Graythwaite Hall

Graythwaite Hall is a country house with a historic garden at Graythwaite, in Satterthwaite parish, Cumbria, in the southern Lake District. The Sandys family has lived here for roughly five centuries, and the main draw for visitors is the garden laid out by Thomas Mawson, one of Britain's leading landscape designers around 1900.

What is Graythwaite Hall?

It is a family home rather than a museum. The house dates back to the 17th century, was extended and altered over time, and gained a Gothic, Tudor-style look in the 19th century. It appears on the National Heritage List for England as a Grade II listed building. Nearby stands the older Graythwaite Old Hall, listed separately in a higher grade.

The interiors are not open for routine visits. The hall is hired out for weddings and events, so check the estate website for details.

What will you see in the garden?

Thomas Hayton Mawson designed the garden for Colonel Thomas Sandys. Sources date the work differently, from the late 1880s to the early 1890s. Garden historians see it as one of the first significant commissions of Mawson's career, and he described it in his book The Art and Craft of Garden Making. The garden sits in a wooded valley and mixes formal terraces and clipped hedges with looser planting and mature trees. It is included on Historic England's Register of Parks and Gardens.

Can you visit?

The estate says the garden opens to the public from April to August. Dates and hours change, so confirm the current calendar at graythwaite.com before you set out. Outside the season, do not expect access to the grounds.

How do you get there?

Graythwaite lies in the area between Hawkshead, Windermere and Newby Bridge, in a quiet corner away from the main tourist routes. A car is the practical choice, using narrow lanes on the western side of Windermere. Public transport is limited. Coordinates: about 54.313 N, 2.969 W.

When should you go?

Aim for the open season, from late spring to summer. You can combine the visit with Windermere or Hawkshead.

FAQ

Is Graythwaite Hall open to visitors? The garden is, from April to August according to the estate. The house is a private residence.

Who designed the garden? Thomas Mawson, commissioned by Thomas Sandys, owner of the estate.

Where is Graythwaite Hall? In Satterthwaite parish, Cumbria, in the Lake District, near Hawkshead and Windermere.

Is it the same as Graythwaite Old Hall? No. The Old Hall is a separate, older building in the same parish with its own listing.