Holehird is a ten-acre hillside garden a couple of miles north of Windermere, run entirely by the volunteers of the Lakeland Horticultural Society. The setting is exceptional: the garden steps down a south-facing slope with panoramic views over the Troutbeck valley and across to the Coniston fells, and the planting is genuinely good — national collections of astilbes, daboecias, hydrangeas, and meconopsis among others.
There is a walled garden, a rock garden with alpine plants, a water garden, and long mixed borders. Open daily from dawn to dusk; entry is free but a donation is requested at the gate. Spring (azaleas, magnolias) and late summer (the hydrangea collection) are the standout times. The car park is small; better to walk or cycle from Windermere if the weather allows.