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The glorious weather of the May Bank Holiday weekend gave us the perfect opportunity for a family picnic. And what better place to set out our sandwiches than the beautiful gardens of Hinton Ampner National Trust in Hampshire? This 20th Century garden and estate surrounds a 18th Century manor house…
Read moreCould there be a grander way to arrive at your holiday home than by boat? This is one of three ways you can visit Agatha Christie’s Greenway – her Devon hideaway. I think a ferry ride up the River Dart is my favourite, just a touch in front of taking…
Read moreOne 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…
Read more“Here today, up and off to somewhere else tomorrow! Travel, change, interest, excitement! The whole world before you, and a horizon that’s always changing!” Mr Toad from Wind in the Willows may have been a few sandwiches short of a riverside picnic. But I find it hard not to side…
Read moreIt’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…
Read moreCompton 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…
Read moreDuring 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….
Read moreOne 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. Recently I had a chance to return with the Tin Box girls on…
Read moreNestled 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…
Read moreA 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…
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