Yesterday I paid a short visit to Lowther Castle near Penrith, Cumbria, between the Lake District and the Eden Valley. Lowther is like a fairy tale castle set in magnificent parkland in the valley of the River Lowther, a tributary of the Eden. Sadly though, it has been in ruins for decades. The financial impact of the extravagant lifestyle of the Lowther lords led to its closure and substantial dismantling in the mid-20th century, not helped by being taken over by a tank regiment during WW2.
Now managed by a charitable foundation (distinct from the Lowther Estates) a major regeneration project has been in progress since 2012.
The courtyard looks very different from three years ago, and this weekend is the location for a plant fair. After looking at the stalls, browsing around the shop in the old stable block, and downing a cup of tea in the splendid new cafe I didn't have time to explore much further, but am planning to return.
On another visit, which I intend to be very soon, I must look at the work going on to re-create the garden areas. This is an enormous venture and will take years, with hard graft and many thousands of plants. However, Lowther Castle deserves to have its gardens restored to match the beauty of its location.
