One of our favourite Christmas experiences last year was Coleton Aglow at Coleton Fishacre. So it was a no-brainer to add this National Trust illuminated house and gardens to our festive bucket list. Here’s a taster of what we experienced during this 1929 Christmas-themed event: A country retreat in Devon Colton Fishacre was built by…
It’s not hard to understand why Sir Francis Drake bought Buckland Abbey as his home after liberating the Spanish of a haul of booty. This Tudor renovation project is located on the edge of beautiful Dartmoor in Devon, not far from Drake’s birthplace of Tavistock, and within easy reach of Plymouth. It was from where…
Compton Castle is one of those places where you wished the walls could talk. It’s been home to a family of famous explorers, was fortified against French raids in the 15th Century, and has been restored from a ruin. What a tale these bricks and mortar could tell! We visited this intriguing National Trust property during…
During our recent long weekend in the Peak District we were spoilt for choice with great family attractions in the surrounding area. The National Trust in particular had plenty of properties for us to choose from, including Hardwick Hall – a 16th Century stately home overlooking the rolling Derbyshire landscape. We received an invite to…
One of the first National Trust properties I recall visiting as a child was Kingston Lacy in Dorset. I remember it being a special day and one that instilled a fascination in me for all things Egyptian. I had a chance to return with the Tin Box girls on a road trip between seeing their…
Nestled in the stunning Surrey Hills is Polesden Lacey – a magnificent Edwardian estate that’s seen its far share of high society gatherings. The National Trust is in the middle of restoring 18 of the house’s 200 rooms never seen by the public before. The Unseen Spaces at Polesden Lacey take you behind the scenes…
A year ago we visited our first National Trust property for years and haven’t looked back. The combination of children’s treasure trails, wide open spaces and houses packed full of curiosities has been a winning one as our girls start to explore the world around them. At Christmas we couldn’t resist a visit to the…
Legend has it there’s a dragon at Killerton. Find out more about this mythical beast and more tips for visiting Killerton National Trust
There aren’t many days out where you can combine touring a historic castle, joining a pirate crew and going on safari. But that’s exactly what we did when we were invited to review Powderham Castle in the South West of England. The 600-year-old family home of the Earls of Devon commands stunning views of the…
With storms forecast during our recent caravan trip to Cornwall it would have been easy to stay inside to avoid getting a soaking. However, we’re a bit rubbish at indoor fun, so we decided to visit Lanhydrock near Bodmin. Here’s what we got up to visiting Lanhydrock National Trust with kids: About Lanhydrock House and Gardens Lanhydrock…