Itinerary Planner

Let's Go Culture in Eden - Historic Houses and Romantic Ruins

Immerse Yourself in History

With their stunning architecture, impressive gardens and intriguing history, Eden’s collection of historic houses and castles are a must visit on any itinerary to this part of Cumbria. With special events and activities for children to boot, they are a perfect day out for families of all ages.
 

Lowther Castle & Gardens

Just a few miles south of Penrith lie the impressive ruins of Lowther Castle & Gardens. The Castle itself was first constructed in the early 19th century. For 130 years or so, the castle was a beacon of grandeur in the northwest – a place where the great and the good came to enjoy a remarkable art collection and fabled setting. But after two wars and a prolonged period of underinvestment, the castle’s fortunes turned. In 1957, its roof was removed while the gardens were overplanted with a commercial spruce crop.

Today, thanks to a great deal of hard work and investment, the majestic castle ruins stand proud, while the gardens themselves have extensively been brought back to life. Learn more about the castle’s fascinating past by visiting the Story of Lowther exhibition. Through text and paintings, the story is truly brought to life and provides a background to the rest of your visit.

Younger visitors will enjoy The Lost Castle Adventure Playground -one of largest outdoor adventure playgrounds in the country.

There is an on-site licensed café serving breakfast, lunch, drinks and cakes, which is open daily.
 

Brougham Hall

Just a 10-minute drive from Lowther is Brougham Hall, a medieval site that has been fortified and settled for centuries. A large part of the hall has now been restored and is home to an amazing array of arts and crafts studios, plus a gin distillery.

The Hall’s beautiful grounds are open, free of charge, for all the family to explore and dogs on leads are welcome. Visit artists at work, buy locally made arts and crafts and enjoy delicious treats at the charming on-site café.

The impressive remains for Brougham Castle are just a short drive from Brougham Hall. Operated by English Heritage, the ruins of this medieval castle sit in a picturesque setting beside the river Eden.
 

Hutton-in-the-Forest Historic House

For a more traditional historic house Hutton-in-the-Forest would be an ideal choice. This fascinating house showcases history through the ages thanks to its many individually designed rooms, each of which often depicts a specific historical era and style.

The collection of fine period furnishings, ceramics, portraits, tapestries and decorative weaponry, tell the story of the property and surrounding area. Similarly the property itself depicts many periods in time from the Pele Tower which dates back to circa 1350, through to the most recent addition, The Dovecote, which was built in the second half of the 17^th century to provide pigeon meat, eggs and manure as fertiliser for the gardens. The diverse architectural structures, spanning an impressive 600 years somehow manage to combine into a design that is both impressive and magnificent to behold.

The house is surrounded by spectacular gardens and grounds which were laid out in the 17th Century. They have evolved since then, but the basic elements as shown in the Kip Engraving of 1705 can still be seen.

Hutton-in-the-Forest also has an impressive calendar of events throughout the year including foraging courses, plant fairs, dog trials, classic car meets, agricultural shows, pottery festivals and music festivals.
 

Dalemain Mansion

Home of the much-coveted World Marmalade Awards, Dalemain Mansion & Gardens is one of Eden’s most spectacular properties. Built in the 12^th century, with further wings added in the 16^th century, the house has been part of the Hasell family since 1679. 

Visitors today will find unique collections of ceramics and other interesting pieces, alongside family portraits, beautifully crafted furnishings and unusual wood carvings.

We hope you enjoy your visit to the beautiful Eden valley which is located in the Westmorland and Furness area of Cumbria. Want to explore this area’s culture and heritage further? Check out our handy itineraries on our Let's Go Culture page.

Download a printable PDF of this Cultural Itinerary

   

The Let’s Go Culture project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is supported by Westmorland & Furness Council.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus