Dalemain Mansion & Historic Gardens — Attraction in Dacre

After beginning and ending a charity walk for the Alzheimer's Society the prevday (Saturday when house and grounds are closed to the general public) my wife and I returned the following day to visit the shop and tea room in the Long Barn. Parking is easy and only a short walk from the Barn. If you are not good on cobblestones then be warned, the courtyard is well blessed with them - it will be very uncomfortable for wheelchair users. The range of items in the shop is modest and focuses on marmalade with a few additions like cards and tea towels. None of the marmalade appears to be made locally, either in Newcastle-upon-Tyne or elsewhere 'in England'. We thought it was expensive, probably Fortnum and Mason prices who also sell the marmalade. We decided to have coffee and scones. £4.50 is expensive for a scone. In our usual cafe at home near Hexham we pay under £2 and never more than three. That said they were very nice and the coffee very hot. We didn't enter the house and grounds, we have a dog and understandably they are not allowed in either. One visitor arriving for a pre-booked visit to the house could not enter at their allotted time because it was full. The explanation given was there are two booking systems in operation and (my understanding is) they don't talk to each other. The visitor had to wait an hour for the next available slot which she seemed to accept graciously. There is outside seating for those who wish but plenty inside too. Staff were friendly...

It looks like a Georgian mansion from a distance, but behind its facade is a Norman pele tower and a fascinating mix of Tudor and Georgian rooms. Entry is through the gift shop, adult admission to the house and garden is £11.75, children go free. There were no guide books available when I visited, but there is information in every room and they do guided tours. First I visited Georgian rooms filled with fine furniture and ancestral portraits, then a spiral staircase in the pele tower took me 200 years further back in time up to the Tudor bedrooms with their dark wood panelling and four poster beds. Very atmospheric and one of them even had a prayer closet! I loved the nursery crammed with period toys and an 18th century doll's house. One of the guides showed me an album with photos of the miniature Georgian furniture that is still inside. Did not get to see the gardens but I enjoyed a lovely coffee and gingerbread with marmalade in a medieval hall. The gift shop has a nice selection of marmalades - couldn't resist buying a jar of the apple and brandy and it is delicious! There's a farm museum in a 16th century barn and beautiful parkland with sheep and fallow deer. An enjoyable visit and I'll...

Dalemain always looks deserted when viewed from the Penrith to Pooley Bridge road, but the carpark in round the back. DO make the effort to book a guided tour. It has centuries of fascinating history, and elements of the original Peel Tower are in its structure. Our guide (Scottish gentleman, collar & tie) was astonishingly knowledgeable and enthusiastic and knew everything about the house and family. He made the tour a joy. There is a large garden and a woodland walk (we saw a red squirrel) and an estate herd of fallow deer. The cafe and reception desk are in an attractively converted stone barn. The food on offer is limited, a small selection of sandwiches plus soup of the day in a disposable cup. There's a selection of cakes by the slice for those with a sweet tooth. The barn also has a small selection of souvenirs and lots of marmalade for sale. The estate hosts a worldwide marmalade competition annually to raise money for charity. If you enjoy history, you should visit...