Lowther Castle & Gardens
Please note that while the castle pinnacle is being rebuilt –
a precarious operation involving cranes and heavy masonry
– there is limited access to the castle ruin and parterre.
Works are proving delicate. We hoped they would be done before the end of June but that is beginning to look optimistic.
If it is important for you to have access to the staircase tower, please email info@lowthercastle.org for updates.
Lowther Castle & Gardens
A stunning Lake District visitor attraction
Of the many treasures waiting to be discovered in the English Lake District, Lowther Castle is a particular gem. Built at the turn of the 19th century on the site of two previous houses, the castle was a grand affair boasting a room for every day of the year. Its gardens were the envy of the north.
But in 1957 the castle was demolished. Just the façade and outer walls remained standing and for over half a century, the place was empty – home only to chickens, pigs and the odd bat. The gardens were lost to wilderness.
Today Lowther Castle is one of the most intriguing visitor attractions in the country. Dramatic ruins, gardens within gardens, an adventure playground to rival the best in the land. We look forward to welcoming you.
A grand day out..
As you set out to visit Lowther Castle, we would like to make a few suggestions. Bring your children, your grandchildren, your friends, your dogs (on leads). Dress for all weathers, wear big smiles and expect to stay a while.
Lowther Castle is full of stories. Many of these are told in the exhibition, the Story of Lowther. And if you go exploring, through the ruins, through the gardens and woodland, you will find plenty more food for the imagination. The same family has lived here for 850 years and you can see and hear their echoes.
Meanwhile, if the younger members of your team wish to make their own stories, then seek out the lost castle, one of the UK’s largest adventure playgrounds. And when all of you are ready for a rest, you can retreat to the café or the takeaway and have some delicious freshly-made food.
The castle ruins and gardens are open every day from 10am to 4pm in winter and 10am to 5pm in summer. For castle and garden entry fees, click here. Last entry to the gardens 1 hour before closing.
PS. Cycle-hire is also on the menu so once you have explored the castle and gardens to your satisfaction, you can climb aboard a bicycle and journey around the wider park.
#lowthercastle
This past week has seen war declared once again on the broad-leaf dock, a perennial weed that is very prolific throughout our long-grass areas and meadows. The presence of the dock is a reminder of the past when heavy machines moved through the site, causing significant soil compaction, to which our clay soils are particularly susceptible. Dock is also an indicator plant for soil fertility, especially high potassium and magnesium levels.
This is the third year of dock-digging. It is very labour-intensive as we have to remove at least 15 cm of the taproot - which can reach up to 1m in length. On the other hand, the work is also gratifying, as we have managed to clear large populations throughout the Orchard, Nuttery, and Rush Meadows along the Yew Avenue. Each year, we tackle a new area to get on top of these beasts in our organic way.
#dock #broadleafdock #organicgardening
This past week has seen war declared once again on the broad-leaf dock, a perennial weed that is very prolific throughout our long-grass areas and meadows. The presence of the dock is a reminder of the past when heavy machines moved through the site, causing significant soil compaction, to which our clay soils are particularly susceptible. Dock is also an indicator plant for soil fertility, especially high potassium and magnesium levels.
This is the third year of dock-digging. It is very labour-intensive as we have to remove at least 15 cm of the taproot - which can reach up to 1m in length. On the other hand, the work is also gratifying, as we have managed to clear large populations throughout the Orchard, Nuttery, and Rush Meadows along the Yew Avenue. Each year, we tackle a new area to get on top of these beasts in our organic way.
#dock #broadleafdock #organicgardening
A new tool has arrived! We are excited to use our new broadfork, also known as a Doppelgrabegabel, Grelinette, or Biofourche, which will help us open up our compacted clay soils throughout our new Western Gardens—our three new gardens that we are currently planting. The long tines can penetrate our clay soils at greater depths, allowing air to circulate and minimising the mixing of different soil profiles, all without increasing soil compaction or creating new soil pans. We have borrowed the concept from the vegetable gardening, where this tool has been used for centuries.
#broadfork #terradix #soilpreparation #beatingtheclay #horticulture @terradix_broadfork
video prepared @lwuce
A new tool has arrived! We are excited to use our new broadfork, also known as a Doppelgrabegabel, Grelinette, or Biofourche, which will help us open up our compacted clay soils throughout our new Western Gardens—our three new gardens that we are currently planting. The long tines can penetrate our clay soils at greater depths, allowing air to circulate and minimising the mixing of different soil profiles, all without increasing soil compaction or creating new soil pans. We have borrowed the concept from the vegetable gardening, where this tool has been used for centuries.
#broadfork #terradix #soilpreparation #beatingtheclay #horticulture @terradix_broadfork
video prepared @lwuce
The start of June ushered in sunshine and showers and a busy week in the Gardens at Lowther.
The wildflower meadows are replete with flowers from bright buttercups to delicate clover and coveted orchids. This special habitat can be encouraged to thrive by periodically removing invasive docks.
Staff and volunteers were given an introduction to identifying the differences between broad-leaved dock and native sorrel, before digging out the dock (and making sure to remove as much root as possible).
Underneath the Briar Rose, the Gardeners were grateful for protective gauntlets as they worked their way through the weeds. The David Austin roses are coming into bloom with great scent and celebration.
Andrea and Andrew have practised their carpentry skills to install a new bamboo fence in the Japanese Garden.
Senior Gardener Tom sheltered from the downpours inside the Japanese tea house; pouring over planting plans.
Meanwhile, progress in the Sweet Scented Garden continued with hundreds of lily of the valley, alpine strawberries and violets introduced along the edges of the pathways.
Gardener Ben watered the hornbeam pillars in the Castle Courtyard using purpose-made watering bags. This ensures every tree receives water straight to its roots
#gardening #lilyofthevalley #broadleafeddock #volunteers #threecheersvolunteers #gardensofinstagram
With thanks to Lucy who put this report and reel together
The start of June ushered in sunshine and showers and a busy week in the Gardens at Lowther.
The wildflower meadows are replete with flowers from bright buttercups to delicate clover and coveted orchids. This special habitat can be encouraged to thrive by periodically removing invasive docks.
Staff and volunteers were given an introduction to identifying the differences between broad-leaved dock and native sorrel, before digging out the dock (and making sure to remove as much root as possible).
Underneath the Briar Rose, the Gardeners were grateful for protective gauntlets as they worked their way through the weeds. The David Austin roses are coming into bloom with great scent and celebration.
Andrea and Andrew have practised their carpentry skills to install a new bamboo fence in the Japanese Garden.
Senior Gardener Tom sheltered from the downpours inside the Japanese tea house; pouring over planting plans.
Meanwhile, progress in the Sweet Scented Garden continued with hundreds of lily of the valley, alpine strawberries and violets introduced along the edges of the pathways.
Gardener Ben watered the hornbeam pillars in the Castle Courtyard using purpose-made watering bags. This ensures every tree receives water straight to its roots
#gardening #lilyofthevalley #broadleafeddock #volunteers #threecheersvolunteers #gardensofinstagram
With thanks to Lucy who put this report and reel together
First iris to bloom in the Rock Garden since the ponds were reinstated in 2023. Sunshine pretty
#westerngardens #ponds @danpearsonstudio
First iris to bloom in the Rock Garden since the ponds were reinstated in 2023. Sunshine pretty
#westerngardens #ponds @danpearsonstudio
A great week of progress in the garden, rain or no rain. Full bulletin to follow.
Meanwhile here is a photo of one our young gardeners and her new friend Dennis, a cheery bundle of furry sweetness who came calling
#doglover #gardening #gardensfordogs
A great week of progress in the garden, rain or no rain. Full bulletin to follow.
Meanwhile here is a photo of one our young gardeners and her new friend Dennis, a cheery bundle of furry sweetness who came calling
#doglover #gardening #gardensfordogs
Another very pleasing endorsement of the gardens, this time from Amateur Gardening magazine and this time focusing on the Rose Garden.
@amateurgardeningofficial @danpearsonstudio @david_austin_roses
#gardensofinstagram #rosegardens #roses #rosesgrowonyou
Another very pleasing endorsement of the gardens, this time from Amateur Gardening magazine and this time focusing on the Rose Garden.
@amateurgardeningofficial @danpearsonstudio @david_austin_roses
#gardensofinstagram #rosegardens #roses #rosesgrowonyou
Before the rains came, a week in the garden.
From the replacement of struggling yews to the planting of 3988 perennials in the Sweet Scented Garden; from the building of special bamboo tepees to the planting of Camellia `Cornish Snow` under their protection; from Yukitsuri (Japanese snow hangings) to trailers filled with weeds; from buttercup (meadow) to buttercup (creeping); from hairy chervil to wild Rosa hugonis.
A busy week as always - three cheers for the team (and to Ben, Lucy, Pat, Rachel, Andrew and Andrea for their photos and films).
#spring #halfterm #whitweek #hardwork #gardening #camellia #yukitsuri #buttercup #gardensofinstagram
@andreabrunsendorf @lwuce @abenventure
Before the rains came, a week in the garden.
From the replacement of struggling yews to the planting of 3988 perennials in the Sweet Scented Garden; from the building of special bamboo tepees to the planting of Camellia `Cornish Snow` under their protection; from Yukitsuri (Japanese snow hangings) to trailers filled with weeds; from buttercup (meadow) to buttercup (creeping); from hairy chervil to wild Rosa hugonis.
A busy week as always - three cheers for the team (and to Ben, Lucy, Pat, Rachel, Andrew and Andrea for their photos and films).
#spring #halfterm #whitweek #hardwork #gardening #camellia #yukitsuri #buttercup #gardensofinstagram
@andreabrunsendorf @lwuce @abenventure
A week in the gardens - planting in the Sweet-Scented Garden; clearing vegetation from the follies and ponds in the Iris Garden; celebrating the first sighting of a dock beetle - this may help control the dock population; Head and Senior Gardeners tackling stop cocks at the pond in the Japanese Garden; plus Viola cornuta alba, Aquilegia vulgaris and Rosa `Dunwich Rose` basking in the warmth. And a smiling team member to round off the bulletin.
@taranaki_time @andreabrunsendorf @lwuce and thanks to all other members of gardening team for photos
#gardening #radiantspring #flowers #plumbing #dunwichrose
A week in the gardens - planting in the Sweet-Scented Garden; clearing vegetation from the follies and ponds in the Iris Garden; celebrating the first sighting of a dock beetle - this may help control the dock population; Head and Senior Gardeners tackling stop cocks at the pond in the Japanese Garden; plus Viola cornuta alba, Aquilegia vulgaris and Rosa `Dunwich Rose` basking in the warmth. And a smiling team member to round off the bulletin.
@taranaki_time @andreabrunsendorf @lwuce and thanks to all other members of gardening team for photos
#gardening #radiantspring #flowers #plumbing #dunwichrose