Route: Morland House Gardens
Area: Eden Valley
Date of walk: 30th May 2019
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 1 mile
Weather: Cloudy with a few spots of rain
The eastern part of the Lake District is blessed with several fine homes and gardens – Dalemain, Acorn Bank, Lowther Castle and Askham Hall all spring to mind. We’ve visited these places several times before (click the links for the most recent visits), but one that has escaped our attention until today is Morland House Gardens
The Lake District fells lay under a blanket of thick low cloud this morning, and a high level walk was out of the question. There was a forecast of slightly better weather to the east, so we headed in that direction to the attractive village of Morland, about 8 miles south east of Penrith. Morland House is set in the middle of the village, next to the old church. The house itself was originally a Tudor vicarage, and has been extended in Georgian and Victorian times. It has the benefit of four acres of meandering gardens which are laid out around Morland Beck, which flows through the middle of the grounds from a waterfall
The gardens are open to the public every day from 10 – 5, current charge £5. Season tickets are available for £15 per person, and U12s and members of the Historic Houses Association enter free. We fell into the latter category and we spent a very pleasant hour or two wandering around this atmospheric place. At the edge of the garden we entered through a gate which leads to the Church of St Lawrence. The church is notable for having the only Saxon tower in the north west of England
There are several walks leading from the house into the surrounding countryside, and I hope to return one day and explore these, as we’d thoroughly enjoyed our short time in this lovely area. On the way back we revisited the nearby Larch Cottage Nurseries, one of the top UK plant nurseries. For anyone interested in gardens and gardening, this place is a treasure trove of unusual plants, shrubs and trees all displayed in beautiful surroundings, and is a well worth a short detour
Click on the icon below for a map showing the location of Morland House. I’ve not provided a route map as this is a place to wander around as your fancy takes you
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The quiet and unspoilt village of Morland...
Entrance to Morland House, which is free if you belong to the Historic Houses Association or fancy some coffee and cake at neighbouring Mill Yard Cafe
Morland House
The front garden...
We pass through this arch...
...and this one
We follow the path beside the natural cliffs which stretch along the garden
Morland Beck
One of several bridges over the beck
Waterfall at the far end of the garden
A grotto cut into the cliff
We cross back over the beck
An old stone building known as 'Fort Tumbledown'...
Bridges over Morland Beck...
Some close ups of the planting in the herbaceous borders...
We leave the gardens via a private gate into the grounds of the church of St Lawrence
This is the only Saxon tower in the north west of England
After visiting the church interior we returned through the gate to Morland House
The end of a wonderful visit to a place we'd never heard of before
