Wandering North Durham & Northumberland – When No Plan Becomes the Perfect Plan

In the immortal words of Hannibal from The A-Team, “I love it when a plan comes together.” Well… I would—if I’d actually had a plan. But today, I didn’t. I simply set out with clear skies above, low winds, and the hope that something would unfold—and it absolutely did.

I headed north through County Durham and into Northumberland, following the roads (and sometimes instinct) to uncover a brilliant mix of locations. From soaring viaducts to atmospheric ruins, and grand country houses tucked into the landscape, every stop offered something special. The light was just right, and the drone was up at every opportunity.

It turned out to be one of those days where everything just works—even without a schedule. A reminder that sometimes, the best adventures are the ones you don’t overthink. Plawsworth Viaduct – Steel, Stone & Speed Over Blackdene Burn

Often overlooked in favour of more famous crossings, Plawsworth Viaduct is a striking and elegant railway structure that spans Blackdene Burn, just north of Durham, this viaduct carries the East Coast Main Line and remains very much in active use. Built in the mid-19th century during the golden era of railway expansion, it features a series of tall stone arches stretching across a wooded valley. Its solid masonry piers and classic Victorian engineering are a testament to a time when infrastructure was built to last—and built to look good doing it. The viaduct continues to serve high-speed trains to this day, linking Durham to Newcastle and beyond, blending heritage with modern movement.

From the air, Plawsworth Viaduct looks stunning, especially on a crisp, clear day like today. The stonework glows in the sunlight, and the archways cast perfect shadows onto the woodland below. Capturing trains racing across the top is always a highlight—there’s something timeless about the contrast between the old stone and the modern, fast-moving carriages. The view from above shows how the viaduct slices cleanly through the landscape, framed by the gentle curves of the burn below and the rising trees on either side. It’s the kind of location that combines technical precision and natural beauty, and it never fails to deliver something dynamic when viewed from the sky.

Beamish Hall – Spring Elegance at a Historic North Durham Estate

Set within 24 acres of parkland and woodland, Beamish Hall is a stunning Grade II listed country house* just a stone’s throw from the open-air Beamish Museum. Originally dating back to the 13th century, the hall was rebuilt and expanded over the centuries, most notably in the 18th and 19th centuries, into the grand mansion we see today. Once the ancestral home of the Eden family, it’s now a popular country house hotel and wedding venue, combining rich history with modern hospitality. From its carved stone frontage and symmetrical wings to the surrounding gardens and woodland trails, Beamish Hall perfectly captures the refined charm of Georgian and Victorian estate living.

Today, with spring in full swing, the hall looked absolutely beautiful—sunlight pouring across the lawns, blossom on the trees, and long shadows adding depth and detail to every shot. The aerial view shows off its classic layout, with the central house nestled within sweeping grounds, flanked by mature trees and formal gardens. The symmetry of the building and its connection to the landscape are even more striking from above. The friendly and accommodating staffalways make visiting here a pleasure, and capturing the hall from the sky never gets old—it’s a location that seems to change with the seasons, but always delivers something timeless.

Gibside – Distant Views of Grandeur from Above

Gibside is one of the North East’s most impressive historic estates—a sprawling 18th-century landscape garden and parkland, centred around the remains of Gibside Hall, the iconic Chapel, and miles of tree-lined avenues and woodland. Originally built for the wealthy Bowes family, the estate reflects the grandeur and ambition of Georgian aristocracy, and today it’s cared for by the National Trust. While much of the hall is now in ruins, the Palladian chapel, the column of liberty, and the dramatic designed landscape all remain as powerful reminders of Gibside’s former glory. It’s a place rich in history, beauty, and scale.

Unfortunately, the National Trust doesn’t allow drone flights from within their land, so I had to launch from outside the boundary—always a bit of a challenge in terms of distance and visibility, especially when trying to capture detailed shots. That said, the conditions were perfect today: clear skies, good light, and very little wind, which meant I could fly higher and further than usual. The result? Some stunning views across the estate, showing the chapel rising above the trees, the symmetry of the gardens, and the estate rolling out across the landscape like a green tapestry. Even better, I could see all the way to the coast in the distance, which added an incredible sense of scale. It’s not the easiest location to shoot—but totally worth the effort.

Lockhaugh Railway Viaduct – A Striking Surprise in the Valley

While scanning the landscape from afar during my visit to Gibside, I spotted what looked like a classic multi-arched railway viaduct cutting through the trees in the distance. Curiosity got the better of me, and I’m so glad it did—what I had seen was the Lockhaugh Railway Viaduct, a nine-arch stone viaduct tucked away near the village of Lockhaugh, just outside Rowlands Gill. Built in the mid-19th century, this impressive structure once carried the Derwent Valley Railway, a vital route for transporting coal and passengers through the region. Though the line is long closed, the viaduct remains a powerful and elegant feature in the landscape, a reminder of the area’s rich railway heritage.

From the air, the Lockhaugh Viaduct is simply stunning—its nine symmetrical arches stretching across the lush, wooded valley, with the River Derwent flowing gently beneath. The contrast between the crisp stonework and the soft greens of the spring canopy made for an incredible shot, especially with the low afternoon sun highlighting the texture of each arch. Its curve and alignment are even more striking from above, and seeing it from this angle reveals just how well it blends with the natural surroundings, despite its size. It's always a bonus to stumble upon something unplanned—and this viaduct turned out to be one of the unexpected highlights of the day.

Holinside Manor – Ruined Walls and Forgotten History Among the Trees

Holinside Manor was one of those brilliant surprises—the kind you only find when you’re not really looking. While walking toward the Lockhaugh Viaduct, I spotted what looked like the outline of a ruined structure tucked away in the trees. A quick change of course and a launch of the drone revealed Holinside Manor, a medieval fortified manor housethat once belonged to the influential Umfraville family in the 13th century. Though it’s now a ruin, with little more than fragmented walls and earthworks remaining, it was once a site of real power and significance in the valley. Over time, the manor was abandoned, left to the elements, and slowly disappeared into the woodland.

From above, Holinside Manor is hauntingly beautiful. The crumbling stone walls emerge through a clearing in the trees, giving just enough shape to imagine the manor as it once was. The tree canopy around it makes it feel like a forgotten secret, hidden in plain sight. Capturing it from the air gave the perfect perspective to appreciate both its layout and isolation, with the Derwent Valley stretching out beyond. It's the kind of place that you’d walk straight past without ever knowing it was there—but from above, it tells a story of noble families, forgotten history, and the slow but graceful return of nature.

Wrapping Up the Day

What started with no real direction quickly turned into one of those unexpectedly brilliant days, where every turn revealed something new and exciting. With clear skies and barely a breeze, I made the most of the perfect flying conditions and let curiosity guide the route—heading through North Durham and into Northumberland, picking up a cracking mix of viaducts, halls, manors, and hidden ruins along the way.

From the sight of trains racing over Plawsworth Viaduct, to the springtime elegance of Beamish Hall, every stop had its own story and style. Capturing the vast beauty of Gibside from a distance, spotting the stunning sweep of the Lockhaugh Viaduct from a remote viewpoint, and stumbling upon the crumbling remains of Holinside Manor were all reminders of how much history is hiding in plain sight—just waiting to be seen from the right angle.

It’s days like this that remind me why I love what I do. No plan, no pressure—just exploration, light, and the joy of finding something special where you least expect it.