Garden Station near Haydon Bridge

What: a tea shop set in an old wooden station building surrounded by woodland gardens
Where: from the A69 going west,  take the A686 as soon as you see the signs for Haydon Bridge
Walking: as much or as little as you like down the old railway track - a few steps down into the garden
Entrance fee: none
Parking: free
Cost of a cream tea - about £4

Chance of seeing a squirrel: possibly- you'll see baby frogs by the thousand (in July)
Children: young and old, tiny ones will love the few toys set on the lawn; the boy will probably hunt the frogs or use the tree swing in the woods
google: The Garden Station at Langley
star rating: ten out of ten - not joking either!

At least two people I know had told me about the Garden Station and Saturday was the first time we had managed to make it.  We were both tired for various reasons and honestly couldn't do very much but go for one of those gentle jaunts that you take when you just want a ride out. The Garden Station - well, I wouldn't have believed such a place existed - cheered me up no end.

The road up from the A69 winds around significantly and is often overshadowed by the enormous beech trees that grow so well in Northumberland -so take care.  The place is signposted twice before you reach it but the final turning is very narrow and requires a little manoeuvring. It's worth it.

There's an old station house and a painted, wooden waiting room with some pretty, little station buildings painted in shades of green standing on what would have been the platform but is now all laid to grass.  The owners have planted an inspired garden full of hostas, lady's mantle, aquilegia thalictrum, grasses and brunnera Jack Frost- and plenty more yet to flower.  Look out for the unusual ironwork sculptures too.  Dotted about are little folding tables and chairs set on the very smooth lawns, both down in what would have been the track and up on the platforms.

We had our afternoon tea and coffee first  (my mum asked if the cups and saucers matched and no, they don't!) then wandered down the path, the first part of which is also beautifully managed but gets wild beyond the railway bridge.  That's where the baby frogs, as small or as big as house flies, were hopping in their multitudes.  The track would go on for a fair walk, I think, but we doubled back just past the fishing lake on the left and had a shady walk back to the track, watching out for tree creepers and any potential red squirrel -  have yet to see my first Northumbrian red squirrel!

Lovely tea, lovely setting, lovely walk.  The website also gives a good idea of activities (painting, sculpture, photography, beekeeping, mushroom identification) going on there, including the odd civil wedding.  Who wouldn't want to take their vows in this exquisite, natural theatre?