Easter fun at Edmundbyres
After trawling through the internet looking for local Easter fun, I’ve concluded your best bet is to stay in Edmundbyers!
The Derwent Reservoir (Derwent Waterside Park), which is just minutes away, from Hepple Hill Cottage, is such a brilliant place to have on our doorstep. I have lived in the area for years but it is only recently I have appreciated what a great place it is for walks, birdwatching and, of course, fishing and sailing. I am having a fly fishing lesson in April so look out for my post on that.
This Easter there is loads on. Easter fun at Edmundbyers definitely takes place at Derwent! The Easter Egg Hunt takes place the reservoir on Sunday 31 March from noon to 3pm. There are special prizes if you find the special eggs. It will certainly be a good way to introduce youngsters to the nature around the reservoir.
For sporty children there is a Dam Wall Fun Run on Easter Monday (1st April). The dam wall is a mile long – the perfect length for youngsters wanting to stretch their legs or more competitive runners. Entry is £5 and every child gets a goody bag and a medal.
Free movie nights are also coming to Derwent. Peter Rabbit is on Good Friday (29th). Doors open at 6. The event is free but you must book.
If you fancy something a little more energetic, there are regular axe throwing sessions at Derwent. Again check out the booking link.
I’m really impressed with what has been going on at Derwent Reservoir in recent years. A great deal of effort has been made to make the reservoir a great venue for families as well as anglers. The Waterside Park website is well worth a look or maybe just call in for a coffee in the cafe to find out what is going on
Local Easter Dining
For an Easter Sunday Lunch in Edmundbyers, I can personally recommend The Derwent Arms in the village. I have also found their vegetarian option for Sunday lunch very good – my favourite being the nut roast. My family always have the beef and I have never heard any complaints! I haven’t been to the Manor House Inn at Carterway Heads for a few years but I have heard through the grapevine that it is good these days. If you want to push the boat out, the ultimate Sunday lunch in the area is at the amazing Lord Crewe Arms in Blanchland. The food comes on an enormous sharing board which is certainly very different. The Lord Crewe always gets booked up so that is a visit to be planned in advance.
Places to worship
Edmundbyers has a beautiful Norman church – St Edmund’s. Its churchyard is unusual as it has a ha-ha (a sunken fence). Services are on the second and fourth Sundays of the month at 9.45 but the church is well worth a visit at any time.
Hexham Abbey is celebrating its 1350th anniversary this year. Founded by St Wilfred in AD674, it is one of the earliest seats of Christianity in England. Easter Sunday services at this historic abbey are at 10am for Holy Communion and 6.30pm for Choral Evensong.
For a grand Easter service it doesn’t get grander than Durham Cathedral. As the Dean of Durham, The Very Revd Dr Philip Plyming says on the Durham Cathedral website: “Holy Week at Durham Cathedral is a wonderful experience and an unforgettable way to recall and celebrate the world changing events of Jesus’ death and resurrection.”
Services begin with the 5am Dawn Eucharist on Easter Sunday in the cloister garth and celebrates the rising of Jesus with music and prayers as the sun rises. Holy Communion is at 8am, Sung Eucharist at 10am, Matins at 11.30 and Evensong at 3.30pm.
I attended an Easter Day service at Durham Cathedral many years ago when I was a student at the university. The somewhat controversial David Jenkins was the Bishop of Durham at the time and gave a magnificent sermon. The atmosphere, the pomp and ceremony were so memorable.
