Sizergh Castle near Kendal is looked after by the National Trust although the Strickland family live there, as they have for some 700 years.
The castle has a strong and square tower with a more recent slate roof living section and large chimneys.
On arrival park in the Car Park which has a ticket machine, free for National Trust members. The Visitor Centre is a long wooden building with a cafe, outside seating, toilets and a shop.
Choose to visit the house and garden or just the garden. Alternatively take a walk along the well marked paths.
The cafe is a pleasant environment although the food gives the impression it was cooked by an ex-farmer. They do try though with some vegetarian choices. It’s the pies, heavy looking with thick pastry that don’t look very stylish.
The gardens have a large range of planting. A UK National Collection of ferns, flower borders, a large rock garden wit a lot of big planting, acers etc. A vegetable garden and large orchard. Bees and hens. There’s also a small lake and a large barn with some old items and a second hand book sale. In autumn they sell the apples with lots of varieties.
The house has several sections with an old baronial style dining room and family rooms. Some interesting panelled rooms and a large library.
For the walks you can head for St John’s at Helsingham, a tiny church on top of the valley with views over the Lake District and the wide and flat Lyth Valley. Then decide whether to head back or down the big hill road to Brigsteer and carry on round a circle to the castle. You can head from the castle to the woodland in the valley. You can also head towards Sedgwick and the old northern dry section of the Preston to Lancaster, Kendal Canal. There’s also a walk to Levens Village and Levens Hall.
None of these walks are strenuous although there are some hills on the St John’s walk.
