Day Trips from Manchester

In Brief. Levens Hall is a largely Elizabethan Manor House with varied gardens, including the oldest and most extensive topiary garden in the world. The gardens are a particular highlight, but the interior of the house is also in excellent condition, with panelled walls and furniture from different periods.  Nearby is the village of Cartmel, with its winding streets hosting a variety of houses, shops and eateries adjacent to its long established  Priory .  Levens Hall from the Topiary Garden What's Here? The garden at Levens hall is set out in a grid pattern, with different elements of the garden often separated by hedges, including a substantial beech hedge that was a feature of the original garden design from the 1690s. This means that the different areas feel quite separate, with their own characters. The most prominent feature is the Topiary Garden, which is next to the house, featuring not only diverse geometric patterns but also colourful flower beds, where there ar...

In Brief. Skipton is a market town to the South of the Yorkshire Dales, which has hosted a castle since one was built by the Normans in 1090, and has had a place on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal since 1774. More recently, the presence of these visitable sights and its proximity to the Yorkshire Dales means that it has become a significant tourist destination. Indeed, on my weekday visit in the summer, the town centre was bustling, and both canal trips and cafes were doing good business. Skipton Castle Watchtower What's Here? Though there has been a castle in Skipton for over 900 years, the current stone  Skipton Castle dates more from the 12th century. The castle is in excellent condition, and a self-guided tour follows a path through the towers, halls and courtyard, while providing some insights into key people and events, such as the 3 year siege during the English Civil War.  If the weather encourages more time outdoors, there are also various circular walks next to the c...