Welcome to Ford & Etal Estates

Ford & Etal is one of rural Northumberland’s best kept secrets. Home to the Joicey family for over 100 years, this working estate has fascinating heritage attractions, beautiful countryside to explore, tempting places to eat, drink and shop and a welcoming range of accommodation.

The Estates lie in the valley of the River Till, just a few miles inland from Holy Island and Bamburgh. Close to the Scottish border this green and pleasant land is dotted with castles and battlefields, highlighting long centuries of conflict. Today it is farmed and managed much as it has always been and life is still ruled by the seasons.

Here you can ride a steam train, stroke a heavy horse, learn how the power of water is harnessed to produce flour, or discover a Victorian schoolroom with walls covered in huge Pre-Raphaelite paintings. With a schedule of events throughout the year, there’s always something new to see and do at Ford & Etal Estates.

Most attractions open for the 2024 season on Monday 25th March and remain open until Sunday 3rd November. If you are visiting between December 2023 and early March 2024 please look at our activities page, we have walking and cycling routes you can download as well as information on pottery workshops, fishing and birdwatching and on places to eat, shop and stay.

From December 2023 through to March 2024, when there are fewer visitors, many of the shops and cafes operate on special seasonal opening hours, please check individual websites to avoid disappointment when you visit. Links to all businesses can be found on the relevant pages.

We take real pleasure in welcoming thousands of people to Ford & Etal every year, whether for their first visit or because they come back time and again. I hope you too will come to love the place as much as we do.