Category: #50places2025

Posted on

Tredegar House #50places2025

After enjoying my National Trust membership in 2023, I decided I would rejoin the Trust for 2025. 

I visited Tredegar House back in August 2016. Our visit was cut short because of some bees. 

I hadn’t been back since.

Tredegar House

Tredegar House is one of the architectural wonders of Wales and one of the most significant late 17th-century houses in the whole of the British Isles. Situated within 90 acres of beautiful gardens and parkland, this delightful red brick house provides an ideal setting for a fantastic day out. For more than 500 years the house was home to one of the greatest Welsh families, the Morgans, later Lords Tredegar. The Morgan family owned more than 40,000 acres in Monmouthshire, Breconshire and Glamorgan at the end of the 18th century. Their lives impacted on the population of south-east Wales socially, economically and politically and influenced the heritage of the area.

Current saving £28.20
One adult £13.00
Parking £6.00
Total saving £19.00
Cumulative saving £82.00
Membership cost £91.20
Net cumulative saving £9.20

It wasn’t quite open when I arrived, so I went to the tearoom and had a coffee and a cheese scone. It was a tasty scone, and I enjoyed my coffee. They had an interesting lunch menu as well, more varied than some other National Trust properties I have visited.

After finishing my coffee, I walked over to reception, got my membership card scanned and walked over to the house. It wasn’t open when I arrived, so I waited outside for a short while.

Had a good look around the house and chatted to some of the volunteers. There are lots of rooms, as well as the ground floor, you can see some of the bedrooms on the first floor before walking down to the kitchen in the basement. There are lots of rooms down there. The Servants Hall was open, and this is where the servants would eat, however it was also where they would have dances and servant balls. It was though originally the main hall of the Tudor part of the house.

After leaving the house I walked around the lake and park. This was a lovely walk, but it was a bit muddy.

Decided I would head back to the house and go around again. It was nice to walk around and I saw things I had missed on my first walk around the house.

Tredegar House doesn’t have a NT shop, though there are some craft shops. I did think about buying a cold drink, but decided I would head home and have one there.

Posted on

Portishead Marina #50places2025

It was a wonderfully sunny day in February, so took the time to head to Portishead for a walk around the marina. Watching the yachts come through the lock. The weather was lovely, and we weren’t the only ones with the same idea. The marina was crowded with other people enjoying themselves, and the coffee places were packed.

After enjoying our walk around the marina we headed down the high street, where there are more places for coffee, and there were some free tables as well as they were less crowded. 

Really nice visit to Portishead.

Photographs from a previous visit to Portishead Marina.

Posted on

Suomenlinna #50places2025

Last week I was in Helsinki for work, attending a workshop. I was there for a couple of days, but did have some time to walk around and explore Helsinki. 

One place I saw on the map was the fortress island of Suomenlinna, which was just a short ferry ride away. Having arrived on the ferry, I walked around the island.

It was a beautiful island that was enhanced by the ice and snow. Across the islands were some beautiful buildings, sometimes I felt I was walking through a movie set. It was cold, around -6℃, but it was a crisp coldness and I was well wrapped up, so didn’t feel that chilly. I loved walking through the snow enjoyed the ice and bleakness of the island. I can imagine that in the heat of the summer it’s a very different place.

Built by Sweden in 1748 to deter Russian expansion, the Suomenlinna fortress was surrendered to Russia in 1808 during the Finnish War. This loss facilitated the Russian occupation of Finland in 1809. Following Finland’s declaration of independence in 1917, Russian forces withdrew. Finland’s Defence Department managed Suomenlinna until 1973, when control was largely transferred to civilian authorities. Suomenlinna is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in Helsinki.

I stopped for a coffee before heading back to Helsinki to catch my flight home.

Posted on

Helsinki #50places2025

Last week I was in Helsinki for work, attending a workshop. I was there for a couple of days, but did have some time to walk around and explore Helsinki.

I have been to Finland before, I was there for a conference in July 2006, nearly twenty years ago. Back then I was presenting at the EU e-Learning Conference in Espoo. It was a quick trip in 2006, flying out on Monday and then back home on the Wednesday. I flew from Bristol Airport and then there was a bit of a mad rush at Schiphol where I had to change to a flight to Helsinki. Schiphol is one huge airport…

Having arrived at Helsinki, I needed to get to Espoo and travelled by shared taxi to the hotel. I spent part of the evening walking around the area, before ending up in the hotel restaurant. It was lovely and sunny, and as being so far north, the sun never really set.

I spent the Tuesday at the conference. I had some time the following day before my flight to have a quick look around Helsinki. I caught a bus to the centre and back.

This time I flew direct to Helsinki from Heathrow. I arrived late afternoon, this time I took a train from the airport to the centre. I then walked to my hotel, so after checking in I did explore the area around the hotel. The following morning, I was up early so I went for a walk around the city centre. I then headed off to Espoo for my workshop, using the Metro to get there. The workshop was over two days.

I had an evening flight the following day. I woke up to 4cm of snow,  so after working at the hotel, after checking out I took a walk down to the harbour to catch a ferry to Suomenlinna.

Helsinki is an amazing city, and there is some incredible architecture and buildings. I was impressed with the public transport, there were trains, buses, trams, a metro, and even a ferry. I used the HSL app extensively for tickets.

It was nice to return to Helsinki and having a little more time to see something of the place, whereas back in 2006 it was very rushed.

Posted on

Lytes Cary Manor #50places2025

After enjoying my National Trust membership in 2023, I decided I would rejoin the Trust for 2025. 

I went to Lytes Cary Manor in September 2023 and it was nice to revisit the property.

Lytes Cary Manor

Lytes Cary Manor is an intimate medieval manor house with a beautiful Arts and Crafts-style garden where you can imagine living. Originally the family home of Henry Lyte, where he translated the unique Niewe Herball book on herbal remedies, Lytes Cary was then lovingly restored in the 20th century by Sir Walter Jenner. The garden rooms contain a magical collection of topiary and herbaceous borders, while tranquil walks on the estate take you along the River Cary.

Current saving £42.20
One adult £14.00
Parking free
Total saving £14.00
Cumulative saving £63.00
Membership cost £91.20
Net cumulative saving £28.20

I arrived at Lytes Cary Manor and parked the car. It was quite busy.

I headed to the house and had a look around. Last time I was there, due to a lack of volunteers the first floor was closed, this time it was open.

I then headed to the café to have some soup and a cheese scone. However, not only was there a queue, it was packed. If it had been warmer I might have eaten outside, but it was quite chilly, so decided to give the soup and scone a miss. Maybe next time.

Posted on

The Vyne #50places2025

After enjoying my National Trust membership in 2023, I decided I would rejoin the Trust for 2025. 

I went to The Vyne two years ago and it was nice to revisit the property.

The Vyne

A former Tudor powerhouse turned 17th century family home, set in gardens, woodlands, and wetlands.

Current saving -£57.20
One adult £15.00
Parking free
Total saving £15.00
Cumulative saving £49.00
Membership cost £91.20
Net cumulative saving -£42.20

The house was an interesting mix of medieval cellars, Tudor palace, and a 17th century family home. Unlike on my last visit the first floor was closed. I enjoyed walking around the house and the grounds.

This year I have planned to visit fifty places.

Posted on

Tyntesfield #50places2025

After enjoying my National Trust membership in 2023, I decided I would rejoin the Trust for 2025.

Having just visited Barrington Court, I hadn’t planned to visit another National Trust property the next day. I was going to go to Portishead, as when I was at home it was rather sunny. However by the time I was ready to leave the sun had gone in. So I made the decision to head to Tyntesfield.

As Tyntesfield is one of the closest National Trust properties to me (and is open nearly all year round) I have been a fair few times to this lovely house and gardens.

Tyntesfield

An ornate Victorian Gothic Revival house with extensive garden and parkland, just a stone’s throw from Bristol

Current saving -£80.20

One adult £18.00

Parking £5.00

Total saving £23.00

Cumulative saving £34.00

Membership cost £91.20

Net cumulative saving -£57.20

Tyntesfield is a Gothic Revival mansion located in Wraxall, North Somerset, England. It was built in the late 19th century for the Gibbs family, who were wealthy merchants and industrialists. The mansion is set in extensive grounds and gardens, and features a range of architectural styles, including Gothic Revival, Jacobean, and Victorian. The National Trust, a UK conservation charity, now owns and operates Tyntesfield, which is open to the public. Visitors can explore the mansion, gardens, and grounds, and learn about the history of the Gibbs family and the property. Tyntesfield is a popular tourist destination, and is known for its stunning architecture and rich history.

Having parked in the car park (free for National Trust members) I walked through the National Trust entrance and headed to the house though the grounds. This time I went through back way to the house.

I had a great time walking around the house.

It was nice that one of the rooms was open that I had never been in before. It was a 1950s room, full of stuff, but was open as there were some issues with the fire doors.

I like it when we see un-restored spaces in National Trust properties, it adds something to the experience.

There is a lot of stuff at Tyntesfield. One of the challenges is where to put it all. The agreement they had when the National Trust took over the house, was that nothing could be brought into the house, and nothing could be taken away. The Gibbs family were real hoarders, even retaining broken items which had been replaced.

After visiting the house I walked down to the Kitchen Garden. The Orangery has been lovingly restored, and the greenhouses are used to grow plants, and vegetables for the cafe.

I did consider going for a coffee, but in the end I headed home.

This year I have planned to visit fifty places.

Posted on

Barrington Court #50places2025

After enjoying my National Trust membership in 2023, I decided I would rejoin the Trust for 2025.

I drove off to Barrington Court, a National Trust property in Somerset. Checking my photographs I realised I had been there twice before, in March 2017 and November 2017. I didn’t write up those visits to the blog.

Barrington Court

An atmospheric fragment of old Somerset; the estate is the vision of Colonel Lyle and his architect James Edwin Forbes. Whilst Court House remains closed for repair, the ground floor of Strode House is open, and there are glorious garden rooms, avenues, and orchards to explore. Installations in the farm buildings tell the stories of key characters and the development of the estate.

Current saving -£91.20

One adult £11.00

Parking free

Total saving £11.00

Cumulative saving £11.00

Membership cost £91.20

Net cumulative saving -£80.20

Obviously I will need to visit some more places to make the membership cost effective and turn that cumulative saving positive.

I think when we went there in 2017 the cafe was in Strode House, but now is near the entrance. In 2017 we did go inside Barrington Court, however this time the house was closed for conservation work. I think that was the reason I didn’t go and see it in 2023 when I last had a National Trust membership.

This year I have planned to visit fifty places.

Posted on

Ashton Gate #50places2025

Went to Ashton Gate and watched Bristol City lose 1-2 to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup third round.

It was a good match and I enjoyed watching it, despite Bristol losing.