Locations of our Beekeeping Courses.
North Pennine Bees runs Beekeeping Courses in the North of England in Northumberland, Cumbria and Newcastle/Gateshead.
The three main locations are:
- Bill Quay, in Gateshead
- Whitfield, beautiful Pennine hamlet between Hexham and Alston (Click for information)
- Lanercost Priory, near Carlisle
Bill Quay Community Farm is tucked away in the east of Gateshead, on the banks of the River Tyne. It is a rural haven and home to a variety of livestock which Old MacDonald would have been proud of! Managed by Gateshead Council and a community management association, the farm was set-up in the mid-1980s to educate and entertain the local community. It is a little jewel in an urban area. (See the film of Bill Quay Farm) At the time of writing we have 3 British National Beehives at Bill Quay, and a "Beehaus" plastic
hive. This is is in an excellent forage area for bees, the students on the course have easy access to the bees and to a classroom - as well as access to the Green Fleece Café, (sometimes even out of opening hours), for tea coffee and a bite the keep you going while you learn. Weather permitting we spend a third of each lesson with the bees. The classroom is just a few yards from the bees, and access could not be easier - though of course it is the weather which has the last word on whether we can go and see the bees or not.
Whitfield is a small and very beautiful hamlet half way between Carlisle and Newcastle. It is about 8.5 miles South of the main A69 road which joins the two cities and is set in an isolated valley typical of the North Pennines. Around Whitfield are hay meadows, deciduous woods and heather moors (or Fells as we call them). The honey produced in this valley once had a reputation of winning the “Best Honey” prize at the National Honey Show for year after year. Our beekeeping courses at Whitfield are held at the Whitfield Village Pantry, the village Shop and Tea Room where there is an excellent conference room upstairs ideal for our beekeeping courses, with overhead projector and suitable seating. Downstairs David and Ed produce the most delicious food, as well as tea and coffee. Accommodation could be available in the local Elks Head pub, subject to availability and at your own cost (prices between £50 and £70 per night, but discounts are sometimes available upon application: speak directly to Phil by phone). Other Bed&Breakfast houses are dotted around the immediate area including a youth hostel and other accommodation from £12 per person per night, subject to availability and at your cost. For more information on this please contact us. Directions: To get to Whitfield you can go down the A686 from Haydon Bridge towards Alston for 8.5 miles, or from the other direction you go for 10 miles from Alston on the A686 towards Haydon Bridge.
Lanercost Priory is another ideal spot for learning about beekeeping. It is a totally rural area, quite remote and absolutely beautiful. For those of you interested in the Beekeeping Weekend, you will be interested to know that the Lanercost Tea Rooms also offer accommodation. At the time of writing there are 4 hives at the
apiary at Lanercost and another "Beehaus", by Omlet. This course is held in the Tea Room of the famous Lanercost Priory. Their little conference room is ideal for our purposes and for the small classes we teach - it is warm and light. There is excellent access for people in wheelchairs and hot and cold running drinks, delicious lunch in the restaurant as well as scones and cakes galore. The apiary is a 4 minute drive away down a bumpy track. The aim is for about an hour of each lesson to be held in the apiary, with the bees. Of course access to the bees is dictated in part by the weather; bees can get stroppy if they are disturbed in bad weather, but they can be very gentle on a 'good' day, or even only 'reasonable' day. Lanercost Priory offers a selection of accommodation. For full details including how to book please see the Lanercost website.