Cumbria has some amazing gardens throughout the county, beautiful in any season but especially in the spring months. The days are getting lighter and longer, gardens are springing into life with plenty of colour and birdsong getting us ready for summer.
Here are a few of our favourite gardens for you to explore…. .
Located in a stunning setting overlooking Windermere, it’s a 10 acre fellside garden, managed by the Lakeland Horticultural Society, Holehird is an award-winning RHS Partner Garden.
Holehird Gardens has been home to the Lakeland Horticultural Society since 1969. However, written records of Holehird go back to the 17th century when a large part of the area was owned by Thomas Hird and his family. The Walled Garden, with its herbaceous borders and island beds, is the centrepiece of Holehird Gardens and is beautiful at any time of the year. In spring everything comes to life and the colours are just incredible. Elsewhere in the garden you will find spring bulbs, collections of rhododendrons, hydrangeas, alpines, six National Collections and much more.
The Gardens are open to visitors every day, from dawn to dusk. Visitor Information is normally manned by volunteers from 10am to 4pm daily, from April to October.
Holehird Walled Garden
Explore William Wordsworth’s favourite home and discover breathtaking views of Windermere and Rydal Water!
Rydal Mount is a historic house which was once home to William Wordsworth for much of his life. The house dates from the 16th century, although was enlarged over the intervening centuries, and even by Wordsworth himself. It contains a selection of the family’s prized possessions and portraits.
The famous gardens are a delight to walk around when visiting the house. Wordsworth was a keen landscape gardener and the five acre garden remains very much as he designed it. It consists of fell-side terraces, rock pools and an ancient mound.
Rydal Mount gardens
Known as the home of John Ruskin, this 18th century house and garden occupies a wonderful location overlooking Coniston Water. Today it still houses the quirky character of its most famous occupant, Victorian art critic, John Ruskin. It’s truly brimming with fascinating treasures from this avid collector’s 28 years living in the Lake District. The estate ranges from lakeshore meadows to high, open fell with a stunning diversity of flora and fauna. A range of trails thread the estate and a trail guide is available in the shop.
At the Estate’s heart are eight unique and beautiful gardens which continue the many radical experiments in land management and horticulture which Ruskin began. They cover three areas – the northern and southern gardens, which involve some walking uphill, and the lower gardens which are suitable for all. Dogs on a lead are allowed in the gardens.
Brantwood
Muncaster Castle is a fine example of one of the Lake District and Cumbria’s favourite historic houses.
The history of the gardens stretches back centuries. The estate has been in the hands of the Pennington family for over 800 years and many fashions in horticulture have come and gone over this period, though the gardens have always been amongst the best of their kind. The views from the castle and the gardens overlooking the valley and coastline are truly impressive, you can easily fill a day visiting this attraction.
So, go and see for yourself just how impressive the building and historic gardens really are.
Views from Muncaster Castle gardens
Another historic castle is Sizergh, with it’s beautiful gardens, estate walks, adventure trails, woodland discoveries and birdwatching mean you could spend all your time here outdoors. With acres of wetland and woodland to explore, along with the formal gardens, and one of the best fern and acer collections in the UK. You’ll also discover informal wild flower meadows, down to the bird hides Moss at Low Park, where you’ll see migrating birds coming and going. After all that you’ll need some refreshment so Ashbank Cafe beckons.
Sizergh Castle gardens
The 25 acres of formal and informal gardens at Holker Hall are stunning all year round, and if you go in spring you’ll enjoy the enormous rhododendrons in full flower, along with the iconic Neptune Cascade at its best, and the gorgeous tulips in the formal garden. Spring bulbs sprout in the vast grass amphitheatre. Bluebells and wild garlic will follow in the lush, green woodland and the ultimate sign of spring – all types of blossom – cherry blossom, apple blossom, hawthorn. The house itself dates back to the 1600s, and is still the home of the Cavendish family -and the whole place is surrounded by 200 acres of parkland – where you’ll see the estate’s fallow deer roaming in the trees.
Holker Hall gardens
Wherever you choose to go, they all have cafe’s or tearooms, and many have shops to browse, selling fabulous local produce.
If you love all things gardening here’s a couple of our local garden centres to browse too:
Beetham Nurseries & Garden Centre: Beetham, near Milnthorpe. Lovely garden centre, with excellent café and shop.
Grasmere Garden Village: Grasmere. Cafe, gift shop including clothes and garden centre right in the heart of Grasmere village
Hayes Garden World, Ambleside – large gift shop, garden centre, café and Christmas central!
Larch Cottage Nurseries: Penrith – garden, restaurant and shop
Ellie’s Hill Foot Garden Centre: Ulverston. Garden centre, cafe, florist and shop.
