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Delightful garden renowned for its herbs and fruit orchards
Temple Sowerby, near Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 1SP
Asset | Opening time |
---|---|
Garden | 10:30 - 17:00 |
Car park | 10:30 - 17:00 |
Parkland | 10:30 - 17:00 |
Café | 10:30 - 16:00 |
Watermill | 11:00 - 15:00 |
The café is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. From Thursday - Monday, it is open 10:30am-4pm, and last orders for lunch time menu are at 3pm.
Ticket type | Gift aid | Standard |
---|---|---|
Adult | £9.00 | |
Child | £4.50 | |
Family | £22.50 | |
1 adult, 2 children | £13.50 |
Assistance dogs only in the gardens. Dogs allowed in the courtyard and on the estate.
Second-hand book shop stocking a range of fiction and non-fiction titles.
Cafe in the courtyard. Open Thursday-Monday (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays). 10:30-4pm, last orders for lunch time menu at 3pm.
Drop-off point at garden entrance. Separate mobility parking, 50 yards. Adapted toilet in garden courtyard. Tramper available to hire free of charge. Hearing loop available at welcome point. Some accessible paths in garden but mainly rough. Woodland pathways are uneven and undulating. Map of accessible route in grounds available below.
One tramper available to hire free of charge.
Place to change available in the courtyard.
Some grass paths and areas where the ground is uneven.
1 mile from A66. Take J40 on M6 towards Brough, then follow brown signs.
Parking: Free for National Trust members. Follow signs to main car park, gates locked at 5pm.
public footpath from Temple Sowerby
Langwathby 5 miles; Penrith 6 miles
The Penrith to Appleby bus service, number 563, stops at Temple Sowerby each day except Sunday. Take public footpath from Temple Sowerby to Acorn Bank, about 1 mile. No service Saturdays or Sundays.
Travel the green way and help us preserve this amazing place. Visit Acorn Bank by bus, train or bicycle and receive a seasonal gift when you show your bus/train ticket or cycle helmet. Plan your car-free visit with Good Journey
We want to make sure that Acorn Bank is accessible for all visitors. The historic house, gardens and estate we care for present challenges in creating access for all, but we are taking steps to ensure that as many people as possible are able to experience Acorn Bank’s history and beauty. Here you’ll find information about access across the different areas of Acorn Bank and how to make the most of your visit.
Acorn Bank is a one pawprint rated place. Find out the best places to stretch your legs here, as well as the things to be aware of when you visit.
Walled gardens shelter a medicinal herb garden, herbaceous borders, lily pond and traditional orchards.
Woodland walks reveal a hidden gypsum mine, working watermill and wildlife, including red squirrels, otters and rare birds.
The house is partially closed, but the grand Entrance Hall and second-hand bookshop are open on the ground floor.
Wander along the Crowdundle Beck to the partially restored watermill.
Local providers, Lakeland Coffee, run a cafe in the courtyard selling hot drinks, light bites and freshly baked cakes. Last orders for the cafe's lunch time menu are at 3pm, and drinks and cakes are served until 4pm. The cafe is open Thursday - Monday.
This summer, there's an exciting array of events - including industrial heritage tours, foraging courses and a range of workshops. Summer of Play is running throughout the summer holidays, with a self-led nature trail and traditional games. There are lots of ways to complete 50 Things lists, too.
Join Wild Food UK on Acorn Bank's beautiful estate and learn about all things foraging.
Embark on a slow, immersive and sensory seasonal nature experience in the beautiful woods at Acorn Bank with Wild Soul's Alex Murgatroyd.
Absorb little ones in nature, and take a self-guided trail to tick a few off your 50 Things list. Enjoy traditional games at the front of the house and on the ha-ha and use rubbing plaques to discover the flora and fauna of the garden and estate.
Potter around the fascinating garden at Acorn Bank. The garden boasts over 275 varieties of herbs as well as hot beds, vegetable patches and traditional fruit orchards.
Explore the 180 acres of woodland and parkland at Acorn Bank to visit the historic watermill, get closer to nature, or go on a geocaching adventure.
Discover what family-friendly activities are on offer at Acorn Bank in Cumbria, from geocaching around the parkland to newt spotting in the Sunken Garden. Try a self-guided nature trail and use rubbing plaques to discover the flora and fauna of Acorn Bank's walled garden and woodland.
Enjoy a walk around this peaceful backwater to discover Acorn Bank’s surprising industrial heritage and wildlife by the river.
Local mobile coffee business, Lakeland Coffee, are serving hot and cold drinks, light bites, paninis, snacks and freshly baked cakes in the courtyard, Thursday to Monday, 10.30am-4pm.
Browse the second-hand bookshop at Acorn Bank, and discover exciting reads, DVDs, CDs and videogames to take home with you after your visit.
An impressive 18th-century carding mill, now a large six-bedroom escape perfect for family get-togethers.
A rustic bothy for those who want to spend more time exploring the fells, tarns and peaks of the Lake District.
Contemporary and rustic combine in this Grade II listed farmhouse on the Sizergh estate.
Discover the echoes of Acorn Bank's hidden industrial past in the woods.
Hear the stories of some of the trees in Acorn Bank’s significant apple collection.
We are pleased that local group, the Eden Runners, have chosen to host their 10k run at Acorn Bank.
Best known for its comprehensive herb collection and traditional fruit orchards, Acorn Bank is a tranquil haven with a fascinating industrial past. Today the walled gardens shelter a medicinal herb garden, herbaceous borders, lily-filled pond and traditional orchards carpeted with Edwardian daffodils in spring.
Wander along the Crowdundle Beck to the partially restored watermill, enjoying wildlife in the woods on the way, and discover more about the history of gypsum mining on the estate. Enjoy the views across the Eden Valley to the Lake District from the magnificent backdrop of the sandstone house.
Discover how Acorn Bank's purpose has changed throughout the centuries, since it was first owned by the Knights Templar in the 13th century.
90 years after it was last used, the volunteer team at Acorn Bank Watermill have been hard at work preparing to restore the second waterwheel.
Search for live volunteering opportunities, or register your interest with Acorn Bank.
Join today and help protect nature, beauty and history – for everyone, for ever. Enjoy access to more than 500 places with National Trust membership.