In Autumn 2013 we completed the construction of the garden at Hilltop, Arthur Ransomes former residence set in a beautiful location on the hillside overlooking the Rusland Valley near Ulverston. We designed and constructed several areas of the garden which included a beautiful courtyard garden, the creation of a pond and natural stone paving to the front entrance of the property.

The courtyard garden was built on top of a concrete podium that used to be the site of old kennels. The courtyard is nestled into the hillside and is the centre piece of a newly renovated games room with a timber deck this leads into the courtyard. A beautifully renovated stone building with luxury holiday accommodation overlooks the courtyard to the west.

The courtyard is for the enjoyment and relaxation for guests and has a sunken central seating area for outdoor dining. This is bounded by local stone planters, full of beautiful flowering plants and Amalanchier lamarckii to each corner. An upper terrace accommodates for a built in BBQ and ‘snug’ overlooking the valley with a lush planted hillside behind. Natural stone paving, steps and slate walls are beautifully detailed with stone setts that border the edges and local slate coping.

A water feature cascades over the terrace, down to the entrance area below and connects the two spaces. It is intended that features will be incorporated into the landscape to associate the location with Arthur Ransome the author of ‘Swallows and Amazons’.

A pond that is overlooked by the house has been created by damming a natural stream and incorporates marginal planting areas, a stepping stone pathway and pond side planting.

Other works that enhance the front of the house include the creation of a guest car park area and paving surrounding the building.