Lowther Castle's new light trail runs 24 evenings, 14 November to 30 December, entry 4pm to 8pm. Adults £20, children £15, family £65, parking free.

Lights of Lowther is a new Christmas light trail at Lowther Castle, near Penrith, running on 24 evenings from Saturday 14 November to Wednesday 30 December 2026. It is the first year of the event, so there are no reviews or past years to go on: everything below is from Lowther’s own event page and its ticket site, read on 21 October 2026.

The quick answer:

  • Dates: selected evenings, mostly Friday to Sunday, every night from 18 to 23 December and from 27 to 30 December. Closed 24, 25 and 26 December.
  • Times: timed entry every half hour from 4pm, last entry 8pm. Arrive within 30 minutes of your slot.
  • Prices: adult £20, child aged 3 to 15 £15, family £65, under-3s free. Carers go free with proof.
  • Booking: pre-booked only, and on sale now.
  • Parking: free for this event.
  • Dogs: welcome, on a lead.
  • Where: Lowther Castle, Penrith, CA10 2HH. From Kendal, Lowther’s own directions are M6 junction 39, then the A6 north for 8 miles.

The 24 evenings

Lowther lists these dates (Lowther Castle):

Month Evenings
November Sat 14, Sun 15; Fri 20, Sat 21, Sun 22; Fri 27, Sat 28, Sun 29
December Fri 4, Sat 5, Sun 6; Fri 11, Sat 12, Sun 13
Christmas week Fri 18, Sat 19, Sun 20, Mon 21, Tue 22, Wed 23
After Christmas Sun 27, Mon 28, Tue 29, Wed 30

There is nothing on Monday to Thursday until the week before Christmas, and no New Year’s Eve evening.

Tickets and prices

Ticket Price
Adult (16 and over) £20
Child (3 to 15) £15
Family £65
Under 3 Free, no ticket needed
Carer Free

The family ticket covers two adults and three children, or one adult and up to four children. For two adults and three children that is £65 against £100 at the single prices. A three-year-old needs a child ticket; at 16 it is an adult ticket.

Carers get a free ticket on the booking site with proof at the entrance: Lowther accepts the Access card, Nimbus, National Disability cards and DWP letters.

Annual passes do not cover it. Lights of Lowther is ticketed separately; pass holders get 10% off by booking through their Lowther account.

What the trail is

Lowther says the trail starts in the gothic castle ruins, lit after dark, then runs out into the gardens with light installations and photo stops, and ends with a view of the lit castle from the lawns. There is no set time; Lowther says most people take about an hour.

Food and drink along the way, in Lowther’s words: the main Café and the Sculpture Gallery Café both open, a pop-up barbecue in the Western Range, mulled wine and hot chocolate in the Rose Garden Summerhouse, and “pies, jacket potatoes and chilli”. Marshmallow toasting is at a fire pit at the top of the lawns near the end. Food vouchers can be added when you book.

Make a day of it

Your ticket is valid all day. Lowther says you can come earlier, use the gardens and the Lost Castle adventure playground, then be back at the ticket check outside the courtyard by 4pm. The playground closes at 4pm in winter because of the dark.

Practical points before you book

  • It is all outdoors. Lowther warns that paths are uneven in places and may be muddy, so flat, warm footwear matters.
  • Pushchairs: there is a step-free route with ramps, but because the lighting is low Lowther recommends a baby carrier over a pushchair if you can.
  • Dogs: allowed on leads; a light-up collar is encouraged.
  • Bad weather: in a storm or heavy snow the evening may be cancelled. You are offered another date, or a full refund if none suits.
  • Photos: allowed.

Getting there from Kendal

Lowther Castle is south of Penrith. Lowther’s directions from the south are M6 junction 39 (Shap), then the A6 north for 8 miles, following the signs. The sat nav postcode is CA10 2HH. Parking is free for the light trail.

There is no direct bus from Kendal. The nearest station is Penrith, and Lowther lists Eden Taxis (01768 865432) and Town Taxis (01768 868268) among the taxi firms that serve it. A late slot means a dark drive home over Shap, which is worth weighing in December.

Before you set off, check our Kendal roadworks and travel page for closures on the way out of town. If you are going into Kendal first, our parking in Kendal page has the car park prices.

Closer to home

Sources