We have embarked on a mission this winter/spring. During these cold months, we have been searching for new places to take our dogs for their walk. We have English Heritage and National Trust passes and we like to make the most of these, however, in the winter months, some of their historic buildings are closed. Yet the grounds are usually open. Some of these grounds are the perfect places to take the dogs out for a walk and blow off some of those winter cobwebs. We visited Gawthorpe Hall this week and it was the perfect place for a winter walk with the dogs.
Gawthorpe Hall is one of those hidden gems that I am really pleased we found, Lying in the heart of Burnely, I have probably driven passed Gawthorpe Hall hundreds of times and hadn’t realised it was even there. The estate lies at the end of a country road, but right in the middle of Padiham town centre. It is quite lovely to see how the town has grown up around this beautiful country estate.
Parking and Facilities
There is a large car park which lies a short distance away from the Hall and grounds. Championing accessibility, there is also a disbaled drop-off point right at the entrance gate of the estate.
There is disbaled parking on the main carpark. When we visited, the car park was quite muddy but there was ample parking and we were thus able to avoid the puddles!
Upon entering the estate, visitors can turn left and visit the picnic area or toilets. Unfortunately, these facilities were closed upon our visit as it is the winter season. (There are toilets in the nearby Tesco supermarket, a 3-minute drive from the Hall). These facilities are located in what was the hold stable house. Some offices and a visitors centre are located here too. There was a lot of work going on in this area to prepare for the opening of the hall in the spring. However, the grounds of the estate are open to visitors.
Throughout the grounds, you will find plenty of benches making it a great place for disabled visitors or those with limited mobility.
Gawthorpe Hall and Estate
Gawthorpe Hall is an impressive Elizabethan country house. One does not need to go inside the building to appreciate its splendour. The architecture was something to behold. The light brown bricked building is a formidable, imposing structure. We sat for a while to take it all in. Although the hall itself is closed during the winter months, you can take a stroll around the outside of the hall and appreciate the architecture.
The dogs particularly enjoyed the small maze at the back of Gawthorpe Hall.
The dogs and I then went for a walk through the estate. There is a beautiful wooded area to the front of the hall. This was perfect for dog walking. There are numerous paths which take you in all different directions. The dogs enjoyed all the new smells from the grounds.
Once we had explored the wooded area, we headed back towards the hall and spotted a deer running across the lawns. We followed it back into the wooded area and found some additional paths we had not yet explored. The paths were fairly even and flat making it a great place for disbaled people or those with limited mobility to explore. We saw several people using wheelchairs along these paths and even more mothers with prams.
We will return to Gawthorpe Hall in the summer with the dogs. Although they are not permitted in the house, it will be great to take it in turns and have a peek inside! I imagine the estate will be full of flowers and greenery in the spring and summer and been more beautiful than it is in the winter!
We spent around 2 and a half hours at Gawthorpe Hall with the dog. They enjoyed exploring the woods and we enjoyed taking in the views and our little winter picnic!
For a similar post from me, see Dog Fest 2023 – Tatton Park.
