitat survey at Hawthorn Dene and help the National Trust improve wildlife conservation on the Durham coast. You don’t need any experience to get involved as the Trust Rangers will be on hand to offer expert guidance. Along the way you’ll pick up some wildlife spotting tips and identification skills, while surveying various habitats and species including rock pools, fresh water, grassland, woodland, insects, birds, bats, moths, mammals.Family Camping FestivalGibside, Rowlands Gill, GatesheadSaturday 23 May – Monday 25 May, 9am – 4pm, £70 per pitchGrab the tent from out the loft and give the kids a real taste of the wild! Spend two nights camping under the stars at Gibside and you can even bring the dog along too. Over the course of the three days you can take part in lots of family fun activities such as storytelling, bat walks, live music, den building and more.Musical Box in the Labyrinth and Sounds of Cragside Cragside House and Gardens, Northumberland Labyrinth Musical Box from 23 May, Sounds of Cragside Saturday 23 – Sunday 31 May.Can you find the Musical Box? Deep in the heart of the Labyrinth discover a brand new creative play and art installation as the treehouse is transformed into the Musical Box - harness your energy and transform it into light and sound! Discover the art of engineering and create your own power, with everything from a pedalo to bikes and hand cranks, to reveal a secret wonder of sound.Then, experience Sounds of Cragside: a weekend of audible treats to mark the opening of the Musical Box in the Labyrinth. Enjoy an exclusive concert or discover the sounds of the house on a new indoor sound trail. Tickets 50p.Explore the hidden sounds of Cragside with sound artist and Musical Box co-creator, Dan Fox: don some wireless headphones and delve into the hidden sounds of insects, water and the land to discover all of the weird and wonderful sounds of Cragside – eavesdropping has never been so much fun! Tickets: £5 and booking is essential.Shaun the Sheep’s Baa-rilliant Bank Holiday Wallington, Cambo, NorthumberlandSunday 24 & Monday 25 May, 11am – 4pmFlock to the National Trust’s Wallington to meet the nation's favourite fleecy friend, Shaun the Sheep, and enjoy two days of sheep-filled fun to celebrate the release of Shaun the Sheep The Movie on DVD on 1 June. There will be screenings of three special episodes of Shaun the Sheep and a behind the scenes look at how Shaun the Sheep The Movie was made. Families can enjoy craft activities, a character trail, tractor and trailer rides and sheep shearing demonstrations. Shaun himself will be making appearances throughout the day.Tours to the TopPenshaw Monument, Tyne & WearSaturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Monday, 10am-5pm, tours every 20 minutes, Tickets £5The iconic Penshaw Monument is a great place to survey your kingdom! Tours, led by National Trust guides, begin with a climb up the secret spiral staircase which leads to the Monument's rooftop walkway. Once at the top, there are spectacular views across Wearside and County Durham. What will you spot?Taste of AdventureAllen Banks and Staward Gorge, NorthumberlandSunday 24 May, 9.30am, Tickets £30If you love adventure then this is for you. The day includes a two hour underground exploration of Tyne Bottom Mine before you head to the National Trust’s Allen Banks for a spot of abseiling from the impressive Raven Crag. And before you head home, you’ll make a few craft items carved from the things you find in the woods around you.Family Games DaySeaton Delaval HallMonday 25th May, 11amA traditional day of family games awaits you at the National Trust’s Seaton Delaval Hall on bank holiday Monday. Families should flock to the Paddock for games including croquet on the lawn and ‘ride a cock horse’, races, hoops and to have a go at archery.Rock Pool RambleLindisfarne Castle, Holy Island, NorthumberlandMonday 25 May, 1pm, Free eventJoin the National Trust ranger for a ramble along the shore at Lindisfarne Castle. What will you discover hiding amongst the seaweed? There are crabs, sea urchins, lobsters and lots more species just waiting to be discovered by your young explorers.May half term funGibside, Rowlands Gill, GatesheadMonday 25 – Friday 29 May, 11am – 3pm, Free eventSearching for a week of planned activities for over May half term? Look no further. Join in at Gibside every day of the week for some real outdoor fun. Kick off the week with Explorer Monday then enjoy Foodie Tuesday, Wildlife Wednesday, Adventure Thursday and finish it all off with Fit Friday.Bewick’s Boredom BustersCherryburn, Stocksfield, Tyne ValleyMonday 25 May – Friday 29 May (except Wednesday), 11am – 3pm, FreeHailing from Northumberland, Thomas Bewick was a wood engraver and naturalist who revolutionised print art in Georgian England. But before that, he was the original ’50 Things to do before you’re 11 ¾’ child - staying outdoors late, climbing trees, swimming in the river and building dens in the woods. Over May half term join us at his birthplace and be like Bewick. On Monday we welcome Bewick’s Feathered Friends where you can see birds of prey – a subject Thomas enjoyed drawing, and then over the course of the week we’re hosting Bewick’s Boredom Busters and will indulge in all things outdoors, ticking many of the tasks off your ’50 Things’ list.South Tyne Trail Cycle RideAllen Banks and Staward Gorge, NorthumberlandTuesday 26 May, 10am, Free eventGet our your bike for an 11 mile ride along a section of the South Tyne Trail old railway line cared for by the National Trust. You’ll be rewarded with great views of the surrounding countryside. The star of the show is Lambley Viaduct which has the best views of all.Get Crafty - Design a working lighthouseSouter Lighthouse and The LeasTuesday 26 & Wednesday 27 May, 11am, £3You’ve seen the lighthouse in person, and now you can make your own. The National Trust has put together a pack of all the things you need to build your own lighthouse with its very own working light. Then it’s up to you to decorate it just the way you like.Get Crafty - Design a t-shirtSouter Lighthouse and The LeasThursday 28 May & Friday 29 May, 11am, £3Will you take inspiration from the seaside, the garden or the lighthouse itself when you design your own t-shirt? The National Trust team has t-shirts and an array of things to decorate them with - all you need is your imagination to create a masterpiece that you’ll wear with pride.Outdoor climbing adventureHadrian's Wall and Housesteads Fort, NorthumberlandSaturday 30 May, 10am-1pm &1.30-4.30pm, Tickets £15Try rock climbing at the atmospheric Crag Lough just below Hadrian's wall and get a real feel for this fantastic outdoor sport. This three hour session provides an introduction to movement skills, belaying and climbing calls. You will also do some bouldering and bottom rope climbing, whilst developing movement skills and learning how to tie a figure of eight knot.50 things funWallington, NorthumberlandTuesday 26 May to Sunday 31 May 2015Enjoy wild play at Wallington and see how many of our 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ activities you can do before you head home. Throughout the week there will be a chance to take part in a variety of activities from gardening to squirrel spotting and creatures of the night walks, cooking on a campfire to kite flying and orienteering to wild art.Ranger Bushcraft Day: SaplingAllen Banks and Staward Gorge, NorthumberlandThursday 28 May 2015, 10am, Tickets £10Head outdoors and experience nature in the National Trust’s Allen Banks woodland and work towards 'Sapling' status. If you already have bushcraft experience, or recently achieved 'Acorn' status at Housesteads, this is an adventure not to be missed. Try out advanced fire making techniques and cook marshmallows on an open fire, as well as mastering basic shelter building tips. There will also be a selection of other activities on offer which may include orienteering, nature relay, nightline, blind trail, camera clicks, shelter building, spiders web and using tools to make craft items such as cooking sticks and kazoos.For more information on what’s happening with the National Trust in the North East this May half term log on to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/northeast and click on ‘things to see and do’.

The Family Holiday Association yesterday launched Seaside Walk Week (23 to 31 May), the charity’s flagship fundraising initiative to mark their 40th anniversary. Beginning over the Spring Bank Holiday at the end of May, Seaside Walk Week is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a guided walk at the seaside with good company and raise money for the charity.The Week comprises a series of guided walks along the UK’s coast, encouraging the nation to explore the Great British seaside with family and friends.Since 1975, the aim of the charity has been to help families have a break – anything from a simple day out to a few days in a caravan at the British seaside. Simple these trips may be, but for those affected by severe and sudden illness in the family, bereavement, disability, mental health and abuse, they can be nothing less than a lifeline. With trips to the British seaside at the heart of the Family Holiday Association’s work, Seaside Walk Week is a fitting way to celebrate four decades of providing breaks for struggling families.The families supported in this way are referred by professionals in the community such as teachers, social workers, health visitors and other charities – the people who are best placed to identify those who will benefit the most. For over half of these families it is the first time they have experienced a family holiday, bringing hope and happiness to children, parents and carers who are struggling with the worst challenges life can bring. By getting the chance to paddle in the sea, build that first sandcastle and share happy times just like other families, they can take home precious memories and a new sense of hope.Family Holiday Association celebrated the launch of Seaside Walk Week by organising a daytrip to Bristol Aquarium for families from a North London Children’s Centre. The trip was made possible through support from including First Great Western, the Aquarium, HF Holidays and Usborne Books.The official seaside walks will range from two miles to ten miles in length, giving families and their children the chance to get involved, as well as more experienced walkers. With a common finishing point at each walk location, participants will have the chance to socialise, celebrate and refuel together.Neil Oliver, TV presenter added, “I really want to encourage everyone lucky enough to enjoy holidays to support Seaside Walk Week. The money we raise will help children see the sea for the first time in their lives. Together we can give families who can’t see any escape from the daily struggle of impoverished lives, a break.” Anyone interested in participating in Seaside Walk Week can register at SeasideWalkWeek.org.uk. It's just £15 per adult to register, £5 for children aged 5 to 16 and under-fives go free. There is no minimum sponsorship required but, as it's our 40th anniversary, it would be great if each family or group could raise £40 or more.Seaside Walk Week will take place thanks to our partners including First Great Western, The Guild of Registered Tourist Guides, HF Holidays, Higgidy, Hildon Water & Big Welsh Walk, Usborne Books, VisitEngland, Welcome to Yorkshire, Wightlink and YHA.

Northumberland’s famous dark skies put on a good show for runners at Kielder Water & Forest Park this weekend.More than 80 people turned up to take part in the first ever ‘Dark Skies Run’ on Saturday April 18, 2015.The race, which started during the daylight, saw entrants running through the sunset and cross the finish line under the stars of the darkest night skies in England.Race Director, Phill Turton said: “All our entrants had been speculating for weeks on social media as to what the weather would be like but the weather Gods were definitely smiling on us!“While the temperatures plummeted to nearly zero degrees late on, there was virtually no cloud and the night sky was simply stunning.”One of the largest Dark Sky Parks in the world, Kielder was awarded gold tier Dark Sky Park status by the International Dark Skies association in December 2013, making it the perfect venue for the ultimate starlit running challenge.Organised by Trail Outlaws and supported by Northumbrian Water, the event followed the Lakeside Way trail around northern Europe’s largest man-made lake.Runner David Toth, who took part in the 26.5 mile challenge, said: “Seeing the day turning to twilight and the subsequent sunset over the water was stunning and then running the last few miles under millions of stars was absolutely breathtaking.”For one racer, the Dark Skies Run was the finish of an incredible day that had started at midnight on Friday April 17.Sunderland Stroller, Malcolm Cox, ran an unofficial marathon distance around Lake Windermere, Cumbria, before cycling the 90 miles to the start line of Kielder’s Dark Skies Run.Not only did Malcolm finish his second long-distance run of the day, he won the Men’s over 50s category with a race time of 4 hours and 20 minutes.The overall winner of the Dark Skies Run and first in the Men’s over 40 category was Philip Hewitt who completed the race in 3 hours 50 minutes and 35 seconds.Claire Baharie, also a member of Sunderland Strollers, was the first female to cross the finishing line in 4 hours 12 minutes and 10 seconds.