Lake District estate that inspired Beatrix Potter is the perfect half term activity for families
It's the perfect half term activity if you're heading to the Lake District for a day trip or short break
Nestled in a Lake District village on the outskirts of Keswick is The Lingholm Estate that has spectacular views across Derwentwater and Skiddaw.
This traditional country estate lies at the heart of the Northern Lake District with the Lakeland Fells of Skiddaw and Grizedale Pike to the North, Blen Cathra, Castlerigg and High Seat to the East and the Borrowdale Fells and the Newlands Round to the South and West.
Read more: We spent a soggy day with alpacas in the Lake District and it was brilliant
The estate has lots to see and do, from the kitchens, walled gardens and even the alpacas too.
It's a great place to bring the children at half term and let them burn off some steam, they could run through the gardens and find out all about where Beatrix Potter took inspiration for her famous book.
You can even pop into the cafe and have a meal, meet up with other families and of course, visit the resident alpacas on site too.
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
As you drive up to the estate it's great to see the alpacas in the field and people milling about in the gardens taking in the wonderful scenery around them.
And if you're a holiday guest, staying in the estate's accommodation, you will get access to the estate's large stretch of private lake frontage.
The estate is also inspired by Beatrix Potter, so any fans out there - there are things for you to see here.
Beatrix Potter spent ten summer holidays at Lingholm over a 22 year period, between 1885 and 1907, and also stayed at Fawe Park, the neighbouring estate in 1903.
Although Beatrix is more commonly associated with Hill Top in Sawrey, the farmhouse she bought in 1905 where her later books were based, it was the landscape around Derwentwater that inspired her earlier books and Lingholm was her favourite and most frequently visited Lakeland holiday home.
It was during her time at Lingholm, and the surrounding area that she wrote some of her best-known stories, The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin and The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle are both closely associated with her time there, and the Lingholm Kitchen Garden was the original inspiration for Mr McGregor’s garden in The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
The Tale of Benjamin Bunny was set next door at Fawe Park.
The walled gardens
The walled garden sits on the same spot as the old Lingholm kitchen gardens which Beatrix Potter credited as her original inspiration for Mr McGregor’s garden in The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
The central area of the garden is divided into four sections to allow gardeners to rotate crops throughout the season with the south-facing walls set to fruit trees.
Within the walled garden is an outdoor gallery dedicated to Beatrix Potter’s work in the Derwentwater area, much of it undertaken whilst she stayed at Lingholm.
The gallery takes a journey through her years at Lingholm and the Northern Lakes and how she wrote and illustrated some of her best-known stories.
The Lingholm Kitchens
The café has a stunning 100-foot long glass wall looking down onto the octagonal walled garden and up to Skiddaw.
Open every day, it was rebuilt in 2016 to offer a unique customer experience.
The cafe serves a range of locally sourced foods alongside artisan bread and cakes which are all made in the adjoining Lingholm Bakery.
The Lingholm Kitchen has a distinctly contemporary feel with a glass strip running through the ceiling and modern architecture making use of the steel structure.
Alpacas at Lingholm
The mission of Alpacaly Ever After is to rehome alpacas and llamas from all over the country and give them a new home with the very best of care, while bringing people in touch with the landscape and the natural world through outstanding alpaca and llama experiences, accessible to all and surrounded by the beauty of the Lake District World Heritage Site.
On the Lingholm Estate, you have the chance to meet and greet alpacas as well as walk them on the estate - something I'd highly recommend.
To keep updated, follow CumbriaLive on Facebook or on Twitter @CumbriaLive
Have you got news for us? Contact our newsdesk on lancslive@reachplc.com
Similar articles to this
Get all the latest news and what's on stories sent to your inbox with the CumbriaLive newsletter here.
