Explore Gawthorpe Hall's estate

Published:: 10 September 2024

The Walled Garden at Gawthorpe Hall | © National Trust Images/James Beck

With over 50 acres to discover, Gawthorpe Hall estate is a great place to explore. From woodland walks and a hidden walled garden to beautiful formal gardens and a natural play area perfect for little explorers, there’s plenty to see and do.

The gardens in autumn

As the leaves start to change colour and fall from the magnificent trees, experience the sights and sounds of autumn at Gawthorpe Hall.

Don’t miss these autumn highlights:

Take an early morning walk and listen out for the unmistakeable sounds of the dawn chorus with species including the great tit, blue tit, long-tailed tit, wren, wagtail, nuthatch, dipper, goldfinch, treecreeper and chaffinch.
You may be lucky enough to spot a bird of prey. Barn owls can sometimes be seen hunting along the River Calder whilst tawny owls, often bred in one of the many nesting boxes built and assembled by the National Trust team, may be heard calling to their parents in the evening. Sparrowhawks can be spotted flying through the woodland, and at this time of year you may see kestrels hovering overhead.
Roe Deer can be seen in the woods, and you may even hear them bellowing very early morning in November during rutting season.
Lots of hedgehog activity takes place in the woods as they fatten up in preparation for hibernation.
Autumn is also a good season for uncovering many types of fungus due to the increase in wet weather. In a recent survey over 30 different species of fungus were found, including Jelly Baby fungus, Trooping Crumble Cap, Puffball, and Turkeytail.
Walled garden wildflowers will still be in flower providing vital nectar source for our resident bees. These plants include cow parsley, common hogweed, teasel, greater bindweed and broad-leaved helleborine.

A walk around the grounds will highlight the change in colour amongst the resident trees, in particular beech, oak and sycamore. Watch as sycamore helicopter seed pods spin down to the ground around you.

The hidden Walled Garden

Aerial view of Gawthorpe Hall estate, including the Walled Garden | © Unknown

The Walled Garden – then & now

Situated in the grounds of Gawthorpe Hall, this area was formally known as the kitchen garden and included a gardeners cottage, one or more bothies (accommodation for under-gardeners and ‘journeymen’) a potting shed, a boiler-house and other buildings likely to be used for storage. Over the last few years, the National Trust team have transformed the area which now houses an outdoor yurt, with the intention to use it for educational talks and crafts, beehives, apple, pear and plum trees, a wildflower meadow, and an area dedicated to growing plants and vegetables.

Educational Yurt

It’s been proven that getting outdoors and into nature can help to boost energy levels and improve your health. That’s why we’ve created a comfortable outdoor learning space, to provide visitors to the walled garden with opportunities for exploration, experimentation, and contextual learning. Not only does the yurt fit in perfectly with the surroundings of the walled garden, but it is also a very versatile place for us to be able to create a learning experience and encourage children and adults alike to get back to nature.

Fruit growing in the Walled Garden | © Lucy Rodgers

Growing fruit and vegetables

As would have taken place in the past, the team grow a variety of fruit, vegetables, and plants in the walled garden. The sensory bed is filled with different herbs, such as chives, rosemary, thyme and mint showing off their different shades of green, diverse textures and wonderful and unique scents. Apple, pear and plum trees add character to the garden landscape and provide spring pollen and nectar for the resident bees. Vegetables such as tomatoes, courgettes, sweet pea and lettuce are carefully tended to, as well as fruit such as rhubarb, strawberries and red currants.

Nature and Wildlife

The walled garden is bursting with local wildlife, and the team work hard to ensure it remains a safe haven for nature. Throughout the summer months the grass is left to grow making space for plant and insect species. Bird boxes and bird feeders are dotted around the walled garden and wider estate to provide a constant food source. Compost heaps provide warm hiding place for many creatures and flowers not only bring colour and beautiful scent, but also provide food for many insects. Recently the team installed a pond with the help of members of the public who joined us for one of our Ranger Days. A real boost for wildlife the pond provides a breeding space for frogs, toads, newts and dragonflies as well as a habitat for a host of other creatures.

Resident bees

There are four beehives in the walled garden, looked after by East Lancashire Beekeepers' Association. The beekeepers inspect the hives for signs of disease, ensure the bees have enough food and water, and remove honey from the hives when ready to do so. On your next visit, have a look to the left of the beehives and you’ll see an interpretation board that highlights the difference between a drone, worker and the queen bee and details the steps on how bees make honey.

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Garden

Gawthorpe Hall’s Victorian Garden, situated on the south lawn to the front of the Hall, is the perfect place to pause and relax. Take a seat on one of the benches overlooking the beautiful, landscaped garden and magnificent Hall or enjoy a picnic on the lawn.

The garden was created by Sir Charles Barry famed for his work on the Houses of Parliament in the 1850s. In 1872 several changes were made to the garden over the next 20 years. If you visit after a prolonged period of dry weather, you may see the outline of Barry’s design giving you a glimpse of its former Victorian glory.

Woodland

There’s over 40 acres of beautiful woodland to explore at Gawthorpe. It’s a popular location for visitors to walk amongst the magnificent mature oak, sycamore and beech trees that reside here.

Discover hidden pockets of quiet woodland, listen out for the birds filling the trees with song, take a moment to reflect on one of the benches surrounding the pond or admire the inspiring views across to Pendle Hill.

Natural Play Area

Let your imagination run free in the natural play area. Build a secret den, make a wild crown out of twigs and leaves, balance on the wooden beams or go on a bug hunt, there’s plenty of opportunities to run around and get closer to nature.

Walks

The grounds of Gawthorpe Hall are a popular destination for outdoor and nature enthusiasts of all ages to enjoy. With plenty of footpaths to explore there’s a route for every ability, from gentle strolls to slightly more challenging walks. Whether it’s on your own, with family, friends, or your four-legged companion, there’s plenty to see and discover on a walk within the grounds.

If you'd like to discover Gawthorpe and the surrounding area, embark on this fascinating circular walk which takes you through the historic parkland of Gawthorpe Hall, past the ancient woodland of Hagg Wood and through Grove Lane Plantation. Find out more here - Gawthorpe Hall Circular Walk, Lancashire | National Trust

View across the garden and lawn to the South Front of Gawthorpe Hall with blue sky above on a sunny day

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Children running in the woodland in summer at Gawthorpe Hall, Lancashire

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Family-friendly things to do at Gawthorpe Hall

From discovering the majestic woods where children can enjoy the natural play area and views across Pendle Hill, to exploring inside the Hall’s stunning historic rooms that show what life was like in the Victorian period for the Kay-Shuttleworth family who once resided there.