View of Sizergh Castle from the garden

Sizergh Castle & Estate: Medieval Gardens & Mirror Lake | Family & Dog-Friendly Adventure Guide

Published on by Mélodie

Sizergh Castle and Estate near Kendal on the edge of the Lake District National Park, offers a perfect blend of 800 years of history and over 1,600 acres of wild Cumbrian landscape. From the medieval Solar Tower and world-class gardens to the hidden woodland ‘Wild Play’ trails, it is an essential stop for families and dog owners exploring the Lake District.

Cows enjoying the view on the lake district summits
Not a bad view, lucky cows !

In this guide:

  1. Introduction: 800 Years of Living History
  2. Our Sizergh adventure: Exploring the estate & house
  3. Planning Your Visit
  4. Extend Your Adventure: Make a Holiday of It
  5. Final Thoughts

Introduction: 800 Years of Living History

Sizergh Castle has been on my “must-visit” list ever since we moved to Cumbria eight years ago. Somehow, I managed to miss it every year until this past August bank holiday weekend. Since a catch-up with our friends Ella and Julian was long overdue — we hadn’t seen them since our trip to MediaCityUK in Manchester back in February — we decided to kill two birds with one stone and meet them there.

Read more – Our visit of Salford Quays and Sea life aquarium in Manchester

Sizergh castle and estate have been home to the Strickland family for over 800 years. In 1950, the property was gifted to the National Trust by Henry Hornyold-Strickland and his son, Lieutenant-Commander Thomas Hornyold-Strickland. While the family remains in residence today, the Trust manages the conservation of the castle, its award-winning gardens, and the surrounding land. Sizergh is renowned for its meticulously maintained gardens — most notably the Rock Garden — and the Inlaid Chamber, an Elizabethan masterpiece featuring world-class oak panelling inlaid with bog oak and holly. Beyond the formal grounds, the estate’s ancient woodlands and orchards offer a popular retreat for walkers and nature lovers alike.

stunning view from St Mary Chapel
Trying to find as many summits as we could

Our Sizergh adventure: Exploring the estate & house

It was a glorious, warm summer day — perfect for finally ticking Sizergh off our list. We kicked things off with a walk through the estate toward St Mary’s Chapel, where the views were stunning. We were treated to a 360-degree panorama stretching from the shimmering Morecambe Bay all the way to the distant summits of the Lake District. After scouting for a few more viewpoints, the midday sun signalled it was nearly lunchtime, so we began our stroll back toward the castle.

Stunning rock garden at Sizergh
Slowing walking through the beautiful rock garden

Because we were navigating the day with both a toddler and a dog, we decided to “divide and conquer.” Matt took Marcus to the children’s Wild Play Trail, and even though he was still quite young for it, he absolutely loved the challenge. Meanwhile, our friends relaxed in the sunshine with Skye while I took the opportunity to explore the gardens. The rock gardens were in full summer bloom, bursting with vibrant colours and so peaceful that I could have easily lost the entire afternoon there.

Eventually, I moved inside for a tour of the house. It was quite busy, and since I didn’t want to leave Skye with our friends for too long, I opted for a whirlwind circuit. As is usually the case, the library was my personal highlight, though the interior definitely deserves a return visit at a much slower pace once Marcus is a little older.

Entrance of Sizergh castle
Admiring the entrance of Sizergh castle before entering to visit
Side facade of Sizergh castle
One of the interior chimney at Sizergh castle
Beautiful ceiling light in the ground floor of Sizergh castle
Pink corridor inside Sizergh Castle
Several piece of armouries hang on the wall inside SIzergh castle
A room with a interior gallery at Sizergh

Once I finished, we swapped roles so our friends and Matt could have their turn to explore. We eventually reunited for a late lunch on the café terrace, which was brilliantly set up with outdoor games in the middle of the picnic area. This allowed the adults to enjoy a quiet meal while the kids played nearby — Marcus even managed to make a few new friends! By the time we headed for the car at 5pm, the atmosphere was perfectly relaxed. It was a wonderful end to a long-awaited day, and we will certainly be back to explore the rest of the estate.

View from Sizergh Estate
More view from Sizergh Estate
Lake in the garden of Sizergh estate
Summer colours at Sizergh garden
More of the Sizergh garden
View of Sizergh Castle from the garden
Sizergh garden and facade of the castle

Sizergh estate and garden

Planning Your Visit

  • 📍 Location & Parking: Use postcode LA8 8DZ. Parking is free for National Trust members; non-members can pay-and-display (approx. £3 for 1 hour or £9 for the day).
  • 🎫Entrance: Fees apply to non-members of the National Trust.
  • 🍴 Food: The Sizergh Café serves hot seasonal meals and famous Cumbrian cakes. There are also plenty of picnic benches near the Wild Play area.
  • 🚽 Facilities: Fully accessible toilets and baby-changing stations are located in the Old Forge and near the Visitor Centre.
  • ⏰ Opening Times: The estate is open dawn until dusk. The Café and Shop usually open at 10:00 am, with the House opening at 12:00 pm (seasonal).
  • 👶 Child Friendliness: Highly family-friendly! Don’t miss the Wild Play Trail with its rope swings and climbing wall. The paths are generally pushchair-friendly, though some estate paths can be muddy and rocky.
  • 🐾 Dog Friendliness: Dogs are welcome on leads throughout the 1,600-acre estate, the shop, and the café. Please note they are not permitted in the formal gardens or the House.
  • 🌐 Official Website: Check the National Trust Sizergh page for the latest event updates and seasonal closing dates.

Extend Your Adventure: Make a Holiday of It

For those looking to extend their stay and plan a longer adventure across the Lake District National Park, I’ve shared our favourite family and dog-friendly spots that are well worth a visit.

  • Holker Hall (14 miles from Sizergh): A beautiful stately home with impressive gardens and a deer park.
  • Wray Castle (20 miles from Sizergh): A gothic revival castle on the shores of Windermere with plenty of space for children to play.
  • Fell Foot Park (14 miles from Sizergh): A lakeside park at the southern tip of Windermere, perfect for picnics and water activities.
  • Fairy Steps from Sandside (6 miles from Sizergh): A magical woodland walk featuring a narrow limestone split that legend says allows you to see fairies if you climb it without touching the sides.
  • Cunswick Scar (6 miles from Sizergh): A stunning limestone ridge walk offering panoramic views of the Lakeland fells.
Holker castle from the orchard
Holker Castle
The exterior facade of Wray Castle
Wray Castle
The famous fairy steps near Sandside in the south of Cumbria
Fairy steps
Stunning autumnal colours on Lake Windermere from Fell foot national trust park
Autumnal colours at Fell foot

Final Thoughts

Join the Conversation

Have you visited Sizergh House & Estate? Do you think it is a place you would like to explore?

Share your thoughts: Don’t hesitate to tell us what you think by leaving us a comment below!

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34 thoughts on “Sizergh Castle & Estate: Medieval Gardens & Mirror Lake | Family & Dog-Friendly Adventure Guide”

  2. Lovely pictures of this beautiful castle and estate. Make no wonder it was turned over to the National Trust, though. The cost of maintaining all that history must be huge. It seems that you really enjoyed your visit and great that it’s child and also dog friendly.

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      1. It really sounds like the best of both worlds then! A fun adventure for the little ones and a gorgeous garden to wander through, I can totally picture you soaking it all in. That rock garden must’ve been such a treat!

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  6. Wow, that’s a beautiful place to visit, dear Melodie, and you captured so many wonderful photos. I love the castle’s tranquil atmosphere, enchanting gardens, and historic interiors. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx

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  7. Oh yes, those cows certainly have a lovely view! Everything is so beautiful, green, and lush – it looks like you chose a good day to visit Sizergh Castle & Estate. And I have to compliment you on how you managed your visits to accommodate a kid and a dog – hats off to you all! Lovely photos.

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    1. Thank you. The weather that was very warm (for the north of England). As we always travel with Marcus and our dog we are most of the time well organised. Unexpected things still happaned sometimes but we try to not stress too much about these 🙂.

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  11. I like Sizergh, which is only an hour up the M6 (if not jammed or closed). There are some good walks in the vicinity. My favoutite is up the hill ( a short steep climb) to the old church where, on a good day, there’s a great view of the Lake District mountains.

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  12. It’s funny how we tend to take where we live for granted. Glad to hear you finally managed to visit Sizergh Castle. It looks beautiful. Good call on taking the divide and conquer approach, which is something we’ve had to do on occasion as well! Seems like it worked out well.

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  15. Terrific place. I was there again a couple of weeks ago. I adore the view from the church at Helsington. I haven’t done a proper tour of the house for a long time however, so must put that right. We did look around at Christmas and last Christmas but there’s a different feel when it’s open in the evening. You do get to have a look in the chapel though, which isn’t usually open.

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