A beautiful visitor centre and garden that I was not even aware existed until recently! Admission is free. Lake steamers stop here, so you can arrive by boat and stay here all day. If you arrive by car, there's a pay and display car park (£8.50 for an all-day visit). I came here with a small coach party to do the Heritage Garden Tour, which lasted about an hour. Our guide Kevin was both friendly and knowledgeable, and he shared some interesting facts about the house, garden, and family who once lived here. Some magnificent trees and flowering shrubs, including a magnolia in full bloom that was planted around 1900. Gorgeous views down to the lake. Be aware that this is a terraced garden, and there are steps that can be a bit slippy after rain. After our tour, we enjoyed a cream tea in a cosy café with lake views. The scone, with jam and cream, was huge and very fresh. There are clean toilets next to the café, a gallery with dioramas of Cumbrian wildlife and habitats, and a beautiful gift shop. This is a fantastic place for families and children. There's a treetop walk and zip wire near the entrance, an adventure playground, and little tractors for small children to ride on. There's also a good variety of outdoor activities, including archery, mini golf, laser clay shooting, and bikes and kayaks for hire. Dogs are welcome both in the grounds and the café. I enjoyed my visit, but it was all too brief! Would love to return in the summer to explore the woodland and lakeside walks.