It's got it Hall

STATELY homes have never really been my cup of tea. Wandering around a dusty ancestral home looking at furniture, paintings and ornaments that you'll never be able to afford in a month of Sundays was not my idea of a fun day out.

But after visiting Newby Hall, near Boroughbridge, my opinions have changed somewhat.

Firstly it wasn't dusty, in fact the whole estate - toilets, shop, footpaths, picnic grounds and restaurant - were all spotlessly clean. And secondly it was, to my horror, rather interesting!

So interesting that I went round the house twice - once with my wife, Jayne, and again with my brother-in-law, Mike, who arrived at the family get-together three hours late; their front door lock had jammed and they couldn't get out of the house!

The hall, which is owned by the Compton family, was built in 1690 in the style of Christopher Wren, with much of its interior later designed by Robert Adam.

The most impressive room is the Tapestry Room, featuring whole tapestries ordered from the famous Gobelins factory in France, while the most entertaining room is the Chamber Pot Room, featuring pots collected from all over Europe and the Far East.

Elsewhere there are elegant paintings - some at least ten feet tall, numerous classical statues and Chippendale furniture.

And if you want to know more information about the rooms there are guides on hand to answer your questions.

In fact one guide, Stella Wright, has just marked 50 years continuous service at the hall!

From the hall's windows you are rewarded with tremendous views of the wonderful gardens, for which Newby is renowned.

After spending the previous day planting a few measly shrubs in our back garden, I looked at Newby's 25 acres of award-winning gardens with a mixture of awe and envy.

If they could get all this land looking so beautiful and colourful why couldn't I cope with my little patch, I wondered.

Designed astride one of Europe's longest herbaceous borders are numerous formal gardens, including a tropical garden, rose garden and water garden. Newby also hosts the national collection of dogwoods.

And if you like the look of some of the plants you see, you can buy them at the estate plant stall.

One of Newby's greatest draws is its superb adventure playground, which caters for children of all ages - including 30-somethings like myself!

My niece, Emma, aged ten, and nephew, Oliver, aged five, were in heaven.

There are climbing frames, swing boats, a host of slides, a timber fort, an Indiana Jones-style wooden bridge, paddling pool, sandpit, pedalo boats and a little ferry boat, which can be propelled along by hand.

The commando-style aerial slide was a big hit. I, of course, had to test it out two or three times, just to make sure it was safe, and to show the youngsters how it should be done! I'm lucky I didn't end up in casualty.

The miniature Royal Scot steam loco, which takes passengers on a 15-minute trip through the grounds, was the highlight of Oliver's day. He had been talking about it for days, after seeing it on the hall's website.

He thought the train was "cool", especially when it went through a tunnel.

But if trains aren't your thing, you can take a leisurely trip up the River Ure on a pleasure cruiser instead.

The hall also plays host to several special events throughout the year.

The Rainbow Craft Fair, featuring more than 200 exhibitors, runs until tomorrow and will return for four days from August 24.

And on July 15, more than 800 vintage and veteran cars will descend on the estate for a rally. The annual family fun day in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust will take place on July 29, and the popular autumn plant fair will be staged on September 16.

Fact file

How to get there: From York, travel along the A59 and then the B6265 to Boroughbridge. Go through the town towards Ripon, then take the signed route to the hall.

Open: Tuesday to Sunday, plus Bank Holidays, until September 30. Gardens open 11am to 5.30pm, house open noon to 5pm. Last admission to gardens 5pm, house 4.30pm.

Admission: House and garden, adults £6.80, children £4, family ticket (two adults, two children) £21. Garden only, adults £5, senior citizens £4, children and disabled £3.50. Family ticket, £16.

The grounds and house are accessible to wheelchairs and there are special disabled toilet facilities.

More information: Telephone 01423 322583 or click on the website, www.newbyhall.com