Gresgarth Hall
Garden created by Lady Arabella Lennox-Boyd and winner of Historic Houses Garden of the Year: Judges' Choice Award 2020.
Caton, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA2 9NB
Facilities
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Cafe / restaurant
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Easily accessible without car
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Free parking
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Garden only
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Mostly wheelchair accessible
- Accessible toilets
A garden of 12 acres. The setting is in a valley cut of the surrounding fields over millennia by a tributary of the river Lune called Artle Beck.
The sound of water is ever-present. The terraces descend from the house to the lake, and are planted with roses, clementis and more tender plants in season, and the predominating pinks, purples and silver-whites compliment the rugged grey stone of the Gothic house.
Please note: The information on the Historic Houses website is advisory, but please always check the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling.
February to November on the second Sunday of the month.
For more details, see the house’s own website.
Historic Houses members visit for free. Members do not need to book – they should just present their membership card on arrival.
£12.50 per adult (February, March and November – includes a mug of hot chocolate) and £12.00 per adult (April-October). Accompanied children free (under 16’s).
For more details, see the house’s own website.
- Accessible toilets
Getting here
Caton, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA2 9NB
4 miles east of Lancaster. From M6 junction 34 take A683 towards Kirkby Lonsdale, then turn right in Caton village, signed to Quernmore.
Gresgarth Hall & Gardens: In Pictures
A gallery tour around the gardens
Pebble mosaics by Maggie Howarth are set in the pavement of one small garden: the four family zodiacs are linked by the Milky Way, with an olive tree for the Italian-born Lady Arabella, a temple for architecture and meteorological elements.
The kitchen garden is a short walk away and contains an elaborate potager. The valley is planted on both sides with a collection of rare and interesting trees, some of them grown from seed collected in Japan.
There are new pathways on the south-west slope of the valley and a new river viewing deck on the house side. A Chinese-style bridge that crosses the fast running beck draws the visitors to see the sculptures, classical and modern, including a folly and tufa obelisk set amongst birch trees; a serpentine walk is nearby. There are colour-themed borders, a pleached lime walk and a circular lawn beside the lake.
An award winning garden
In 2020, Gresgarth Hall in Cumbria became the first historic garden to win the newly created Judge’s Choice Award in the annual Historic Houses Garden of the Year competition.
Meet Arabella
A garden built on love
In 1989 Arabella formed ‘Arabella Lennox-Boyd Landscape and Architectural Design’ where she heads a team of designers that have designed and developed the glorious gardens that you will see today.
Looking to visit Gresgarth Hall & Gardens?
Gresgarth Hall Gardens are open to the general public on the second Sunday of the month between February and November, with free entry offered to Historic Houses members.
If you’re interested in joining Historic Houses as a member, you can find out more about membership below. Members enjoy free access to almost three hundred independently owned historic houses across the UK for free using their membership card, as well as a quarterly magazine and monthly online lectures about the houses.
Other houses members can visit nearby
Browsholme Hall
Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 3DE
Levens Hall
Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 0PD
Holker Hall & Gardens
Cark-in-Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 7PL
Become a Historic Houses member
Explore the nation’s heritage from just £68 per year.
Hundreds of the most beautiful historic houses, castles, and gardens across Britain offer our members free entry.
Also: receive a quarterly magazine, enjoy monthly online lectures, get exclusive invitations to buy tickets for behind-the-scenes tours, and take up a range of special offers on holidays, books, and other products you might like.
