Visited on September 17, 2007

Monday was the first day of using our Brit-Rail pass out of Manchester.  Our destination was Windermere in the Lake District, a two-hour train ride.

The Lake District had become one of England’s most popular summer retreats in the mid eighteen hundreds, when rail lines arrived in the area in 1847. It had been the home of numerous Romantic poets and writers who praised the natural beauty of the lakes, valleys, and fells. To this day it is considered one of the most beautiful areas of Britain.

We had hoped for dry, mild weather for our first day of traveling the Lake District, but it was the coldest day of our trip. Our first stop was the main visitor center of the Lake District National Park at Brockhole. We spent a short time out of the weather to obtain information on the National Park’s history, geology, and wildlife through the exhibits, films, and slideshows that are available at the center. The Lake District National Park was created in 1949 to protect the landscape, provide recreation, and support the local communities. It is England’s largest National park, covering an area of 885 square miles in the northwest corner of Cumbria. The Lake District itself is approximately 35 miles wide but with enough interest, it can take several days to explore.

The visitor center at Brockhole was originally a Victorian mansion built in the 1890’s, by a wealthy silk merchant from Manchester, William Gaddum and his wife Edith who was a close cousin to Beatrix Potter. In 1900 a local landscape architect, Thomas Mawson, was hired by the Gaddums to design the terraced gardens, which can be seen to this day. Thomas Mawson laid out 5 acres of formal gardens and landscaped the remaining 25 acres to provide a view of Lake Windermere and fells in the distance. (He also designed the orchid houses at Holehird in 1898.) Thomas Mawson became a well-known international garden and landscape designer in the early 20th century. In the United States he advised on the development of the Smokey National Park.

The pond and wildlife area were added to the grounds by the Lake District National Park Authority. The trust stated that they use environmentally friendly techniques such as composting, recycling, minimal use of pesticides, peat and water resources in the gardens which are open year round from dawn to dusk.

The fall gardens still had beauty even with the overcast skies. It was apparent that the landscape and gardens were meticulously maintained.

Due to the wind and intermitting rain, we did not take the cruise on the largest lake in England, Lake Windermere as we had planned. We took a few garden photos at the park and it was time to visit Hayes Garden Center in Ambleside.

Visit this site at: www.lake-district.gov.uk