| Page Views: 107 Last Visit to Levens: September, 2008 | Levens Hall And Sizergh Castle. by nickandchris - last update: Sep 28, 2008 |
A Beautiful September Day | Fine topiary at Levens Hall |
This is a page about two local stately homes and their beautiful gardens, Levens Hall and Sizergh Castle, both within close distance of each other a few miles south of Kendal, in south Cumbria.
We have driven past both Levens Hall and Sizergh Castle so many times, always promising ourselves a visit but somehow, it never happened until the last two weekends.
Last Sunday was a warm, bright day so a snap decision was made, Levens hall here we come!! I am so glad we finally made it here, what a brilliant day we had!!
The hall is a magnificent Elizabethan House, privately owned but open to the public from April to October, excluding Fridays and Saturdays.Surrounding the house are the most sensational gardens, including the world famous topiary which has to be seen to be believed. I never thought I could get so excited about hedges!!!
Across the road from the Hall are walks along the river Kent, incorporating the estate's deer park.
As an added bonus, as well as the steam engine, Bertha, being fired up, there was a classic car rally on, finishing at the hall. Nick was in his element!!
Altogether a really lovely afternoon.
Please read the tips on house and gardens for a more indepth report. |
|  | Sizergh Castle As we had enjoyed our visit to Levens Hall so much, this weekend we decided to "do" Sizergh Castle. Again, the weather was glorious, certainly it had brought visitors out in their droves and we were glad we had arrived early, enabling us to get parked easily.
Sizergh is again, a private family residence, the family home of the Strickland family for over 750 years but has been in the hands of The National Trust since 1950. It began life as a fortified pele tower and was added on to in various stages, creating a most beautiful stately home that today has to be the best example of a fortified home in Cumbria. Surrounding the house are magnificent gardens, including a lake and the national Trust's largest limestone rockery. A truly magnificent spectacle in late September with the trees vivid colours really catching your eye.
Once again, we had a superb afternoon and were so pleased we had finally seen Sizergh. Be aware that the house and gardens are closed on Fridays and Saturdays, to enable the family to have some privacy. |
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| Pros: | "Absolutely incredible..... loved it." | | Cons: | "Shame you can hear the traffic noise from main roads." | | In A Nutshell: | "At last we made the effort to visit Levens Hall. and Sizergh Castle. So glad we did" |
nickandchris' Levens Travel Tips
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 nickandchris' Levens Travelogues | | | |
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 Comments for nickandchris about Levens | | | | |
scottishvisitor Sun Feb 22, 2009 21:09 UTC
Lovely page Christine I always find National Trust properties are a joy to visit! I do love gardens & your look inviting | deecat Thu Feb 19, 2009 14:38 UTC
Christine, your lovely pages certainly brightened my day. The topiary at Levens Hall Gardens is spectacular! Sizergh Castle plus your detailed descriptions was wonderful. Kitchen gardens: delightful. How do you get 9 photos for extras? Bravo! | balhannah Tue Nov 4, 2008 11:56 UTC
Two things that I enjoy, gardens and Castles, the latter I can only dream about seeing one day. Thanks for a great tour through the beautiful gardens. | tiabunna Fri Oct 17, 2008 14:08 UTC
Very enjoyable new page. That topiary is amazing, but I kept thinking of the maintenance needed! What great timing to be there for a classic car display plus the steam engines - that would have made my day. |
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