Sizergh Castle NT walk 9th September 2024

At the south end of the Lake District is Sizergh Castle, an easy stop from the main route into the Lakes. An old castle, interesting gardens, a good visitor centre, large car park, and plenty of walks.

The walk below is the 5ish mile circle from Sizergh to St John’s at Helsingham Church with it’s distant views. Then continuing over the cattle grid and turning left down the steep hill into Brigsteer. Left again to the gate that takes the path back to Sizergh.

Into the gardens at Sizergh. Its maples take a good colour in Autumn but there is plenty of other planting including a national collection of ferns. Nice cockerals as well. In the barn is a display about the life cycle of trees.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Lancaster 20th August 2024

A walk into Lancaster from the Park and Ride next to the M6. A couple of miles you can walk all the way along the former railway line behind the Holiday Inn or turn off at the canal aqueduct and walk via the Lancaster Canal.

Once in Lancaster the museum is a good call. It has plenty of information and changing exhibitions.

Overlooking Lancaster from the east is the Ashton Memorial. From the centre of Lancaster a good walk uphill to Williamson Park and on to the memorial to Lord Ashton’s wife:

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Fleetwood 30th July 2024

A quick trip to Fleetwood. Parking on the Esplanade which faces Morecambe Bay the Marine Hall looks attractive with it’s Yucca Trees and freshly cut grass. On the other side of the road The Mount which is a good viewing spot for looking across the Bay to the Lake District. Barrow is quite clear on a good day and ferries to the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland pass.

There were 3 lighthouses but now there are 2 as one metal framed light fell into the bay. The claim being that no-one could prove who owned it. Never mind the 2 lighthouses remain are more classic, Pharos, the tall one, and Middle Lighthouse the stumpy one.

The North Euston Hotel stands between the two lighthouses. It has an interesting history as it was once the northern extreme of the railway to Scotland. The ferry from Fleetwood being the other half of the journey on the west coast.

Outside the North Euston are the gardens which contain a statue of the founder the modern Fleetwood Lord Peter Hesketh Fleetwood.

Blackpool Heritage Trams visit Fleetwood a few times a day in summer. Usually there is a regular modern Blackpool Transport service tram which calls in at Blackpool North Station since the extension line opened in June 2024.

Across from the main tram stop which is next to the gardens is a ferry to Knott End. A tiny ferry that looks like a bus and operates when the tide is high enough. Otherwise Knott End is quite a long ride to the first bridge over the River Wyre.

Fleetwood has a museum which is very good. A dedicated post will be added.

The Marine Hall:

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

East Lancashire Railway 25th July 2024

Another trip to the East Lancashire Railway, Rawtenstall to Bury. It goes on to Heyward but I’ve never been there.

Today was a general trip with a walk around Bury centre. Bury has a few decent attractions. Bury Bolton Street station on the ELR is a decent spot at an event. They have shunters going up and down in between the bigger trains. Railwayana stalls are on the platform and bridge at an event. Plus two cafes.

Bury Art Gallery is free and has some interesting items plus a shop with good cards, and a cafe that’s a bit old fashioned but good enough. There’s a gallery for Victoria Wood underneath. There was a good statue of her outside the gallery but a car knocked it down. Hopefully it will be back soon.

The Fusilier Museum is worth a look although there’s a charge. It also has a cafe and a shop. The evolution of the regiments is interesting as is the extent of their activity. As the population of north west England grew regiments were moved to be based in the north. It brings an awareness and fascination of parts of the world many wouldn’t be as aware of. Now these regiments are more combined and mainly based at home.

Near the famous Bury Market is the Bury Tram station. A bit cave like and not very pleasant.

Bury market is better at weekend when most stalls are open. The fish and meat stalls are big, the heaps of Bury Black Puddings are amusing, although not my cup of tea.

Back at Bury Bolton Street they’re still shunting.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lake Windermere and Kendal June 2024

A short break in the Lake District.

Blackwell Arts & Craft House

An arts and craft movement house built for Manchester brewer Joseph Holt. Now operated by Lakeland Arts who charge for entry or you can buy an annual pass enabling entrance to four attractions including the Windermere Jetty Museum, Abbot Hall Art Gallery and the Lake District museum currently closed next to Abbot Hall.

Blackwell is a nice tranquil place about a mile south of Bowness looking down on Lake Windermere. It has a nice cafe, and shop. The car park is a bit small but normally we’ve not had difficulty parking.

Inside the house has aspirational rooms with good views and hand made furniture all nicely done. Some rooms are used for displays of Arts and Craft items, one of Blackwell during the war being used as a school for evacuees.

Blackwell House near Bowness June 2024

Ambleside is a good centre for walking and has a few decent eating places as well as a multi-screen/multi venue cinema. The centre is going on for a mile from the lake and the through traffic can be busy.

A few photos, sitting outside a pub, Morris dancing in the evening sun by the lake.

Wray Castle, National Trust, a boat trip or car ride from Ambleside. There was a very good display of photos of early Everest attempts last time we went. A small local rustic coffee shop chain, Joey’s, has a place next to the castle. It’s a chain as there are a couple more along the lake walk and at Beatrix Potters house. The walk to the next ferry stop across from Bowness is about 3-4 miles along a mostly decent wide track. Trees frequently block the view and it seems to go on longer than you think. The car ferry is a bit closer than the lake ferry stop

You can get the ferry to Bowness walk to the Jetty Museum, which isn’t a short walk, have refreshment and perhaps go round. Certain ferries stop at the Jetty Museum on the trip north to Ambleside. We enjoy a ride on the lake.

Kendal

Kendal is a place of back alleys. There is one main street which is very busy up to the pedestrianised area. Looking left and right are alleys. Some of them have decent shops, such as the one that goes to Booths Supermarket.

On the pedestrianised section there is a good square behind the war memorial with some interesting buildings and cafes if you follow it round and down the hill and find the alley.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Return to Levens Hall 15th July 2024

Levens Hall once again and on a sunny day in peak flower season. Read our previous post for more information.

The walk through the deer park.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Return to Levens Hall 15th July 2024

Blackpool Trams 25th May 2024

In 2024 Blackpool Heritage Tours are operating a reduced range of trams as the Heritage Tram depot in Rigby Road is being refurbished. Those being run are kept at Starr Gate depot.

Today, while we were there, three heritage trams were operating, 700 in Wartime Green livery and with B fleet doors for use on the new platforms, 717 in streamline livery and with double destination boards and roof lights. These English Electric trams were made in Preston in the 1930s.

Blackpool had a lot of taste with its art deco style tram and bus liveries specified by the General Manager Walter Luff, and the art deco buildings built by the Borough Architect, John Charles Robinson, which include libraries, The Cabin Lift and Derby Baths on North Shore, park buildings such as Stanley Park Art Deco Cafe, tram terminals such as Bispham.

The new tram spur to North Station is being tested and drivers trained. The heritage trams near North Pier.

The Boat tram 227 named, in 2018, Charlie Cairoli after the famous Blackpool Circus Clown.

The view from tram 717 with its Art Deco shaped wrap round windows.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Blackpool Trams 25th May 2024

Levens Hall and Garden 8th May 2024

Levens Hall on a slightly misty May day.

The house is interesting with family association with Wellington in his battles. The garden is famous for its topiary and the floral displays change with the seasons. The full flush of summer being a premium in our opinion.

Across the road outside the house is a path in the River Kent valley. The Kent having a tidal bore downstream from the railway viaduct on some days.

This house is part of the Historic Houses group so we pay to enter. With the aim of visiting the gardens 4 times in a year we buy a garden season ticket.

On arrival parking is free. Go to the ticket booth and buy your tickets for the garden and/or house, you never know when a large group might arrive. Then go into the cafe which has been extended and modernised. It’s open all year when the house and garden close in Winter. The cafe, gift shop and bakery are open to all without a ticket.

After coffee a walk in the garden which is split into several sections separated by high hedges. The flowers are lovely, especially in summer, and vegetables are grown and allowed to mature as planting. Leave the garden via the shop not via the entrance.

There are a few walks. The house grounds extend over the main road. Going through a stile to walk along a path above the River Kent valley, around a mile, to the other end of the park, lined by trees and with deer. We normally turn back here.

Alternatively you can get across the river by following the lane to a bridge over the river. Turning left takes you back along the other side of the river. Turning right takes you to Sizergh Castle. Perhaps calling in at Sizergh Barn which is cafe, delicatessen, clothing and art shop at a farm enroute to the castle. The Castle has quite a long entrance road so a decision about not going in and carrying on to Levens by the circle route needs taking. It gets too complicated to explain. A map is helpful.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Comments Off on Levens Hall and Garden 8th May 2024

Sizergh Castle National Trust and Walk 17th April 2024

Sizergh Castle in April and the garden is beginning to stir.

A typical day for us at Sizergh is to arrive at the Car Park, as NT members we still have to get a parking ticket but there’s no charge. We then have a coffee and perhaps a light bite before looking round the shop and going on a walk.(continued below)

The walks can be there and back or round in a circle. We favour the walk to St John’s Church at Helsingham, such a simple church, silence reigns, use your card to make a donation. The walk surface has been improved this year. There’s a short but fairly steep climb on a concrete track before it reverts to a gravelly path going to the church.

In front of the church is the wide Lyth Valley with a very flat bottom cut by straight narrow lanes. Over the left is Morecambe Bay, a few miles away, and the River Kent with its railway viaduct at Arnside, better seen with binoculars or a telephoto lens. Across the valley are the peaks of the Lake District.

Turn back making a 2 miles walk or carry on making a 4 to 5 mile walk. Carrying on is always our choice. Along the ‘road’ to the cattle grid then left down a very steep and long slope to Brigsteer and it’s pub. Good views and quiet. Turning left at Brigsteer along the valley side with the steep side to the left and the valley to the right.

Past Brigsteer you can turn off opposite a farm and take a woodland route or go along the lane. The lane is a good option as there is a cottage with very bright floral displays in summer.

On through a wood until you reach more fields when you turn left and head through the fields to Sizergh. There are many walking options. Including a walk to Levens Hall, circular or there and back.

Back at Sizergh it’s lunchtime. Then a walk round the garden and occasionally a viewing of the house. As NT members it’s free entry.

Last stop is the shop. Although NT shops are very similar. Sizergh has home grown apples in autumn and sometimes honey.

It’s a good easy to find place. Nearby is Kendal which is a nice town to visit if you nosey about off the main street. It has a good art gallery too, Abbot Hall, pay to enter. Also nearby is Levens Hall for it’s famous topiary. You might carry on for a few miles to the Lakeland Motor Museum or the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway Holker Hall or a bit north to Blackwell House, near Bowness.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Sizergh Castle National Trust and Walk 17th April 2024

Rawtenstall, East Lancashire Railway 13th April 2024

A trip to Rawtenstall to visit the East Lancs Heritage Railway on a Saturday. The ex-GWR Castle Class loco 4079 Pendennis Castle was visiting and would soon return to Didcot. Also running was 45108 a class 45 diesel of the ‘Peak’ class. The first 10 being named after hills such as Helvellyn which was a Class 44 numbered D2.

It wasn’t planned as a long stay at Rawtenstall as a trip to Helmshore Mill was also planned.

The station at Rawtenstall is a pleasant place with a clock, a bar and a carriage that is used as a cafe and railwayana shop. It’s on a curve in the track and has gas lamps, probably not using gas now, and beyond the station is an old mill with an interesting chimney. Behind is a flat topped hill which appears to be in the Manchester direction but isn’t.

Next to the station is a car park used by the station, a pub, a gym and other businesses. Across the track is a retail centre with a large M&S Food, a Costa and other home stores as well as a large car park. There’s also a Tesco towards Rawtenstall which is quite a nice little town centre with a new bus station.

45108 Class 45 diesel arrives at Rawtenstall early morning
ex GWR 4079 Pendennis Castle arrives at Rawtenstall
Coupling the steam loco to the carriages, looks quite a job
50015 at Rawtenstall
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Rawtenstall, East Lancashire Railway 13th April 2024

Helmshore Mills Textile Museum – 13th April 2024

It was a good day for a visit to the East Lancashire Railway and as the Helmshore Mills Textile Museum is only about a mile off the route a visit was made on the way home.

For info the route is to leave the M65 at Junction 5 and take the Grane Road over the hills, it’s nice ride although has average speed cameras. If you’re going to Helmshore Mill it’s just south of Grane Road along Holcombe Road in Helmshore. I’ve never heard of it either.

Helmshore Mill is part of Lancashire County Council Museums. It’s quite a large place and has a decent car park and a cafe.

There are working machines taking you right through the process from cotton balls to carding, spinning, fabric. There is also a history of the process and development of machines. Also on the social changes from the forced trade and shipment of people for the growth and harvesting of cotton to the movement of people from agriculture to industry and growth of mill towns.

The date is the 13th April 2024

A view of the back of the mill.

The machines have a lot of strange names. Amazing to think these machines were all made in Lancashire for hundreds of mills and exported, along with the fabrics. Areas such as Oldham, not too far from here, had newer much bigger mills. This mill is quite early and was a woollen mill, built between 1789 and 1820.

Below is the spinning exhibition in a separate building to the mill.

Below is Arkwright’s Water Frame for spinning. There must be 60 spools on each frame. That’s productivity. Arkwright was born in Preston but driven out after he invented this machine. There’s more about that in our website, Link here

Below is the disused rail link bridge. Not sure what those small bridgelike structures are, they might be supports for the wall.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Helmshore Mills Textile Museum – 13th April 2024

South Lakes – Motor Museum and Heritage Rail Feb 24

The area of South Lakes sometimes called South Lakes Peninsulas has a great selection of heritage transport exhibits all close to each other near the south of Lake Windermere and all capable of being combined in one trip:

The Lakeland Motor Museum at Backbarrow, with Cafe Ambio.

The Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway.

The Windermere Steamers. Ambleside – Bowness – Lakeside.

Check what’s running first. The railway gets full before Christmas.

You could drive to the Motor Museum for free parking and walk or drive the mile to the railway. Get the train to Lakeside. Then get the boat to Bowness. Or there is a bus from Lakeside to the Motor Musuem and probably one between the museum and station.

The River Leven runs fast after rain. Kayakers shoot the rapids and shoot the weir. You can view the river from the Cafe Ambio at the Motor Museum sitting at a table outside.

The Lakeland Motor Museum has a good collection of cars and motor cycles including a Donal Campbell exhitiion in a separate building. It has an interestnig history display as Dolly Blue die and gunpowder used to be made in the building.

Below the station at Haverthwaite has a cafe and a shop that are open when the trains aren’t running. It’s a decent cafe.

It isn’t shown here but near the above bikes is a great display of racing bikes and an Isle of Man TT exhibit area with a tribute film to the Morecambe Missile, John McGuinness. What riding! I’ve watched it over and over. The fastest average speed in the time trials is 136mph.

The second TVR car, they were made in Blackpool and named after Trevor Wilkinson the founder in 1947. Later cars had very big engines and light bodies and looked like nothing else. The Blackpool factory closed some time in the early 2000s.

The locos at Haverthwaite are held in a shed that is open more often than the railway.

The hotel by the river at Backbarrow. The Whitewater Hotel and Leisure Club. An old mill, it looks good from the outside. Rooms overlooking the river rapids.

To travel from Bowness is about 4 miles by boat to Lakeside. Then decide how to get to the Lakeland Motor Museum and Cafe Ambio or to go on the train to Haverthwaite.

There are walks near the hotel above. One goes under the railway about 200yds west from this spot.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on South Lakes – Motor Museum and Heritage Rail Feb 24

Ambleside on 30th January 2024

Ambleside is a small town in the middle of the English Lake District and is an easy 55 mile drive from Preston. Althernatively there are trains and buses although none will take you direct.

There are trains direct to Windermere station or you can change at Oxenholme and get the local train. There is almost always a bus at Windermere station going north. Kendal is another option for getting the bus to Ambleside. Many of the buses are open top upstairs.

Ambleside sits at the north end of Lake Windermere, the centre being around a mile from the Pier Head. A small bus-like vehicle picks up people, for a fee, from the boat to take them to the centre if they don’t want to walk.

The view over Ambleside
The main road through the Lake District threads through Ambleside
The main shopping area with a small shopping centre on the right where the bus station used to be
Another shopping street.
Ambleside’s famour house over the river
The amin church with Loughrigg behind.
A view over Ambleside to Loughrigg one of the easier hills
A view from the Lake towards the Langdales.
The Langdales with a more zoomed view

Other features in Amblesdie are the walk up to the waterfalls or to Wansfell from behind the Salutation. Also round Wansfell fom across from Hayes Garden Centre via Skelghyll Wood. The Coffin Walk to Grasmere.

Another good easyish trip is to get the ferry to Wray Castle. Then walk to either the car fery or the launch jetty a bit further up. There’s a walkers ticket on Lakeland Steamers to take in this rriangular boat trip, although the car ferry has to be paid separate, it’s very cheap.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Comments Off on Ambleside on 30th January 2024

Windermere and Kendal ~September 2023

A Windermere lake cruiser comes into Bowness.

Bowness, when the boat comes in. Lake Windermere.
Bowness, when the boat comes in. Lake Windermere.

Crossing the lake from Bowness it’s a decent distance on foot to Near Sawrey and Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top, National Trust. Here is Cuckoo Brow Inn on the walk.

Cuckoo Brow Inn near Near Sawrey Beatrice Potter

Coming over the brow Hill Top comes into sight.

The view to Hilltop, Near Sawrey, Beatrix Potter
The view to Hilltop, Near Sawrey, Beatrix Potter

A USAF F15, the prime fighter of the USAF from the 1970s to fairly recent, does a sweep of the lake, followed by another and another and another. Love it!

A USAF F15 low over Windermere
A USAF F15 low over Windermere
Kendal main street
Kendal main street

Looking along an alley off Kendal main street there’s another world. Kendal is full of alleyways and steps into the past.

Kendal behind the main street
Kendal behind the main street. Look up a passageway

Kendal Town Hall on the main street.

Kendal Town Hall
Kendal Town Hall
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Windermere and Kendal ~September 2023

A trip to Keswick – May 2023

Enroute we took a short detour to Pooley Bridge at the north end of Ullswater, a large and beautiful lake. The boat leaves the jetty, fairly full. There is a decent cafe with good outside seating at Pooley Bridge.

Ullswater, Pooley Bridge jetty
Ullswater, Pooley Bridge jetty

A walk on the disused railway line from Keswick to Threlkeld Coffee Shop. About 3 miles of easy walking with an incline to the road at the end. The coffee shop is modern in style, has a small car park, is popular and in the Village Hall.

Returning via Castlerigg Stone Circle makes a change although you could walk on the track or get a bus.

Sheep and lambs viewed from the walking route:

There are a couple of modern bridges carrying the Keswick by-pass. One goes over the ex-rail track near Keswick, quite a nice bridge. The one in the photo is the road as it converges with the track near Threlkeld.

Evening boats on Derwent Water:

We were treated to some dramatic sunsets:

Keswick disused railway station, now part of a hotel and at the beginning of the walk to Threlkeld:

Lakeside waterfowl at Keswick:

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on A trip to Keswick – May 2023

A walk in Lancaster – March 2023

Lancaster is an interesting smallish city with a lot of Georgian buildings and small passageways leading to not too secret locations if you’re a local. Nice coffee shops, bakeries and organic food co-operatives hide in these places often with inconspicuous entrances. There’s also a compact, interesting and information dense museum, Lancashire County Council operate a number of places.

This walk starts on the opposite side of the river after crossing the footbridge with what looks like 2 knitting needles, shown on photos below. It’s a circuit crossing the river not too far apart. Old railway lines now make good walking to Glasson Dock, Morecambe and to the east and the Park and Ride.

A view of the old quay with customs house, now the Nautical Museum, and warehouses, now apartments. Above is Lancaster Priory
A view from one footbridge to the other, making a circuit. The old quay and on the hill the Ashton Memorial, a place worth visiting with cafe and butterfly enclosure
A telephoto shot of the Ashton Memorial. A good climb from the centre of the city.
The footbridge and West Coast Main Line.
The view from the castle over Lancaster
Lancaster Castle Entrance. A nice cafe, Atkinsons, inside.

Inside Lancaster Castle Courtyard.
A personal favourite view down from the Castle towards the Judges Lodge.
The Judges Lodge, run by Lancashire County Council and a nice place to visit, check opening times.
Posted in Heritage, Uncategorized | Comments Off on A walk in Lancaster – March 2023

Manchester Art Gallery – Dandy Style – 2023

A visit to Manchester Art Gallery on 12th January 2023 for the free exhibition of men’s fashion over 250 years, ‘Dandy Style’, closing 1st May 2023. Featuring many well known fashion designers.

The painting below of Prince Edward in the 1920’s creating a trend for Fair Isle sweaters. Below the painting is an example from Alexander McQueen with the pink neckline.

Manchester Art Gallery Prince Edward wearing Fair Isle in Dandy
Manchester Art Gallery Prince Edward wearing Fair Isle in Dandy
Dandy Style - Manchester Art Gallery to 1st May 2023
Dandy Style – Manchester Art Gallery to 1st May 2023

The poster of the Exhibition features a painting by Lubaina Himid, the Turner Winning artist, as well as other items in the exhibition, as below.

Manchester Art Gallery Eric Ravillious pottery in Dandy
Manchester Art Gallery Eric Ravillious pottery in Dandy
Manchester Art Gallery - Cheetah and Stag with Two Indians
Manchester Art Gallery – Cheetah and Stag with Two Indians by Stubbs
Crafted Pigeon in Manchester Art Gallery shop
Crafted Pigeon in Manchester Art Gallery shop
Manchester Tram outside the Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester Tram outside the Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester Piccadilly Station
Manchester Piccadilly Station
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Manchester Art Gallery – Dandy Style – 2023

Blackpool Christmas Lights 2022

Blackpool on the 21st November 2022, a damp Monday enabling reflections from the lights.

St John’s Square, Blackpool Christmas Tree outside the Winter Gardens with the Tower in the background.

Blackpool Tower lit at night

A tram passing the Christmas Stalls, fairground including the Sky Flyer and Odyssey
Odyssey, Blackpool’s new large lighting display.
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Blackpool Christmas Lights 2022

The area around Sizergh Castle, Cumbria, summer 2022

Sizergh Castle near Kendal is looked after by the National Trust although the Strickland family live there, as they have for some 700 years.

The castle has a strong and square tower with a more recent slate roof living section and large chimneys.

On arrival park in the Car Park which has a ticket machine, free for National Trust members. The Visitor Centre is a long wooden building with a cafe, outside seating, toilets and a shop.

Choose to visit the house and garden or just the garden. Alternatively take a walk along the well marked paths.

The cafe is a pleasant environment although the food gives the impression it was cooked by an ex-farmer. They do try though with some vegetarian choices. It’s the pies, heavy looking with thick pastry that don’t look very stylish.

The gardens have a large range of planting. A UK National Collection of ferns, flower borders, a large rock garden wit a lot of big planting, acers etc. A vegetable garden and large orchard. Bees and hens. There’s also a small lake and a large barn with some old items and a second hand book sale. In autumn they sell the apples with lots of varieties.

The house has several sections with an old baronial style dining room and family rooms. Some interesting panelled rooms and a large library.

For the walks you can head for St John’s at Helsingham, a tiny church on top of the valley with views over the Lake District and the wide and flat Lyth Valley. Then decide whether to head back or down the big hill road to Brigsteer and carry on round a circle to the castle. You can head from the castle to the woodland in the valley. You can also head towards Sedgwick and the old northern dry section of the Preston to Lancaster, Kendal Canal. There’s also a walk to Levens Village and Levens Hall.

None of these walks are strenuous although there are some hills on the St John’s walk.

Sizergh Castle from the entrance road
Apples for sale in Autumn at Sizergh Castle
Sizergh Castle from the garden
The view over the Lyth Valley to the Lake District
The walk from Brigsteer back to Sizergh Castle
The walk to Sedgwich from Sizergh Castle
The aquaduct, now dry, at Sedgwick Lancaster Canal
The dry section of the Lancaster Canal near Sedgwick

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on The area around Sizergh Castle, Cumbria, summer 2022

Levens Hall, Cumbria, July 2022

A visit to Levens Hall near Kendal in Cumbria. Famous for its topiary. Through the narrow gates up the drive into the decent sized free car park. Levens Hall also takes coach tours.

You can either go to the cafe first or buy tickets to the garden and the house, or just the garden.

We’ve been round the house a couple of times and it is interesting. Today we just took a guided garden tour and then wandered ourselves. The two lady guides were excellent, with good nature and being gardeners knew all the plants. In summer the gardens are wonderful. The topiary and flower beds divided into ‘rooms’ by high hedges. There is a magnificent border of shrub roses if you catch it in full flush just through a ‘gate’ in the high hedge. A red rose of Lancashire is also grown in a nearby bed and was coming to its end during this visit.

The topiary is always exquisite each with their own nickname. At the back next to the Gardeners Cottage are pots of honey from the local hive, to buy.

First though we went into the cafe. It’s an attractive cafe with a nice outdoor seating area although we find it’s not exactly our taste. You can also buy ice cream and drinks from a stall near the cafe entrance.

After the garden walk the exit is through the shop which has some interesting local items including it’s own bottled beer.

Outside the premises and across the main road is the old entrance drive which is a long straight tree lined drive with deer, following the River Kent. This can lead on to other walks.

The River Kent is known for its tidal bore and long railway viaduct at Arnside. Nearby is the village of Levens and further west the River Leven drains Lake Windermere into Morecambe Bay.

Levens Hall and the topiary with planting
The yellow border, it’s lovely, so disappointing when it dies down
More topiary at Levens Hall
The poppy border
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Levens Hall, Cumbria, July 2022