The 10 Best Gardens in Cumbria, England

Holehird Gardens, home of the Lakeland Horticultural Society, 12 acres of volunteer-run stunning gardens, open every day of the year & a partner garden to RHS. November 2020 Covid-19 update: The gardens will remain open over the winter months. The toilets are open but there are no other facilities for visitors. Please follow government guidelines on hygiene, social distancing and travel. Toilets are being cleaned on a daily basis, with hand sanitiser available at exit doors. We hope you enjoy your visit to Holehird Gardens. We ask all visitors to make a donation of £5 to help with the upkeep of the garden & this, as usual, may be deposited in the collection boxes situated in the car park (close to the sign board) and outside the door to Visitor Reception.

BOOKING ESSENTIAL Want to take some alpacas out for a walk? Of course you do... and now you can! Alpacaly Ever After are thrilled to offer alpaca walks around the stunning grounds of The Lingholm Estate or alpaca walks at Whinlatter Forest, Meet and Greets at The Lakes Distillery or Lingholm and if you fancy climbing a local mountain, we have Llama Treks that take you there as well. All our activities take place outside in the fresh air, and as an outdoor activity provider we are fully versed in risk assessment and safe operating procedures. We would like to reassure our visitors and those looking to book that we are doing our utmost to protect both our visitors and guides, and are confident in providing a safe and hugely enjoyable experience that will be beneficial to physical and mental wellbeing. We have some exciting new activities coming soon, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube for the latest updates. Come and join The Woolly Army!

Rydal Mount, the last family home of William Wordsworth from 1813 until his death in 1850, now belongs to the direct descendants of the Poet and remains a lived-in family home. The dining room, part of the old Tudor cottage, with its original flagged floor and oak beams, contrasts pleasingly with the larger proportions of the drawing room and library, added in 1750. The house contains works of art, furniture, manuscripts and many of the Poet's books and personal possessions, reflecting his life here. Wordsworth was a keen landscape gardener and the four acre garden remains very much as he designed it, consisting of fell-side terraces, lawns, rock pools and a 9th century Norse mound. There are rare shrubs and, in season, the daffodils, bluebells and rhododendrons produce a spectacular display.

The historic and reputedly haunted Castle dating from the medieval age has been home to the Pennington family for over 800 years. It is a treasury of beautiful art and antiques, collected through the ages by the family who still live there. The Castle sits majestically in over 70 acres of wild, woodland gardens famous for collections of rhododendrons and azaleas set against the stunning backdrop of the Lakeland fells including Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain. The Hawk & Owl Centre is well worth a visit with daily displays at 2pm and watch the wild herons come in to feed at 4pm. The indoor MeadowVole Maze is an entertaining ecological attraction to entertain the young at heart. Playground, cafe, gift shops and an ancient church are all within the gardens. Regular events programme, including festivals, outdoor theatre, historical re-enactors and Halloween Week.

Lovely grounds open to visitors for things to do on a full day out, set in a stunning location between Skiddaw and Bassenthwaite Lake. Visitors of all ages welcome to enjoy, lakeside scenery, and peaceful gardens. The Poetry Walk links the literary connections to Mirehouse in the beautiful terraced gardens. The tranquil Bee Garden in home to plants and flowers particularly selected to entice bees and butterflies and provides plenty of space for quiet reflection.

Holker Hall is the home of the Cavendish Family who welcome visitors of all ages to one of the best-loved stately homes in Britain. Magnificently situated only a short distance from Grange-over-Sands and the expanse of Morecambe Bay and is set in exceptionally beautiful countryside with gardens that merge into Parkland, framed by the Lakeland Hills.

Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre is an internationally renowned centre for meditation, where everyone is welcome to enjoy a peaceful environment or join in the many programmes offered throughout the year. Whether you are looking for a day visit to the Buddhist Temple, house or grounds, an introduction to Buddhist meditation, or in depth courses and retreats, Manjushri KMC offers an enjoyable and meaningful experience. Daily free 15 minute guided meditations held in the World Peace Temple, everyone welcome. Each day there is a guided meditation at 12.30pm and 2pm. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to the International Spring and Summer Festival we are closed to day visitors from Mon 13 May and reopen on Mon 3 June 2019. Then again on Mon 15 July and reopen Sat 17 August 2019. Sorry for any inconvenience this causes.

Lowther Castle sits on a majestic elevated spot a few miles south of Penrith. Surrounded by acres of woodland and ancient gardens, the ruined castle is a stunning place to visit for families of all sizes and ages. An adventure playground in the woods is amazing for the younger visitor; the gardens are a feast for the imagination; the café offers food for all palates; and the shop sells a range of delightful Lowther and other goodies. Dogs on leads very welcome.