NORTH WEST ENGLAND Acorn Bank Garden & Watermill A 17th century garden protected by ancient oaks and walls. Spectacular display of shrubs, roses and borders as well as an orchard and herb garden. A woodland walk leads to the watermill. Beatrix Potter Gallery An annually-changing exhibition of original illustrations from the children’s stories. One of the many historic buildings in this village and once the office of the author’s husband. Borrowdale NT ownership of this area in the Lakes District includes 11 farms, half of Derwentwater, hamlets of Watendlath and Stonethwaite and sites such as the Bowder Stone, Friar’s Crag and Ashness Bridge. Buttermere & Ennerdale 3588-ha of fell and commonland, including the lakes of Buttermere, Crummock and Loweswater, several farms and woodland. Coniston and Little Langdale A mixture of fell and woodland including 11 farms and the well-known Tarn Hows beauty spot. Dunham Massey A Georgian house with Edwardian additions set in a wooded deer park. The interior includes fine furniture, paintings and outstanding Huguenot silver. Dunham Massey: White Cottage An important timber-framed cottage built as a cruck-trussed open hall c.1500 and altered in the 17th century. Fell Foot Park This Victorian park, with spring and summer displays of daffodils, rhododendrons and magnificent views of the Lakeland fells, offers access to the lakeshore of Windermere. Formby A stretch of unspoilt coastline of dunes and pine woods with interesting plants and birdlife, and also the rare red squirrel. 20 Forthlin Road, Allerton This 1950s terraced house is the former home of the McCartney family. Displays include contemporary photographs by Michael McCartney and early Beatles memorabilia. There is no access by car or on foot. Visits are by combined minibus tour only with Mendips, the childhood home of John Lennon. Gondola The steam yacht Gondola was first launched in 1859 and now, completely rebuilt provides a steam-powered passenger service in its opulently upholstered saloons. The perfect way to view Coniston’s spectacular scenery. All passengers pay full fare including National Trust members. Hare Hill A woodland garden surrounding a walled garden with pergola, rhododendrons and azaleas. Attractive walks including link path to Alderley Edge. Hawkshead Village and Claife Woodlands Hawkshead is a classic Lakeland village. Claife Woodlands and the low lying small farms between the village and Lake Windermere are typical of the area. North of Hawkshead is the 15th century Courthouse, all that is left of the manorial buildings once held by Furness Abbey. Hill Top Beatrix Potter wrote many of her famous children’s stories in this 17th century house which still contains her furniture and china. Delightful cottage garden. Little Moreton Hall Begun in 1450 and completed in 1580, the Hall is a fine example of a timber-framed moated manor house. Lyme Park Home of the Legh family for 600 years and one of the largest houses in Cheshire. It is set in extensive historic gardens surrounded by a medieval deer park and 1400 acres of moorland on the edge of the Peak District. Lyme is renown for its Grinling Gibbons woodcarvings, Mortlake tapestries and important collection of English clocks. Lyme was ‘Pemberley’ in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ starring Colin Firth. Nether Alderley Mill A fascinating overshot tandem-wheel watermill, dating from the 15th century, with a stone-tiled low-pitched roof. Quarry Bank Mill A Georgian cotton mill built in 1784 and restored as Europe’s largest working textile museum. Interactive displays and galleries illustrate the millworker’s world.Note: NT members charged for special events. Rufford Old Hall One of Lancashire’s finest 16th century buildings, there is a legend that William Shakespeare performed here for the owner in the Great Hall which has an intricately carved ‘moveable’ wooden screen and dramatic hammer beam roof. Note: NT members may be charged for some special events. Sizergh Castle & Garden The Strickland family has lived here for over 750 years. The impressive 14th century pele tower was extended in Tudor times. Gardens with herbaceous borders, ferns and limestone rockery. Walks around the estate. Speke Hall Set on the banks of the River Mersey, and one of the most famous half-timbered houses in the country (1530). The Great Hall evokes the communal living of Tudor times while the small rooms show the Victorian preference for privacy and comfort. The restored garden has spring bulbs, a rose garden, summer borders and stream garden and there are magnificent views of the Mersey Basin and North Wales hills as well as delightful woodland walks and children’s play area. Stagshaw Garden A woodland garden, containing shrubs, rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias. Limited access. Tatton Park One of the most complete historic estates in England. A 19th century Wyatt house set in a landscaped deer park with Japanese and Italian gardens, orangery, fernery, rose garden and pinetum. Note: free entry to mansion and gardens but NT members charged for parking and full admission to all other attractions. Townend A typical Lakeland yeoman farmer’s house, built about 1626. Contains carved woodwork, books, papers, furniture and fascinating domestic implements. Ullswater Beautiful valley of fell, woodland and farms as well as Aira Force waterfalls. Wasdale, Eskdale and Duddon Large Trust-owned area including England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike, and deepest lake, Wastwater. Also includes many farms, fell and commonland. Wordsworth House Imagine life during the childhood of William Wordsworth in 18th century Cockermouth. Visit this living Georgian townhouse, hear about the gossip of the time and meet some of the Wordsworth household and find out what life was like for the maid, man servant and clerk. |
