Best Free Attractions in the Lake District
We want to show you the best free attractions in the Lake District. There are some wonderful places to visit here. And over the next week or so many of them have free access. This is thanks to the Heritage Open Days, England’s largest festival of history and culture. So here's our top five from the best free attractions in the Lake District from September 9 - 18.<\/p>
Church at Wray Castle
Church at Wray Castle<\/strong>
You can see the little church next to the entrance drive at Wray Castle, just around the head of Windermere. It's only a short drive from us at the Cedar Manor. St Margaret of Antioch Church is normally closed to the public now, but here's your chance to have a look inside.
The church was built by the Dawson family in 1856 as part of the Wray Castle estate. Hardwicke Rawnsley, who went to become one of the founders of the National Trust, served as the vicar from 1877 - 1884. During this time, he met young Beatrix Potter and her family. They were staying at Wray Castle for their summer holiday in the Lake District.
It was the start of a long-lasting friendship. Hardwicke loved Beatrix’s books. And they shared a desire to protect the Lake District’s landscape and traditions. Beatrix worked closely with the National Trust and left to the charity over 4000 acres and 15 farms. For Heritage Open Days, the church will be opened as a chance to see inside a grade 2 listed building and former place of worship normally closed to visitors. This is with the kind permission of the Diocese of Carlisle. From Sunday 11 September till Wednesday 14 September, drop in between 10.30 and 3.30, where you’ll be welcomed by a member of the National Trust team. They will share with you more about the history of this special place. No need to book. It's one of the most unusual of our best free attractions in the Lake District. St Margaret's of Antioch Church, Low Wray, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0JA<\/p>
Walk with Miss Potter
Walk with Miss Potter<\/strong>
So while we're thinking about Beatrix Potter, how about a walk in her footsteps? You can join National Trust staff on a guided walk (approx. 2.5 miles) in the countryside around Near Sawrey. This is the village Beatrix Potter described as 'a perfect little place’, and which became her home for nearly 40 years. She's the world-famous author and illustrator of books such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit. And she bought Hill Top in 1905 and settled in the Lake District becoming a farmer, landowner and conservationist. From Hill Top garden to Moss Eccles Tarn, you will see some of the sights and scenes that were the inspiration for her little books. And you'll hear about her legacy, which has helped ensure the survival of the Lakeland way of life. The National Trust team continue to look after what she left to the nation. This free event for Heritage Open Days will take place on Friday 9 September and Friday 16 September, 10am till 12 noon. Please note that Hill Top is closed on Fridays for conservation cleaning and this event doesn’t include entry to the house.
Pre-booking is required. This walk is approx. 2.5 miles, on paths and tracks, with some moderate uphill sections. Please wear clothing and footwear suitable to the day’s weather forecast and for walking outdoors. But it's definitely one of the best free attractions in the Lake District.<\/p>
See how Gondola works
See how Gondola works<\/strong>
Steam Yacht Gondola is the wonderful steam-powered passenger yacht which has sailed on Coniston Water since 1860. And many of you will know her. Now, on the evenings of 13th and 15th September, there's a chance to tour the vessel and see the machinery spaces and opulent saloons.
Gondola was a real milestone in mid-Victorian engineering and social development. This free event is to celebrate the revolutionary thinking she represents. The crew will share with you the origins of Gondola as both an attraction and a transport opening up the Lake District for the first time to tourists. You will learn about the remarkable design, which has hardly changed since 1860, and about the foresight of her creators. There will also be a short demonstration of the manoeuvrability of the Gondola on the water.
The sessions start at 5.15pm and 6.15pm and each session will last approx. one hour. There are limited spaces on the Gondola, so booking is preferred.<\/p>
Hawkshead Courthouse
Hawkshead Courthouse<\/strong>
This peep into our wonderful history is one of the best free attractions in the Lake District during Heritage week. It's a chance to see inside Hawkshead Courthouse, all that remains of the medieval manorial buildings once held by Furness Abbey.
The courthouse is the oldest secular building in the Lake District. That's because it survived the dissolution of the monasteries in 1536. It was part of the administration of Furness Abbey, a monastery that controlled large parts of South Lakeland.
On Monday 12 September, it is open especially for Heritage Open Day as a chance to see inside a historic building normally closed to visitors. Importantly, there's no booking needed; just drop in between 11am and 3pm, where a member of the National Trust team will welcome you. They look after the building today. (NB There is no parking at the courthouse. Nearest parking is at the main Hawkshead pay and display car park which is approx 15 minutes’ walk to the site).<\/p>
Choral music in Kendal
Choral music in Kendal<\/strong>
This wonderful concert is one of the best free attractions in the Lake District during the Heritage week. It features Choral Music through the centuries at the delightful Kendal Parish Church, sung by their Choir. The Revd Canon Shanthi Thompson is organising this event.
This concert showcases Britain's wonderful heritage of Church music, which is designed to enhance the amazing architecture of our great churches and cathedrals. To hear the music in this concert is to come close to the heartbeat of the nation through the centuries. In this beautiful church, the Choir will take you on a chronological music tour, from the glories of plainsong to Tudor music, the Restoration, and the Romantic and Modern eras. No booking needed, just turn up at 4pm on Sunday 18 September.
For more details about these and other free access events, see the Heritage Open Days website.<\/p>