Hutton-in-the-Forest
Hutton-in-the-Forest, near Skelton, Penrith, Cumbria
A historic house near Penrith with a 1730s walled garden full of herbaceous plants, seventeenth-century terraces, a woodland walk with an old dovecote and an arboretum of around seventy tree species.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit Hutton-in-the-Forest?
Hutton-in-the-Forest is a rewarding stop for anyone travelling near Penrith who wants a historic garden with real plant interest. The house grew out of a medieval pele tower, and its gardens span several centuries, from terraces first laid out in the seventeenth century to a walled garden built in the 1730s.
The Walled Garden is the heart of a visit and holds a large collection of herbaceous plants, so in summer it is full of colour and texture within old walls. The terraces below the house give views back to the building, which shows a wide mix of styles from the seventeenth century onwards. Beyond, a woodland walk leads to a seventeenth-century dovecote that still has its potence, an internal ladder that rotates so the nest boxes could be reached, which is rare. The 1st Lord Inglewood added many new tree species, and the tree trail guide now lists seventy in the arboretum. Nearby is the small church of St James, recorded as far back as 1291.
Gardeners will find the Walled Garden useful for ideas on herbaceous planting in a northern climate, and the arboretum is a good chance to compare trees for size and form. Inside the house, look out for the 1630s gallery and the Cupid Staircase if you also visit indoors. Allow a couple of hours for house and garden together.
What to see
- The Walled Garden of the 1730s, with a large collection of herbaceous plants.
- Terraces first laid out in the seventeenth century.
- The woodland walk and seventeenth-century dovecote with its rotating potence ladder.
- The arboretum, with seventy tree species on the tree trail.
- The small church of St James, recorded in 1291.
Hutton-in-the-Forest through the year
- spring
- Woodland walks and new growth in the arboretum, with the Walled Garden borders filling out.
- summer
- The Walled Garden's herbaceous plants are at their peak.
- autumn
- The arboretum trees colour, and late perennials carry on in the Walled Garden.
- winter
- The gardens are likely to have limited opening; check the official website for the season dates.
The story behind the garden
Hutton-in-the-Forest began as a medieval stronghold, and its pele tower survives. The Fletcher-Vane family owned it from 1605 until 1931, when it passed to the Barons Inglewood, distant relatives who still live there. Each generation altered the house, adding the gallery in the 1630s, the hall and Cupid Staircase in 1680, a drawing room around 1830 and a library in 1870.
The garden terraces were first laid out in the seventeenth century, and the Walled Garden was built in the 1730s. The 1st Lord Inglewood added many new tree species to the grounds, creating the arboretum now described in the tree trail guide. The nearby church of St James was renovated by the architect Anthony Salvin in Victorian times.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Herbaceous plant lovers, tree enthusiasts and visitors to the northern Lake District edge.
- Getting there
- Hutton-in-the-Forest is near the village of Skelton, a few miles north-west of Penrith in Cumbria.
- Before you go
- The house is a family home and opening is seasonal. Check the official website for current opening times and tickets.
Source: Wikipedia: Hutton in the Forest
Questions about visiting Hutton-in-the-Forest
What is special about the garden at Hutton-in-the-Forest?
The Walled Garden, built in the 1730s, holds a large collection of herbaceous plants. The grounds also include seventeenth-century terraces, a woodland walk with a historic dovecote and an arboretum.
Who owns Hutton-in-the-Forest?
Hutton-in-the-Forest belongs to the Barons Inglewood, who inherited it in 1931 from the Fletcher-Vane family. The Fletcher-Vanes had owned it since 1605.
What is the dovecote at Hutton-in-the-Forest?
The seventeenth-century dovecote on the woodland walk still contains its potence, a rotating internal ladder used to reach the nest boxes. Few dovecotes keep this feature.
When is the best time to visit Hutton-in-the-Forest?
Summer is best for the Walled Garden's herbaceous borders. Autumn is good for the arboretum. Check the official website for opening days before you go.
Garden features
Location
Hutton-in-the-Forest, near Skelton, Penrith, Cumbria
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