A beautiful home
During the post war years, Lady Dorothy Somervell maintained links with the North East and in 1967 sold part of the estate to Tynemouth Borough Council to enable children to continue to benefit from a countryside experience.
Interesting Fact...Lawrence Durning-Holt, son of the family who built the house, co-founded Outward Bound with Kurt Hahn in 1941! So we're sure he would approve of it being an outdoor centre today.
High Borrans History Book
We have published a book on High Borrans - A History which charts the story of the settlement from its humble beginnings back in the Iron Age, through to the outdoor centre we all know and love today.
The Holt family left during the Depression and the house stood empty until the Somervell family bought the estate in 1935. Sir Arnold was another wealthy businessman, and owner of the famous K Shoes in Kendal. During the Second World War, the family allowed High Borrans to be used to billet evacuee children from the North East, which is where the link with North Tyneside comes from!
Outdoor Education Centre
Windermere ǀ Cumbria ǀ LA23 1JS ǀ 015394 42816
