The Lowther Estate covers such a huge area, there is plenty to explore. Lowther Castle has been the family seat of the Earls of Lonsdale for around 900 years. The current Lowther Castle was built between 1806 and 1814 and designed by Robert Smirke (who also designed the British Museum in London). It is the ultimate fairytale castle - an outstanding example of gothic revival architecture, set in 3000 acres of rolling parkland. When home to the notorious 'Yellow Earl', Hugh Lowther, from 1882 to the early 1920s, the castle was the centre of a social whirl: royalty, heads of state, politicians and all manner of the rich and famous of the time visited Lowther for parties and sporting weekends. Sadly, his personal extravagance and poor management wrecked the family fortune and led to the closing of the castle in 1936.

The Castle was abandoned, the interior was dismantled and only the walls left standing as a memorial to past glories. The castle was used by a tank regiment during the Second World War whose manoeuvres further damaged its surrounding dry stone walls and bridges. The castle is now owned by the Lowther Estate Trust and an active programme of restoration and management has been in place for a few years. The present 7th Earl has expanded the Lowther land holdings and developed the forestry and agricultural side of the estate, now the largest in the North West of England.

Within the estate is 'The Lowther Oak', a fine knarled old tree reported to be responsible for the good fortune of the Lonsdales. Tradition says that bad luck will be bestowed on the family if any branch of the oak touches the ground. They are firmly propped up to prevent this!

The estate can offer virtually every type of country sport – including stalking, shooting and fishing. There is also a range of specialist guided wildlife tours where, depending on the season and the weather conditions, deer, hare, red squirrel, buzzard, badger, otter and even golden eagles can be spotted. Each August, the Lowther Estate hosts world famous Horse Driving Trials and Country Fair, featuring competitions both in the main show arena and across the Lakeland Fells.