The Lyth & Winster Valleys

See Also - Cartmel Peninsula - The Morecambe Bay - Bowness & Windermere

The Lyth & Winster Valleys

These two beautiful valleys lie east of and between Windermere and Kendal, reaching down to the head of the Morecambe Bay and the Millom and Cartmel Peninsulas. From the foot of Windermere, a steep hill rises up to Gummers How, giving the perfect view of the lake. From here the road roams along the Cartmel Fell to Strawberry Bank and the popular Masons Arms. Descend down into the Winster valley to the hamlet of Bowland Bridge, with yet another good inn. From here lanes radiate out, passing through meadow, fell and woodland, over bridges and through fords, all perfect for cycling, with beautiful views at every turn. From the Winster you come to the Lyth Valley and about five miles from Lake Windermere. Famed for its damson orchards, The Lyth is a green and yellow ochre patchwork of meadows, flanked with low rolling fell and woodland, where on a summers evening the air can be heavy with the scent of fruit and freshly mown hay. The valley is criss crossed with narrow winding lanes that pass through farm land, by woodland and over rivers and becks, again perfect for walks and cycling. The little village of Brigsteer has an excellent pub serving local ales and good food. At Crosthwaite, is the Punch Bowl, renowned for its cuisine, winning Michelin's pub of the year 2009. The pub offers impressive wine lists, local ales, excellent food and a warm welcome.

Attractions

There are a number of fine house to visit. Sizergh Castle has been occupied by the Strickland family for more than 750 years, and it remains their home today. Set in large, beautifully landscaped gardens and based on an impressive 14th Century pele tower, Sizergh was extended in Tudor times. The romantic fortified mansion contains some of the finest Elizabethan carved overmantels in the country, as well as a collection of good English and French furniture and family portraits. The large gardens surround the Castle, notable for the the National Trust's largest limestone rock garden, including part of the National Collection of Hardy Ferns. There are wildflower and water gardens, various walks around the estate, and a Children's Garden Treasure Hunt leaflet. Nearby is Low Sizergh Barn with its farm shop, tea room, craft gallery and farm trail. There are two galleries of crafts and gifts, one in the shippons where the cows once lived, and a tea room with an unusual view, where you can watch the cows being milked every afternoon. At Levens is Levens Hall, a magnificent Elizabethan mansion built around a 13th Century pele tower, which was expanded and rebuilt towards the end of the 16th Century. It is the family home of the Bagots, and contains a collection of Jacobean furniture, fine paintings, the earliest English patchwork, along with many other beautiful objects. The world-famous award winning gardens were laid out in 1694. The topiary, beeech hedges and colourful seasonal beds create a stunning visual impact. The topiary garden has huge abstract shapes, pyramids and columns reminiscent of monstrous chess men. Homemade lunches and teas are prepared daily in the house kitchens. Beverages include fresh ground coffee, wine, and the Levens beer 'Morocco Ale' brewed to a secret recipe.