Macdonald Leeming House
Home / Ullswater / Macdonald Leeming House Macdonald Leeming House A country-house hotel in a peaceful setting above Ullswater, well placed for exploring the eastern
NEAR PENRITH • MANSION, GARDENS & WALKS
Step inside a family home shaped by different centuries, explore a garden full of character or stop for tea before a countryside walk. Dalemain, near Penrith and Ullswater, gives you several ways to plan a visit.
Choose a mansion tour, a garden visit or time around the tearoom and walking routes, then check the arrangements for your chosen date.
Last checked and updated: 30 October 2026
Location: Dalemain, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0HB.
Mansion: entry is by guided tour. Places are limited, so book ahead if a house visit is the main reason for your trip.
Gardens: check the garden opening dates and last admission separately from mansion tour times.
Tearoom and walks: Dalemain says access to its tearoom and the Dalemain Loop is free; food, drinks and paid attractions are separate. Check opening before travelling.
Use the official admission page for current prices, discounts and any special-event arrangements. Do not assume a membership benefit applies to every date or ticket.
The Hasell family has owned Dalemain since 1679. Its Georgian front conceals a house developed over earlier periods, with ceramics, furniture, family portraits and everyday objects that help tell its story.
A guided tour is the way to see the mansion. Allow around 45 minutes to an hour for the standard tour, as described by Dalemain, and leave additional time for the gardens or refreshments.
For background before you arrive, read the official mansion and gardens guide. Check your booking for the areas included and any arrival instructions.
Dalemain is an RHS Partner Garden with old-fashioned roses, herbaceous planting, a knot garden and woodland areas. Features such as the topiary dragon and earth giant add a playful side to the visit.
Flowering displays depend on the season and weather. The estate highlights its Himalayan blue poppies for late spring and early summer, but check what is looking good before making a trip specifically for flowers.
The RHS garden profile provides another useful introduction. Leave room in your plan to explore slowly rather than treating the garden as an extra to rush through after a tour.
The Great Barn Tearoom offers a place to pause for food and drinks. Dalemain is also home to the World Marmalade Awards and Festival, with marmalade part of the visitor experience throughout the year. Check the current programme for festival dates and event tickets rather than relying on an old annual listing.
Dalemain describes its waymarked Loop as approximately five miles, taking in countryside towards Pooley Bridge and Dacre. That is a separate outing from a stroll around the gardens: check the route map, daylight and conditions, and take appropriate footwear.
The estate’s tearoom and walks page has the route map and information for planning. For a longer walking break, see our Ullswater Way guide.
Dalemain is reached from the A592 between Penrith and Ullswater. The estate lists free visitor parking. If arriving by public transport, check services for your exact date and allow for the final journey along the drive.
Use the official travel page as a starting point, then confirm the bus operator’s current timetable. Seasonal services and old notices should not be treated as a promise of a connection.
Access is partial. The courtyard has uneven cobbles, garden paths include gravel, and upper-floor mansion access involves stairs. If these affect your visit, contact Dalemain about the precise route and rooms you want to see.
The estate lists a mobility scooter that should be booked in advance. Check availability and suitability directly rather than assuming it will be free when you arrive.
Dalemain says dogs on leads are welcome in the tearoom, courtyard and on the Dalemain Loop, but pet dogs are not permitted in the mansion or historic gardens. Contact the estate about assistance-dog arrangements and any specific needs.
Check our travel and weather alerts before travelling.
Compare Penrith for a town base or Pooley Bridge for a stay beside Ullswater. Choose around the rest of your holiday, and check the journey to Dalemain before booking.
Browse our Pooley Bridge guide and places to stay for more ideas.
These are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Accommodation bookings do not include entry to Dalemain.
Home / Ullswater / Macdonald Leeming House Macdonald Leeming House A country-house hotel in a peaceful setting above Ullswater, well placed for exploring the eastern
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