Wray Grounds Tour - Walk & Talk
7–8 Oct, 11–15 Oct…
A 45-minute outdoor walk around the perimeter of Wray Castle, where a member of the Wray team shares stories about the estate’s history, notable guests and future plans.
Cumbria
Cumbria is a scenic North West England county famed for the Lake District, historical castles, and vibrant cultural heritage, attracting millions of visitors annually.
Near Wray
Wray Castle is a Victorian neo-gothic castle in Cumbria with extensive grounds featuring rare trees, part of Windermere shoreline, and historic connections to Beatrix Potter. It is managed by the National Trust and offers both indoor tours and outdoor exploration, including public access to the grounds year-round.
House Taster Tours
8 Oct, 13 Oct…
A 45-minute guided tour through Sizergh House, where volunteers introduce key people and events from the house’s 800-year history.
Garden Tours - Afternoons
7–9 Oct, 12–16 Oct…
Join a guided tour through Sizergh’s garden to learn about its history and development, current and future projects, and seasonal highlights.
Guided Walk: Ancient Trees and Magnificent Murals
12 Oct, 19 Oct…
A volunteer-led, two-hour walk explores Sizergh’s ancient trees, farmland and limestone woodland, with views over the Lyth Valley and Lake District fells, and a visit to the historic mural at St John’s Church.
Near Sizergh
Sizergh Castle is a Grade I listed stately home and historic house museum in Cumbria, England, featuring Elizabethan and Georgian architecture with notable oak interiors and portraits. Visitors can explore both the castle's historic indoor spaces and its extensive outdoor gardens and estate, which includes the largest limestone rock garden held by the National Trust.
Taste of Townend
8 Oct, 15 Oct…
Explore the Browne family’s 17th-century recipe book at Townend, where a volunteer in period costume discusses its food, medicine and household recipes. Food recreated by the living history team is displayed but cannot be tasted.
War Comes to Westmorland
7–8 Oct, 13–15 Oct…
War Comes to Westmorland explores the Jacobite Rebellion through the stories of Old Ben Browne and George Browne of Townend, showing how the conflict affected the Lake District.
Townend Guided Tour
7–8 Oct, 13–15 Oct…
A volunteer-led, 45-minute guided tour explores the history of Townend, the Browne family and the people and objects connected with their home. Some sessions include an additional focus on the library or a historical food display.
Near Townend
Townend is a 17th-century historic house in Troutbeck, Cumbria, owned by the National Trust. It offers insight into the life of a wealthy farming family and is a Grade I listed building open to the public for tours.
Free apple tasting
10–11 Oct, 17–18 Oct…
Visitors can sample ripe apples from Acorn Bank’s collection of 165 varieties, while volunteers share information about the apples and their history. The tasting takes place in the courtyard near the café.
Near Acorn Bank
Acorn Bank Garden & Watermill is a National Trust property near Penrith, Cumbria, featuring an extensive garden of medicinal and culinary herbs, orchards of old English fruit varieties, and a restored watermill powered by the Crowdundle Beck stream.
Daughters of the Soil
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
An exhibition by documentary photographer Joanne Coates exploring the lives and work of women in agriculture, with photographs and landscapes from South Lakeland and other rural areas.
2 miles from Levens Hall
Levens Hall is an Elizabethan manor house in Kendal, Cumbria, known for its historic interior and extensive, world-famous topiary gardens dating from the 17th century. Visitors can explore the house and gardens, enjoy the picnic areas, cafe, and shop, with facilities suitable for children and wheelchair access.
Verdigris
7 Oct, 10–14 Oct…
An exhibition by artist Kathryn Poole brings together flower paintings, botanical etchings and lithographs of foxgloves from the grounds of Allan Bank. The works explore the foxglove’s life cycle, regeneration and the contrast between its poisonous and medicinal qualities.
Stranger Folk Digital Adventure at Allan Bank
7 Oct, 10–14 Oct…
Visitors use the Stranger Folk mobile app to follow a guided quest through Allan Bank’s grounds, completing magical tasks and encountering creatures from British folk tales.
Mischief in Miniature
7 Oct–13 Dec (another 65 days)
Visitors explore Hill Top to spot needle-felted mice and miniature scenes inspired by Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Two Bad Mice.
Pets to Page: The Tale of Two Bad Mice
7 Oct–13 Dec (another 65 days)
Explore Beatrix Potter’s creative process behind The Tale of Two Bad Mice through her manuscript, sketches, finished artworks and a restored dolls’ house. Visitors can watch animations and a conservation film, use interactive lighting and handle a replica dolls’ house.
Near Ambleside Roman Fort
Ambleside Roman Fort offers visitors the chance to explore the ruins of a significant Roman fortification from the 1st or 2nd century AD situated on the shore of Lake Windermere in Cumbria. Managed by the National Trust, the outdoor site features remains of defensive walls, gates, barracks, and other Roman structures, providing insight into Roman military presence in Britain. The site is accessible to the public and is an important historic and archaeological attraction within the Lake District National Park.
Free tours of Acorn Bank's orchard
18 Oct (next Sunday)
Join a volunteer for a walk through Acorn Bank’s orchard to learn about its history, the apple varieties grown there and how they are cared for. The tour may introduce visitors to apples fruiting at the time.
Guided Walk: Prehistoric Sizergh
12 Oct, 19 Oct…
Join a guided walk to Sizergh Fell to explore traces of the area’s prehistoric and Roman past, alongside its grassland, wildlife and views over Morecambe Bay. The walk lasts around two hours.
October half term activities
17–19 Oct, 22–26 Oct…
Families can search the woods for the Golden Apple and identify Acorn Bank’s trees using a leaf activity sheet. Colouring materials are also available to use in the café.
Wordsworth the Influencer
7 Oct, 10–14 Oct…
A permanent exhibition at Allan Bank explores how William Wordsworth influenced the Lake District. Visitors can see large-scale photographs of landscapes featured in his writing, alongside a first edition of his Guide to the Lakes and later guides.
(In)tangible
7 Oct, 10–14 Oct…
Tracy Hill’s site-specific art installation explores the role of fungi and lichen in shaping the environment and understanding climate change. Visitors can experience the installation in the house gallery.
Near Allan Bank
Allan Bank is a Grade II* listed historic villa in Cumbria, England, known for its connection to William Wordsworth and other literary figures. Located in the Lake District, it offers both indoor historical house exploration and outdoor garden experiences with red squirrels. The property is owned by the National Trust and open to the public.
'Wonder World: Earth' Children's Trail
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
A family trail along the Holeslack accessible route, exploring the world of soil and the life found underground. Visitors can pick up a trail map at the Visitor Centre.
Pages from the Potter Family Album
7 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027 (another 173 days)
An outdoor exhibition at Wray featuring enlarged photographs by Rupert Potter, Beatrix Potter’s father. The images show Victorian family life, travel, leisure and landscapes connected with the Potter family’s time in the Lake District.
The Caravan Press
7 Oct, 10–14 Oct…
An exhibition about printmaker Gwyneth Alban Davis and the printing business she ran from a caravan in Langdale in the late 1940s. Visitors can explore her life and work, with printing activities available for adults and children.
2 miles from Grasmere (lake)
Grasmere is a small lake in England's Lake District, known for its connection to poet William Wordsworth and its scenic natural surroundings. The lake allows private and hire rowing boats but prohibits powered boats. It features one island now owned by the National Trust and offers picturesque views from surrounding areas.
SOIL at Sizergh exhibition
7–20 Oct (another 11 days)
An immersive exhibition in Sizergh’s Great Barn featuring work by local and national artists inspired by soil.
Harps North West
13 Oct, 10 Nov…
Members of Harps North West play an informal harp quartet performance in the Wordsworth Study, with music ranging from folk and pop arrangements to classical and specially written pieces. Attendees can also chat with the musicians and see or try the harps.
Near Wordsworth Grasmere
Wordsworth Grasmere offers a rich cultural experience exploring William Wordsworth's home, Dove Cottage, with restored gardens and woodland, an interactive museum with manuscripts, and engaging activities for all ages. Visitors can enjoy guided tours, a sensory garden, and a café serving local food amidst the scenic Lake District setting.
Parkrun at Fell Foot, every Saturday
10 Oct, 17 Oct…
A free weekly 5km parkrun at Fell Foot where participants can walk, jog or run, volunteer, or spectate. The event is welcoming and has no time limit.
Garden Tours - Mornings
8–9 Oct, 12–16 Oct…
Join a guided tour through Sizergh’s garden and plant collection. Guides discuss the garden’s history and development, current and future projects, and seasonal highlights.
2 miles from Halecat
Halecat is a historic Georgian house set in scenic woodlands and gardens in Cumbria. Visitors can explore the house's grand interiors and enjoy the natural beauty of the estate's broadleaf woodlands and meticulously designed formal gardens, including a listed gazebo. The site offers facilities for children and is part of the Witherslack Estate, popular with walkers and wildlife enthusiasts.