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...

The Promenade At Grange

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

May Time at Levens Hall

We recently visited the gardens at Levens Hall. It's another one of those places where I like to visit each season, as there's always plenty of flowers and plants and things of interest to see whatever the time of year. There's always birdsong in these beautiful gardens too and I think May must be the most harmonious month to hear it and watch the birds swooping between the stunning topiary trees and flower and shrub displays. 

Levens Hall and its estate is situated near the village of Levens in South Cumbria - the gateway to the Lake District. You can enjoy a visit to the house, a stunning walk in the Levens Deer Park, a visit to the shop or Bellingham Buttery Tea Room or a browse around the gorgeous world renowned topiary gardens. The topiary gardens make Levens a unique place to be and some of the topiary trees are over three hundred years old. It is a world renowned topiary garden being the oldest and most extensive. 

Here are just a few of the plants we spotted: glorious banks of winter pansies displaying their finest before they finish for summer; wisteria tumbling over and across walls, as always the stunning topiary trees and shrubs, beautiful and vibrant displays of pink double daisies, blue and white hibiscus shrubs and weigelias, irises in purples, blues and yellows, geranium Johnsons Blue, wild garlic and cow parsley by the river. 

I'm looking forward to visiting again very soon...