Belsay Hall's Walking with The Snowman trail runs 7 November to 10 January, 10am to 4pm: twelve giant Snowmen, included with standard entry, members free.

Walking with The Snowman comes to Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, near Morpeth, from Saturday 7 November 2026 to Sunday 10 January 2027. It is a trail of twelve giant Snowman sculptures in the grounds, open 10am to 4pm, and it is included in the standard entry price.

The quick answer

  • Dates: Saturday 7 November 2026 to Sunday 10 January 2027, 10am to 4pm, according to English Heritage’s event page.
  • Price: no extra charge. The trail is included in standard entry to Belsay Hall. Booking ahead online gets up to 15% off; English Heritage members go free.
  • Where: Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, Belsay, near Morpeth, NE20 0DX (sat nav NE20 0DU).
  • What it is: twelve Snowmen, each designed by a different artist on the theme of The Twelve Days of Christmas. Each one hides a letter; collect all twelve to spell a Christmas word.

What the trail is

English Heritage describes it as a sculpture trail “throughout the grounds”, inspired by Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman. You pick up a trail map at the visitor centre, then walk the gardens looking for the twelve Snowmen. Every sculpture has a design taken from one of the Twelve Days of Christmas, “from partridges to pipers”, and each hides a secret letter. Find all twelve letters and they spell out a Christmas word.

The trail was made with Wild in Art, which English Heritage calls “a leading producer of creative events that transform public spaces”. Belsay’s trail sits inside the grounds, so the usual admission applies.

Tickets and prices

There is no separate Snowman ticket. English Heritage says the event “is included in the standard entry price”, so one admission ticket covers the house, castle, gardens and the trail.

  • Book online the day before for the discount: English Heritage says booking early saves up to 15%. Online booking for the discount closes at midnight the day before your visit.
  • On the day, you can still buy online or on arrival, at the full price.
  • Members get free entry. Log in on the event page to claim free tickets and bring your membership card.
  • Tickets are valid all day, so you can arrive at any time within opening hours.

English Heritage’s booking calendar gives the price for each date; its page text does not print a winter price list, so we have not quoted one. Check the booking calendar for the day you want.

Opening hours over Christmas

The event page lists 10am to 4pm for the whole run. It does not say whether Belsay closes on any days over Christmas and New Year, so pick your date in the booking calendar before you travel: a closed day will not be bookable. We will add the closed days here once English Heritage publishes them.

Also at Belsay this season

  • Christmas Craft Fair, Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November, 10am to 4pm. Craft stalls and food traders, included in admission, so you can do the trail and the fair on one ticket (English Heritage).
  • The Great Pumpkin Party, Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, 10am to 4pm, before the Snowmen arrive. Our Halloween page has the details.

Getting there and parking

English Heritage gives the address as Belsay, near Morpeth, NE20 0DX, with NE20 0DU as the sat nav postcode, and asks drivers to “follow the brown signs”. For other Christmas days out, see our pages on the Alnwick Garden Winter Lights, Santa grottos and Santa trains and Christmas markets. Check the roadworks and travel page before you set off, and the parking page if you are stopping in a town on the way.

FAQs

Is Walking with The Snowman at Belsay on in 2026?

Yes. English Heritage lists it from Saturday 7 November 2026 to Sunday 10 January 2027, 10am to 4pm.

How much is the Belsay Snowman trail?

It costs nothing on top of admission: the trail is included in the standard entry price to Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens. Booking online ahead saves up to 15%, and members go free.

How many Snowmen are there?

Twelve, each designed by a different artist on the Twelve Days of Christmas theme. Each hides a letter, and the twelve letters spell a Christmas word.

Do I need to book?

Booking is not compulsory, but it is the only way to get the online discount, which closes at midnight the day before your visit.

Sources