days out near Durham for this weekend please

[lilolilmanchester]

Regular visitors, so looking for something different this weekend for me, DCs (15 & 10) and Granny (70+ but reasonably fit).

Places we have been:
Bowes Museum
DLI Museum
High Force
Durham City (castle/cathedral/riverside etc)
Kilhope
Blanchland
Derwent
Kielder
Alnwick castle
Beamish
Metro Centre
Science Museums in Newcastle
Sunderland Air Show (on this weekend I think but forecast rain and Granny not interested)
and lots of other places I can't think of right now so sorry if you suggest somewhere we've been before.

If you know of any special events, that would also be fine. We'll have a car. Thanks.

I meant Dalton Park, Ihave been to Teesside Park, and I think it will be too busy for me
Ooh can't decide...

but i do need to go to boots at some point, so maybe i should make the effort

Where are you Lillolil?
I'm from that area and Finchale abbey was a favourite when I was a young teen. We used to go on our bikes.
I'm desperate to move back there before DD starts Secondary School

muggglewump, my parents live just up the road from Finchale Abbey and I too used to spend loads of time there when I was young. You didn't go to Fram did you?

so, today we went to Hartlepool Quayside and Seaton Carew. Am staying on NH - and yes, I went to Fram but no doubt long before you did (1974 -1981)

I was there 1977-1983! My parents are still in NH. Small world eh?

worldgirl, then I almost certainly know you . My Mum still on NH, not the house I grew up in tho.

wordgirl even, sorry!

Just seen this - hope not too late - it's Sunderland Air show this weekend (10-6)!
Billingham, International Folklore Festival all week too.
Centre for Life in Newcastle - we spent 4 hours in there last week.
Locomotion in SHildon - good railway museum often has activities on.
Newby Hall - about an hour away - fab gardens, miniature railway, adventure playground, hall etc.

Thanks for that smoggie. We went to Sunderland Air Show last year, it was brill. Not sure how the visibility would have been today, we were in Hartlepool, weather was ace, but 1 -2 miles down the road there was a sea fret and couldn't see very far in front. Hope it was better down at ROker

I went to Fram too-90-96 so I guess I'm a tad younger
I know NH well, I lived in Pity Me till I was 19

good old Fram! We live in a selective area now and how I wish we were in Fram's catchment area. rather than 11+ area!

Digger Land

I want to move anyway, I hate where I am now and I'd be happy for DD to go to Fram. I'm in no position to move at all but DD's not yet 7 so I have a few years yet.
It was a fantastic area to grow up in.

I work near Newton Hall!

I'd second Washington wildfowl park. Its got a little cafe and a couple of playground area's and there are lovely walks all round the park.

thanks all for your help and suggestions, have been to most of them but noted again for future reference. Today we went to Broom House Farm near Witton Gilbert and the DCs really enjoyed the adventure trail.
Drove past Fram on the way there and again on the way back and gave it a big wave from me, Muggglewump (name reminds me of Mugwump, THE trendiest shop in Durham in my day) and Wordgirl.

Mugwump is LOVELY - that and Georgian Window!

I was thinking about this thread earlier, mainly because it's weird that people on here went to my school!
Anyway what about Wet n Wild at South Shields or the Hancock Museum in Newcastle?
I also liked Hardwick hall although your 15 yr old might be a bit old to lark about with a fishing net and jam jar!

Posted at the same time!
I can't believe Mugwump is still there!
I've not been back at all since I left but maybe next summer. I'd love to take DD and show her where I grew up. I can't believe how little I appreciated what really is a beautiful city.

Well I've lived away longer than I lived hear(which makes me very old) but LOVE coming back here. It is so beautiful and the people so friendly. Part of me wishes I'd come back here to live after uni.

HERE. My Fram education wasn't that bad, just had a few beers in the heat!

I moved away because my parents had and when I came home from two years travelling, I was pg with DD and had nowhere else to go really.
I just sort of got stuck but I've never settled and I'd love to go back.
I haven't really kept in touch with anyone and DD knows nowhere other than here and considers herself Scottish but I know she'd settle again, kids do and I'd be so much happier.
It's all a dream for now though.
If I can't go back before DD starts Secondary I'll stay here until she finishes.
Actually a wee while back on a similar thread I asked someone who lives in Durham what areas she'd reccommend to live in, without letting on where I'd lived or what school I'd gone to. She said in the catchment of Fram, Johnston or St Leonard's. I felt strangely proud but it also confirmed to me that it would be the right thing to do to go back if I ever can because it's still a good school

Yes I think Fram has a good reputation these days. Funnily enough I was at a dinner party in Durham a week ago with someone whose children were at Fram even though she lived near the Johnston.
I must admit I really enjoyed my time there - did they still have Family Units when you were there Muggglewump? Liloil will remember them. Pretty progressive for the time really.
Oh and speaking of Mugwump, I'm sure Lilolil will also remember Meander if I'm not mistaken.

They did have Family Units. I was in F2. Oh the memories are flooding back, I believe My Juniper the art teacher was one of the longest serving, he retired when I was there so you'd remember him?
I don't recall Meander though.
Do they still have the boats to hire?
God knows what they were doing letting groups of 13 year olds hire them but they did and we'd row up further and pile more people in!