RABY CASTLE has unveiled details of a summer season of family activities and events that will include outdoor theatre performances, forest school activities, extended park and garden opening.

Families can enjoy trailer rides around the 200-acre deer park aimed specifically at wildlife spotting for children. The trailer rides are every weekend until September 1, including August bank holiday Monday.

Bright Woods return with a host of forest school activities and free trails throughout the summer holidays. Children can take part in a sensory walk around the park and gardens on Tuesdays, August 20 and 27. A free trail in the walled gardens to find lost words will run every day throughout August.

The HandleBards theatre group will return to perform Shakespeare’s renowned plays The Tempest on Sunday, August 11 and Much Ado About Nothing on Tuesday, August 20, set against the backdrop of the castle in the 18th century Walled Gardens. Tickets, picnics and drinks can be ordered on the Raby Castle website.

The park and 18th century walled gardens will be open after hours until 8pm, every Thursday throughout August starting from August 8, and the castle will host new summer evenings behind the scenes tours every Thursday from the same date. Visitors will be welcomed with a free glass of prosecco and will be taken to areas of the castle not normally accessible to the public.

Visitors will be taken to see the state bedrooms where Frederick, Prince of Wales stayed when he visited in the 1700s, and afterwards will walk down the Hunter’s Gallery, decorated in the “strawberry hill gothic” style, popular in the mid 1700s. The four bedrooms off it, each have their own unique features.

Guests will also be shown the study of the 10th Lord Barnard which has remained untouched since his death in 1964.

Photographer Gary Lintern will run a variety of photography workshops including astrophotography at both Raby Castle and High Force. New this summer, Gary will also run children’s photography club sessions at Raby.

High Force Hotel will be hosting summer barbecues every Friday between July 12 and September 6, from 5pm. Bright Woods will also host free trails and a make your own wooden toys forest school.

Other events include the free Raby Castle Dog Walk on Sunday setting off from the Coach Yard at 10.30am.

Later this summer, a harvest seasonal market will take place on Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1,while a moonlight ribbon walk will be held on Saturday, September 14, and wildlife walks with Iain Alexander on September 18 and October 12.

nTo book tickets and for more details on times and prices on all events at Raby Castle, at Staindrop, County Durham, visit www.raby.co.uk/whats-on