Route: Scampston Hall and Walled Garden
Area: North Yorkshire
Date of walk: 19th May 2021
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 2.5 miles
Weather: Sunshine and big skies
The Scampston estate was bought by the St Quintin family in the 17th century and has remained in the family ever since. Scampston Hall is open for guided tours on occasions during the summer months, but we were here today for a return visit to the gardens
The Hall is home to two wonderful and completely different gardens – the unique contemporary Walled Garden designed by Piet Oudolf, which opened in 2005, and The Park, designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown in 1782
The weather was superb when we arrived but rain was threatened, so we decided to make the most of the conditions and walk through the parkland first. The Walled Garden would not be at its peak yet and could wait until later. On arrival visitors are given a garden guide which describes two trails, the Cascade Trail which is about 1 mile and the Aviaries Trail, which is longer. We opted for the latter today and followed the path into the stunning Capability Brown parkland, studded with magnificent old trees. The waymarked route took us across to the Cascade which divides the two lower lakes. There’s a heronry in the woodland on the far side of the lake, and we saw several of these huge birds flying overhead
We continued on our circuit, passing by some interesting features including the Old Ice House and the Old Horse Shelter. This brought us to the Palladian Bridge at the end of the three linked lakes in the park. The bridge was designed by Capability Brown and sits perfectly in the landscape, as I hope the photos will show
We then walked past the Hall and through the Parterre. Having completed the Aviaries Trail it was time to visit the Walled Garden. The garden guide suggests a route around the various ‘rooms’ within the garden but we were content to wander around. It was quite early in the season, and so much of the perennial planting was not in flower yet. Nevertheless there was plenty of interest here. This concluded another wonderful visit to Scampston Hall
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Entering Scampston Hall gardens - the Walled Garden is to the left, and we'll return that way. We turn right here and walk behind the wall towards The Park
Entering into The Park, laid out by Capability Brown...
Looking back to Scampston Hall
Big skies enhancing the landscape
We walk across the park to the lower lakes...
Looking across to Scampston Hall
We cross over the lake via a bridge above the Cascade
The Cascade on the right, and on the left is the Ice House, built in 1759 with multi-layered walls to keep ice from the lake insulated
The Palladian Bridge at the end of the three linked lakes in the park
The bridge was designed by Capability Brown in the style of the renaissance architect Palladio
We pass by the old Horse Shelter, which now provides a roost for bats and barn owls
The Aviaries Trail continues along an avenue of lime trees
The trail brings us round to the lakeside again
We head towards the Palladian Bridge
Looking back along the lake
View from the Palladian bridge as we cross over the lake
Last views of the lake before we head to the other section of the gardens...
We walk through the Parterre
We arrive in the Walled Garden, designed by Piet Oudolf in 1999 - this is the view from a grassy bank called 'The Mount' which provides a view over the garden
The Serpentine Garden, one of several garden rooms within the walls
The Conservatory, built in 1895 and restored in 2015...
One of the sculptures by artist Simon Bull, part of a temporary exhibition
We make our way to the exit after another wonderful visit to Scampston
