Cumbrian Coast and Countryside

Arnside - where the Kent and Bela estuaries meet Morecambe Bay - stunning views across the bay to the Lake District mountains

Country walks at Sizergh Estate - lanes full of cow parsley and buttercups

Back on the Bay - the shifting sands at Silverdale 

Back in the countryside - Levens Hall estate - campion and cow parsley down by the river

Stunning views across Dallam Estate - deer, sheep, rolling green hills, estuary views...

Hawthorn in full bloom by the Lancaster Canal 

Tewitfield - canals, locks, wild irises, cow parsley, lily pads -  miles of picturesque countryside walks by the water

Western Lakes - off the beaten track - the beautiful and remote Silecroft Beach - endless stretches of beach where the Lake District mountains meet the sea. 

Lakeside on Windermere - vast waters, sailing, boats, boardwalks, azaleas, aquilegas, wallflowers, views down the lake...

Easter Rain

The Easter holidays have been a little muddled with Easter falling so early. Some schools finished for Easter during Easter week and some schools had the bank holiday and are now on holiday for two weeks. So far during this period, the weather has been very mixed. We've had sunshine and showers and some very wet days combined with a few odd sunny days. 

Wherever we've been this Easter period, the weather has been mainly cold and wet. For the Easter weekend we visited South Cumbria and enjoyed some lovely walks and views amidst the sunshine and heavy rain. Dark clouds threatened us everywhere we went and sometimes we got soaked and sometimes we managed to skip the showers, but we didn't let it stop us. Everything has a different view in the wet and covered in rain drops and all the plants and scents are much fresher and stronger. 

I was pleased to see that the daffodils were out in their glory everywhere we turned - some flowering and some still in bud. I'd wondered back in the depths of winter whether we'd have any left by March, as some started flowering in December and January the weather was so mild, so it was good to see most are in bloom at their normal time of year.

 

Late Summer in the Gardens at Levens

Levens Hall and gardens in Cumbria is a place we tend to visit over and over again at different times of year. It doesn't matter how many other gardens we visit, we always come back here and it's still always one of my favourite gardens.

It is a world renowned topiary garden with trees and bushes dating back over three hundred years. Each season there is always spectacular seasonal bedding. At the moment many of the beds are bursting full of magnificent displays of yellow antirrhinums and purple verbena.

The roses are still out in full bloom giving a beautiful mixture of late summer colour and scents. The spectacular summer perennial borders are fading back, but still hold plenty of interest and vibrant plants and the herb garden is still a busy area with nasturtiums giving a burst of autumnal red and yellow.

We will definitely be back for a another peek around in autumn! Meanwhile have an explore around...

Should you wish to find out more about Levens Hall click on the link below:

http://www.levenshall.co.uk