Many National Trust places across the Lake District are opening their doors free of charge for two long weekends of heritage events, including entry into places not usually open to the public.
The annual Heritage Open Days festival celebrates the country’s diverse history, architecture and culture offering people the chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences. In the Lakes, a diverse range of activities is on offer from quirky guided walks to ‘behind the scenes’ tours.
At Sizergh, you can join a walk to Lane End Farm for a close-up look at some beautiful historic buildings or walk through the industrial heritage of the Little Langdale Valley and see the new hydro scheme at Greenburn Beck.
In West Cumbria, an eight mile walk along a stretch of stunning coastline including a visit to St Bees Head Fog Signal Station is an opportunity not to be missed. For the first time, the holiday cottage, formerly the house of suffragist Amy Sharp is also open for viewing at Silverthwaite, Elterwater.
In the North Lakes, tours at Wordsworth House will uncover the secret life of Dorothy, William’s sister or you can visit Force Crag Mine, the last mineral mine to be worked in the Lake District.
By the shore of Windermere, the stories of the women of Fell Foot will be told revealing some of the park’s hidden heritage. On a steam theme, Wray Castle are opening up their boathouse in conjunction with the Shamrock Trust for a peek at one of the three remaining original Windermere steam saloon launches. The Steam Yacht Gondola on Coniston will once again bring aboard some seldom seen archive material for visitors to learn about her wonderful story of survival and rebirth.
Rachel Hunter, Visitor Experience Officer for Sizergh Castle, whose team will also be leading some ‘gunpowder’ walks said ‘This year’s Heritage Open Days festival in the Lakes is the most diverse programme of events we’ve ever offered and is a wonderful opportunity for visitors and locals alike to get close to the stories of the places they love – and all completely free of charge’.
There are plenty of family friendly activities, as well as guided tours more suited to grown-ups. Lots of events don’t require booking but some do – so please check the website for full details. For more details, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/thelakes
National Trust Lake District: Heritage Open Day events 2018
Thursday 6 September
Sizergh – Lane End Farm guided walks
Sizergh, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 8DZ
Tours at 11am, 12 noon, 1pm & 2pm. Booking essential.
Call 015395 69810
Join a guided walk to Lane End Farm, one of our tenanted properties not usually open to the public, for a rare opportunity to learn about the heritage of this historic farm.
Sedgwick Gunpowder Works guided walk (also 3, 4 and 7 Sept)
3 – 4pm, Booking essential.
Call 015395 60951
Come and marvel at the remains of Sedgwick Gunpowder works on the Sizergh estate, and learn some of their secrets.
Friday 7 September
Sizergh – Strickland family chapel
Sizergh Castle, Sizergh, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 8AE
12noon – 4pm. No booking required
A rare opportunity to view the private chapel of the Strickland family. The chapel is still in use today for private mass, with the first record of a permanent chapel here from the mid-18th century.
Sedgwick Gunpowder Works guided walks
11am-12noon and 1-2pm. Booking essential.
Call 015395 60951
Come and marvel at the remains of Sedgwick Gunpowder works on the Sizergh estate, and learn some of their secrets.
Saturday 8 September
Force Crag Mine open day
10.30am – 3pm. Booking advisable
Call 017687 74649
The last mineral mine to be worked in the Lake District has been lovingly restored and cared for by volunteers. A guided tour allows you to explore the above-ground processing mill and associated remains as if the miners had just left for the day. Accessible only by foot, bike or National Trust 4×4.
Silverthwaite
Silverthwaite, Skelwith Bridge, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9NJ
11am – 4pm. No booking required
Explore this grand house which was built in the early 1900’s by Amy Sharp a suffragist, and greatly influenced by the Arts & Crafts movement. Silverthwaite is available to rent as a holiday cottage but will open for visitors to drop by on Saturday. NB – no parking at the house. Call 07484082167 for specific access requirements.
Sunday 9 September
Fell Foot
Fell Foot Park, Newby Bridge, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 8NN
9am – 5pm, tour at 2pm. No booking required
Join one of our dedicated volunteers for a free hidden heritage tour. For this year only, you can discover the secrets of the important women of Fell Foot.
Thursday 13 September
Greenburn Mine
Little Langdale, Cumbria, LA21 8DJ
10am – 2pm. Booking required.
Call 015394 41456
Join our team of National Trust experts as we walk through the much-loved Little Langdale valley, spotting reminders of the Lake District’s industrial heritage amongst beautiful mountain views. We’ll finish at our new hydro scheme in Greenburn Beck.
Friday 14 September
Sizergh – Strickland family chapel
Sizergh Castle, Sizergh, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 8AE
12noon – 4pm. No booking required
A rare opportunity to view the private chapel of the Strickland family. The chapel is still in use today for private mass, with the first record of a permanent chapel here from the mid-18th century.
Beatrix Potter Gallery
Main Street, Hawkshead, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0NS
4pm – 5pm. Booking required.
Call 015394 36355
Get up close to Beatrix Potter’s original artwork in this out-of-hours tour. If you’ve ever been charmed by Beatrix’s characters, this is a rare opportunity to view the collection away from the crowds and learn about her life beyond the books.
Steam Yacht Gondola,
Coniston Pier, Lake Road, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8AN
5pm – 6:30pm. No booking required.
A free, ‘behind the scenes’ tour with archive material about the history of the yacht not usually on display. Find out more about the story of the rescue and the rebuild of Gondola in the 70s. The yacht will be moored at Coniston Pier early evening with a chance to step on board and chat to the crew.
Saturday 15 September
Allan Bank, Grasmere
Grasmere, Ambleside LA22 9QB
10:30am – 5pm. No booking required.
This year at Allan Bank we’re exploring the inspiration that Hardwicke and Edith Rawnsley took from John Ruskin’s principles, in admiring the beauty and spirituality of handcrafting and traditional craftsmanship, to establish the Keswick School of Industrial Art in 1884. Come and find out about the Arts and Crafts movement and the Rawnsleys’ role in it and feel inspired to have a go at our many arts and crafts on offer.
Wray Castle, near Ambleside
Cumbria, LA22 0JA
10.30am – 5pm. Booking advisable for the tours
Call 015394 33250
We’ll be revealing hidden areas of the history and design of the Wray Castle estate, including exclusive access to areas not normally open to the public. In conjunction with the Shamrock Trust, one of the three remaining original Windermere Steam Saloon Launches: the Shamrock, which will be on display (weather dependent) for visitors to board and have a look around.
Wordsworth House and Garden
Main Street, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9RX
11am – 5pm. No booking required.
Enjoy free entry to poet William’s childhood home and uncover the secret life of his sister and tireless champion, Dorothy, at a talk by the maid-of-all-work. Join a ten-minute talk at 11.30am or 2.30pm to shine a light on the remarkable life of William’s childhood playmate, secretary and life-long supporter.
Sunday 16 September
St Bees Head Fog Signal Station walk
Haig Mining Museum Car Park, Solway Road, Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 9BG
10:30am – 4pm. Booking required.
Call 0734 2088015
Join the Colourful Coast Partnership as we walk from Haig Museum along the coast to the St Bees Head Fog Signal Station – you’ll see and hear about the industrial history that has shaped the coastline and continues to do so today. We’ll stop for a break at the St Bees Head Fog Signal Station with a chance to look inside this normally closed building which perches precipitously on St Bees Head.