We recently visited the seaside town of Grange-Over-Sands in Cumbria and decided to take a walk along its famous promenade. The promenade carries an aura of Victorian England and is a traffic free zone, so it's lovely for children and walking the dog, and it's very wheelchair and disabled friendly. There is also a tea garden serving light snacks and of course delicious scones and afternoon tea. We've walked this promenade often before, but it doesn't take long to be reminded what a surprisingly beautiful walk this is.
Flanked by the stunning scenery of the Kent Estuary and Morecambe Bay with its boar tide, sinking sands and saltmarshes on the one side and glorious rockeries and gardens on the other, there's a lot to stop and take in. It's a myriad of favourite garden plants to stop and admire, together with breathtaking views and a haven for birdwatching and wildlife. There is also the train station with trains running regularly behind the gardens, pitch and put, bowling greens and play facilities for children of every age.
On one end of the prom is the old and disused lido - the town has now been given funding to refurbish this area and under consultation with the public to be make it into another more useable area and point of interest for the community. At the opposite end of the prom, there are more beautiful and ornamental gardens with lakes, ponds and wildlife that can be accessed.
Parking is available next to the prom and once you've explored and enjoyed a cream tea, there's some interesting shops in the town to have a browse around. When you return to your car by the prom and if you've been inspired by the gardens, there's a pretty little garden centre there, where you can pick up a few plants as a reminder of your visit...
Bursts of valerian give bright interludes along the way
Foxgloves and geranium plants were coming into bloom with vivid blue forget-me-nots still going strong a d interspersed amongst the planting.
Alliums and aquilegas giving the borders a bold look with strong accents of purples
Simple sculptures added interest amongst the planting of geums, aquilega and alliums
Vibrant and large rock roses loom over, heavy in flower, enjoying the sunny banks
Geraniums, pinks and irises - all a jumble
Stunning yellow and pale blue irises with daisies and chives in the foreground
The pure beauty of a rock rose
The pink spires of veronica
Elegant bearded irises
Looking out over the bay
Hawthorn in flower and looking across to Grange
