Exploring the wider estate and watermill at Acorn Bank

View up trunk to the top of a tree with green leaves — There's lots to see on the 180-acre estate at Acorn Bank | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

With 180 acres of woodland and parkland to explore, there are plenty of opportunities for peaceful moments away from the crowds. Surround yourself with a wide variety of trees along the woodland paths and discover hidden views along the way. Visit the historic watermill, get closer to nature, or go on a geocaching adventure.

Summer on the estate

The working watermill

Tucked away between the trees and the Crowdundle Beck, the watermill is only a short walk from the garden. There has been a watermill at Acorn Bank for hundreds of years. The first mention is made in 1323 when the estate passed to the Knights Hospitaller, however the present building dates from the early 19th century.

You can see it working and chat to the millers about restoration work from April to October on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays, 11am–3pm. On Tuesdays during the school holidays, you'll find light refreshments bering served at the Mill.
Although primarily a corn mill, the mill was also used to provide power to the gypsum mines which were on the estate.

The mill stopped working in the 1940s and gradually fell into a state of ruin. Its restoration began in the late 1980s when the woodland walks were also opened, allowing visitors greater access to the estate.

The mill building was partially restored with the help of work experience teams and has been open to the public since 1995.
Since 2007 the mill has undergone further transformation with the help of a dedicated team of volunteers who have restored its machinery to working order. Flour was ground for the first time in more than 70 years in September 2011. The volunteer team’s achievement was recognised when they won the Marsh Heritage Volunteering Award in 2012. These volunteers stepped up to the plate again in early 2021, when, owing to COVID-19, it was feared the mill may have to close due to scaled-back operations at Acorn Bank.

The team formed the Acorn Bank Watermill Trust, and the mill continues to produce flour. Follow their endeavours on the Acorn Bank Watermill Trust website  and at facebook.com/acornbankwatermill.

If you're interested in volunteering, email the team directly at david.robertson@acornbankwatermill.org.uk

Door to the watermill at Acorn Bank, a red brick building in a cobbled courtyard. To the left of the door is a blackboard with coloured writing, and there's bunting across the building. — The working watermill at Acorn Bank | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature, listen, and be inspired. The project was supported by the University of Central Lancashire and The Global Sounds Movement.

In the Dovecote, pause, listen, and reflect on the intricate tapestry of life that unfolds in the countryside, with a soundscape of nature recordings taken at Acorn Bank which showcases its rich natural diversity. You'll hear birdsong, the environment and the ever-changing seasons at Acorn Bank, and the soundscape evolves dynamically, shifting with the seasons to mirror nature's cycles.

It celebrates the beauty of birdsong and the changing seasons, fostering connections between us and nature.

Riverlands project at Acorn Bank

Flowing through the estate, Crowdundle Beck is an important part of Acorn Bank’s heritage and unique beauty. However, in the woodland, two weirs which have maintained the river level and allowed the watermill to operate are becoming unstable, acting as a barrier for fish to travel upstream. In partnership with the Acorn Bank Watermill Trust, the Environment Agency and Eden Rivers Trust, the National Trust Riverlands team are working on a solution that benefits both history and nature. The Riverlands team are also working on ways to prevent Crowdundle Beck from eroding the riverbank near the driveway. This project is funded by the Government's Species Survival Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.

Visitor going through the gate to the orchard at Acorn Bank Garden, Cumbria, in August

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