Lakeland Gardens Ltd

A fabulous new garden centre is opening on the site of the old Windermere Garden Centre which closed years ago. Lakeland Gardens have filled the site with stunning architectural trees and shrubs.

Lakeland Gardens have been helping clients to realise the full potential of their outdoor space with professional garden design, landscaping, and maintenance services since 2004. The garden centre will be opening soon but if you ask nicely they’ll let you have a sneak preview!

Bonsai, grown in Japan. A snip at just under seven thousand!

Stunning Art Nouveau Stained Glass in Sedburgh

This is St Gregory’s church in the Vale of Lune. The church is tiny and tucked into a sharp corner on the road. Blink and you’ll miss it. I thought it was time to re-do this post using my own photos of the stained glass. The last three pictures a thought to be from the Morris studio.

Peace – William Morris?
Fortitude – William Morris?
Justice – William Morris?

Probably the Best Garden Centre in Cumbria (and it’s not Hayes)

Larch Cottage Nurseries in the village of Melkinthorpe near Penrith is as good as it gets. With Itallianate ruins, rare and unusual plants, stunning statues and a gorgeous wooden balcony you can eat your lunch on. CA10 2DR

The balcony where we had lunch, and a very refreshing Italian cider!
Some… pink flowers.
The statuary is of a much higher quality than the usual garden centre concrete tat.
Some orange… flowers.
Bullocks? No, I’m serious! – The Two Ronnies, circa 1974.
A range of, erm… flowers. (I don’t know much about flowers)

High Dam, Finsthwaite

The Dam itself.

High Dam. A lovely little tarn which makes a great background for portrait photos in the late afternoon sun. The dam at the southern end was built to power Stott Park Bobbin Mill a short distance away. The Bobbin Mill is now a museum with Victorian machinery which still works. At just under two miles this is a nice short walk with a steep start (there is also a gentler route) and your dog will love it. There is a pay and display car park which can be found between Finsthwaite and Stott Park Bobbin Mill. Alternatively, you can walk from Lakeside which is accessible by Windermere Lake Cruises from Ambleside or Bowness or even by steam train from Haverthwaite.

High Dam
Silver Birch trees at the north end of the tarn.
Wooden walkway at the north end.
The end od the circular route round the tarn.

Moss Wood and Mill Beck Stock

This one is a well kept secret known only to some local dog walkers, kids and a very occasional tourist. I only found out about it last year and I’ve lived here for 20 years. It’s a part of Sheriff’s Walk and you will find it just off the main road from Windermere to Bowness. If you are walking up hill you go past the Police Station, cross over to the other side of the road, go past Goodly Dale School, go past the green bus stop and turn left onto the path. If you are walking down Lake Road from Windermere when you get to Queens Road cross over to the green bus stop. It will take about one minute to get to the other end of the path. Through the gate is Moss Wood and a footpath winding through a beautiful wooded area big enough for your kids and dogs to run wild. There is a stream (beck) running through it which you can paddle in but bear in mind that although it’s shallow it can be quite fast flowing after heavy rain. Our dog has been caught out a couple of times jumping in and finding it hard going. There is even a waterfall towards the bottom of the path. Was tempted to keep this one to myself as we take our dog Sonny there most days and I love the fact that’s it’s empty. However this place is exactly what this blog is about so I had to do it!

Your first view of Moss Wood.
Lots of full grown trees provide shelter from the hot summer sun.
The Beck meanders down over rocks.
The dappled light through the trees is lovely.
The waterfall
The end of the path. Turn left for Bowness, right for Windermere, or turn around and walk right back up through the wood.