Sizergh Castle Lake District

Wednesday 7th June

This morning we repeated yesterday's shopping trip around Southport, but the less said about that the better !

The Marine Lake carpark turned out to be a great place to overnight watching the sunset over the lake.

We shared it with about seven other motorhomes.

It was quite busy on the water in the evening, lots of kayaks, SUP's, sailing dingeys all enjoying the warm evening summer sun.

Then it was onto Sizergh Castle on the southern edge of the lake district national park.

It's a National Trust property in a beautiful valley and countryside surrounding.

The house is interesting without being spectacular. 

Many of the rooms are dark and gloomy with a lot of carved wood panelling making it all rather oppressive. 

The house was built by the Strictland family and what an odd looking bunch they were judging by the paintings.

To say large noses are a family trait is a bit of an understatement.

The gardens are impressive, most of all the rock garden which is quite amazing with meandering gravel paths set amongst large limestone bolders and rocks. 

There's a good variety of planting and a colourful display from the Japanese maples.

The nearby pub, The Strictland Arms allow motorhomes to stay on the carpark overnight, so we took the opportunity to have a meal there for our tea.

Todays weather followed a familiar theme, cool and cloudy in the morning but by lunchtime, clear blue skies and warm sunshine.

Tomorrow I think we'll be heading for Lake Coniston.

Some views of Sizergh Castle and Gardens.