Driving through the rather grand stone gateway, I just hoped I was heading in the right direction.

Sheep stood guarding their lambs under a canopy of trees as I slowly made my way through the park hoping I wasn’t going to end up on the doorstep of some landed gentry wondering how a commoner broke ranks!

Having no sense of direction and being a Newby Hall newcomer, I hadn’t realised you actually drive so close to nature to reach your destination. Seeing those sheep it felt so out of bounds, hence my hesitancy.

Arriving close to lunchtime we headed over to the picnic tables, unwrapped our lunch and watched the queues at the entrance grow and grow.

With the temperature high, Newby Hall, near Ripon, was proving a popular destination and once you’ve had the pleasure of visiting you can see why.

This is an utterly beautiful venue to visit with a charming stately home at its heart. Built by Sir Christopher Wren, and home to the Compton family, Newby Hall features stunning Robert Adam interiors and boasts a beautiful collection of Chippendale furniture, as well as historic paintings, Roman statues, gobelins, tapestries and a famous potty collection. You can find out all about the history of this fascinating home through the guided tours.

Being our first visit to Newby Hall, my five-year-old daughter and I spent so much time in the grounds there wasn’t sufficient time to see the hall. We only had time to peer in through the windows, so we will certainly be making a return visit.

I appreciate it is an over-used phrase, but Newby Hall really does have something for everyone. Visitors who are curious about the past will love the hall and its history, and gardeners will enjoy exploring the various species of rare plants within the 25 acres of award-winning gardens.

Although created in the early 1920s, the gardens are still influencing today’s gardening techniques and, walking through the grounds seeing the gardeners with their wheelbarrows and tools, you really begin to appreciate the work going on to keep this place so pristine.

Neatly-mowed lawns, perfectly pruned borders – everything is so neat and tidy I doubt there’s even a blade of grass out of place. You can see it is so well cared for and, as a visitor, you feel honoured to be able to enjoy it.

My daughter Katy was in her element in the adventure garden. Unfortunately, I hadn’t known about the Tarantella before we arrived – the dancing water feature by sculptor William Pye – otherwise I’d have packed a towel and swimming costume, but even so she enjoyed getting splashed. It was a lovely cool-down on an unseasonally hot spring day.

There are swing boats, a pirate look-out and other climbing apparatus, and then there’s the riverboat ride – powered by pedal. Colourful pedalos also grace this stretch of water.

Katy joined the queue for the zip wire and once she’d had a go was eager to repeat the short thrill glide. With so much to do she was off again.

Tyre swings, climbing webs – we exhausted them all, so it was time for some calm in the sand pit.

Then we were off again, this time to catch the miniature train for our ride along the tranquil river routes and through the tunnel.

Before heading home, we managed an ice cream and a sumptuous freshly-baked scone from the restaurant – a well-earned treat!

And we made a promise that this was one day out we would most definitely repeat.

Factfile:

* Newby Hall is just off the A1 near Ripon, North Yorkshire.
* The hall and gardens are open until September 25, Tuesdays to Sundays and bank holidays. It opens seven days a week in July and August. The gardens are open from 11am until 5.30pm. The house opens for tours from noon until 4pm.
* Facilities include restaurant, shop, plant centre and nearby farm shop. There are facilities for babies and less able – free wheelchair and scooters (book prior to visit).
* There is a dog exercise area close to the car park, but dogs are not allowed into the garden.
* Call the information line on 0845 4504068 or visit newbyhall.com.