The Grounds
Ravenbridge Mill sits in its own grounds of 21 acres, bounded mostly by the river to the north, and rising up to the south, through gardens, orchard and fields to the old woods at the top. The lake extends to about an acre and a half.
The stone-walled courtyard garden, right outside the kitchen door, is sheltered and lovely when the sun shines (which it often does in Cumbria!) There are plenty of seats, a couple of garden tables, and a little fire pit for cooking. You can pick anything you like from the full herb garden (but do check before you eat it!) And there’s a stone garden – either for meditating, or for artistic stone balancing. It’s surprising how competitive stone balancing can get! In early 2026 a new stone garden is taking shape on the other side of the house, facing the river. Just sit here and listen to the water…
The Studio also looks onto the courtyard. There’s a pool table in the Studio. There’s also a stage and a dressing-up box for the theatrically inclined.
The lake and the sauna
The lake is special, whatever the season or the weather. There are a couple of boats available to take on the lake, with buoyancy aids. And the brave will definitely want to swim (please take normal safety precautions – the water’s cold, and up to 6m deep).
And, of course, there’s the sauna. Across the lake from the house, and camouflaged among the trees, the cord-wood and grass-roofed sauna is always a favourite. Plenty of wood will be supplied for you, and you can easily spend a couple of hours alternating between hot sauna and cold lake.
The lake through the seasons
When to visit
In season you can pick all the fruit you can eat – rhubarb, raspberries, blackcurrants, plums, apples.
There are new, and maturing, coppices to explore, fields to run wild in, and in the woods at the top of the site you can build shelters, and find magical kingdoms…
