In partnership with the National Trust, Cullercoats Bike & Kayak are bringing paddlesports to Cragside. Join us on Tumbleton Lake at the heart of the stunning Cragside estate.

What's On

A great range of activities are available for adults and kids alike. Choose your adventure at Cragside.

Canoe & Kayak

Every Thursday (until end Aug) & Saturday (until end Sept)

• Guided Canoe Tour | from £6 per person: Join one of our instructors for a guided tour of the lake. Learn some canoeing skills and a lot about Cragside along the way.
• Self Guided Canoe Hire | £15 per boat: Explore the lake independently in one of our canoes. You can get your whole family in our 16' canoes. Suitable for 2 adults, 1 adult + 2 children or 2 adults + 1 small child (under 12).
• Self-Guided Kayak Hire | £7.50 single kayak, £15 tandem kayak : Grab a sit on top kayak and start exploring. Take a map of the lake and surroundings, then off you go to relax and enjoy being on the water.
• Splashdown! | £12 per child: Our last session of the day is just for kids! Prepare to get (very) wet as we play games on the lake, practice rescues and more. Led by qualified canoe and kayak instructors. Wetsuits supplied, bring a towel!

Stand Up Paddleboard

COMING 2018

After a great summer of canoeing and kayaking on the lake, we're trialling three new activities on Sunday 10th September. If you love them, maybe they'll be back for summer 2018!

• Stand Up Paddleboard Lesson | 1 hour, £25 adults, £20 kids: Learn the basics then start exploring with this instructor led session. Ideal for people who are new to paddleboarding, or who'd like a little bit of help exploring the lake. 11am.
• Stand Up Paddleboard Hire | 45 mins, £15 per person inc. wetsuit: Explore the lake independently on our premium equipment from JP Australia. Our inflatable SUPs are easy to master and also very kind to the lakeside environment. 12pm & 12.45pm
• SUP Yoga | £30 per person: Find your flow with Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga in the beautiful surroundings of Cragside Estate. We'll have 45 minutes of yoga with our instructor from Lani Yoga, followed by 45 minutes of paddleboarding on the lake. The ultimate way to unwind. 3pm-4.30pm.

Book Online

Choose 'Canoe & Kayak Cragside' or 'Paddleboard Cragside' to see available dates and activities (shown in green), then simply click 'Book Now' to choose your activity and timeslot. All payments are securely processed by SagePay and you'll receive an e-mail confirmation when your booking is complete. If you prefer to book by telephone, you can reach us on 0191 251 9412.

FAQs

• Is Cragside admission included in the price? Unless you are a National Trust member, you still have to pay standard admission prices when arriving at Cragside. Both 'Gardens & Woodland' and 'Whole Property' admission permit access to the lakes.
• How old do you have to be? For kayak/canoe hire, you must be over-18 or accompanied by your parent/guardian on the water. For guided canoeing, adults and age 5+ children can participate, though under 14s must be accompanied on the water. Splashdown! is for children aged 7-14.
• Will I get wet? For stand up paddleboarding and Splashdown! you will, but we supply a wetsuit. For everything else, we'll keep you as dry as possible, but you may get a damp bottom, legs and arms. Waterproof clothing can prevent this, or bring a change.
• Will I capsize my kayak or canoe? We don't expect that you will capsize as the boats are very stable. But a towel and change of clothes in the car is always a good idea!
• What should I wear? Lightweight outdoor clothing with a waterproof top layer is ideal for canoeing and kayaking. For Splashdown! and Stand Up Paddleboard, swimwear and a towel are essential.
• What equipment do you provide? We supply the kayak or canoe and paddle, plus necessary safety equipment such as buoyancy aids (like a lifejacket) and helmets where required. We do not supply clothing or waterproofs. For Splashdown! and Stand Up Paddleboarding, we supply a wetsuit.
• Can I bring my own canoe, kayak or stand up paddleboard? Not at this time. We have specially chosen our boats as they have minimal impact on the sensitive environment at Cragside.
• Where do we find you? Visit the Cragside website for directions to the site. On arrival you will see the lake just by the main entrance. We're situated on Tumbleton Lake by the boathouse, dam and Archimedes Screw.

About Cragside

Enter the world of Lord Armstrong - Victorian inventor, innovator and landscape genius. Cragside house was truly a wonder of its age. It was the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity. To generate this electricity Armstrong built a number of lakes, dams and other water features, making this an exciting place to explore by kayak or canoe. The gardens are incredible. One of the largest rock gardens in Europe leads down to the Iron Bridge, which in turn leads to the formal garden. Children will love the adventure play area and exploring Nelly's Labyrinth, a network of paths and tunnels cut out of a vast area of rhododendron forest. We really recommend making a day of your visit. Find out more about Cragside...

Cullercoats Bike & Kayak can be found on Tumbleton lake, just below the Visitor Centre and Cafe. Tumbleton is a great place to explore Cragside's stunning natural landscapes and Armstrong's hydro-electric innovations.