Stunning Sizergh (Sizergh Castle and Gardens (Kendal, Cumbria))

Member Name: plipplop

Product:	Sizergh Castle and Gardens (Kendal, Cumbria)
Date:	28/06/06 (213 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautiful, peaceful, romantic place

Disadvantages: Not for the kids

What can you do on a sunny Sunday afternoon? There are, of course, a whole host of answers to that question, but although it might make me sound twice my age, one of my favourite things to do is to wander off to a castle or historic house and have a nose round. I've always enjoyed visiting castles, ruined or otherwise and in the summer you can find some absolutely gorgeous places to spend a few hours and really escape from the bustle of "normal life".

Sizergh Castle is situated about six miles south of Kendal in the Lake District, just off the A590. The castle is owned by the National Trust and is open to visitors from April to October. The castle gardens are open to visitors throughout the year, and when you arrive you will pay a separate entrance fee for each. The approach to the castle takes you up a quiet, winding drive that twists and turns through the parkland surrounding the gardens. Aim to arrive just before midday, just so that you have to wait outside the main gate until 12:00 when the grounds are opened. The peace and quiet is incredible. Sat in the car with the engine turned off, the only thing you'll hear will be the bees buzzing through the long grass meadow. Fantastic.

The gates open promptly at midday, and you'll soon be trundling into the car park. The parking area is not terribly big - on a busy day, I should imagine that the place can become quite congested. Immediately around the car park are a few lonely picnic tables, but if you want somewhere to sit and eat your sandwiches, there are far more picturesque spots to choose. You pay your entrance fee at a small hut that sits in front of the car park entrance. Make sure you have cash, as credit cards and cheques are not accepted. With your entrance tickets, you are given a small map of the site and then you are free to go off and explore.

After a short walk up a gravel-laden path, you first approach the castle from behind. There are various coach houses, which contain the gift shop, tea room and toilets and then the main part of the house itself. Although the gardens open at 12:00, the castle does not open its doors until 13:00, but this is not a problem, because you have some time to wander around the gardens. The gardens are divided into a number of different areas including a kitchen garden, a formal rock garden and a beautiful lake that is set back below the back wall of the castle. I like to follow the path into the kitchen garden and then circle round behind the shrubbery until you emerge at the bottom of the lake. This is perhaps the most beautiful way to take in the surroundings because you suddenly emerge from the trees, look up and see the imposing, romantic castle looming above you. A short walk around the edge of the lake takes you to a couple of wooden benches where you can sit down, look up and admire the castle and gardens above.

The lake is absolutely teeming with huge, tame fish that come up to the surface of the water and wait for you to drops bits of food in for them. The fish are a great attraction for both adults and children alike, although I am sure that they follow me around the edge of the lake, waiting for me to fall in. At one end of the lake, the water is covered in huge lily pads, and immediately above them is a stone walled balcony that enables you to stand and look out over the lake. The whole scene is incredibly calm and tranquil, and as you sit there looking around there really is no need for banter or chit chat. Around the outskirts of the gardens, the estate contains ancient woodlands and pasture, and on certain dates, you can join guided walks to spot the many rare species of butterfly that live there. For the keen gardeners, all the plants are labelled and I noticed a lot of interest in one or two of the plants from many of the visitors.

It's quite a relief when it turns 13:00 because if you're anything like me, you'll be just about ready to nod off. Wander up the staircase to the castle entrance and make your way in at a gentle pace - don't rush. The castle has existed in one shape or form for over 750 years, and throughout that time it has remained the Strickland family home - who are still resident there today. The house is in a good state of repair, and although not the largest you might visit, it still has an extremely imposing structure. In spite of the scorching heat outside, the castle is pleasantly cool inside, and is quite a nice retreat from the sun. The tour of the interior is not guided, but is clearly marked and you progress from room to room in a specific order. There is a warden or guide in nearly every room, waiting to answer any questions that crop up and generally keeping his/her eye on the proceedings.

When I first came to Sizergh, the first thing that struck me about the interior was how small most of the rooms were. Although visitors are not able to inspect every part of the interior, of all the visible rooms, I can't recall one that is particularly impressive in size or scale and in many cases they were surprisingly small. Most of the walls were oak-panelled and the timber floorboards are beautifully rustic and natural - huge in size, but more solid and substantial than any modern material could ever hope to be. Much of the furniture is made from oak and the interior felt reasonably natural, given the fact that it was actually arranged as an exhibition. In each of the rooms there are laminated A4 fact sheets that detail the particulars of all the paintings and items in the room. I must admit, I tend not to read the detail of everything in the house as I find it rather exhaustive and sometimes, I like to wander round imagining where something came from, or who owned it originally. We'll normally stroll around the interior for an hour or so - if you want to linger on every detail, it will probably take you nearer two.

Sizergh Castle and gardens cost £5 for an adult, £2.50 for a child or £12.50 for a family ticket. If you just want to stroll around the gardens then the cost is halved. The site is free to National Trust members. The castle isn't really suitable for wheelchair users, but the grounds can largely be accessed in full. Children will enjoy the gardens, but keep an eye on them near the lake. The castle itself doesn't really offer much to keep children entertained - you'll need to keep an eye on them around some of the exhibits. There is a gift shop, a tearoom and toilets - the tearoom was REALLY popular.

I think that Sizergh Castle is absolutely beautiful. The garden is stunning and just perfect for lounging in the sun relaxing. For me, the real draw of Sizergh is the incredibly gentle, romantic feel that the whole place exudes. This is the kind of place where you kind of fall of love with people. It's simply a magnificent, special place.

Enjoy.

Summary: A truly special place