Holehird Gardens

Holehird Gardens is a 10-acre botanical garden near Lake Windermere featuring extensive rock formations, heather beds, and alpine greenhouses alongside a walled garden with herbaceous borders. The site uses natural topography and water flow to create diverse planting zones for different plant types.

The garden began in the 1860s as private grounds of a mansion and was redesigned in 1902 by landscape architect Thomas Mawson. This professional intervention gave the site its current structure and layout.

The place houses three national plant collections maintained by the Lakeland Horticultural Society, drawing plant enthusiasts who want to see rare species in a natural setting. Local gardeners and botanists regularly visit to study and enjoy these specialized plantings.

Visitors should expect varied elevation changes since the garden sits on naturally sloping terrain, making walking moderately challenging in places. The best time to visit is spring through autumn when most plants are actively growing and flowering.

A natural stream flows through the property and serves as a key design feature supporting moisture-loving plant species throughout the grounds. This waterway creates a dynamic element that changes with the seasons, giving different character to various parts of the garden.