Category: #50places2026

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Barna Barrow #50places2026

I was on my way back from Arlington Court I was driving along the A39 coastal road to Bridgwater via Minehead and it looked magnificent. I decided I would stop and have enjoy the views on foot. As I left Lynmouth at the top of the hill was a National Trust car park, well that’s handy.

Barna Barrow is the name of the National Trust car park, but from there you can access the coastal paths along the North Devon coast.

I went for a walk along the paths with amazing views of the sea and Wales in the distance.

Current saving £333.75
One adult n/a
Parking n/a
Total saving £0
Cumulative saving £429.75
Membership cost £96
Net cumulative saving £333.75

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Woody Bay #50places2026

The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway opened in 1898 and ran for 19 miles connecting the North Devon town of Barnstaple with the twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth.  Due to the difficult terrain    a narrow gauge railway was constructed. It was never a success, it became part of the Southern Railway, and despite investment, the railway was closed in 1935.

The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Trust was formed in 2000. They worked on the railway and a short section was reopened to passengers in 2004, which was extended in 2006.

We made our first visit to Lynton & Barnstaple Railway in June 2006. Back then we rode the train to Killington Lane. It has to be said that there isn’t much to do at Killington Lane.

We did another visit in April 2011 and once again we rode the train. Our last visit was in April 2014.

Over the last ten years I have driven past Woody Bay a few times, and do remember at least once seeing the train steaming to the station along the line.

Since I visited in 2014, the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Trust had gained a new steam locomotive, Lyn, a replica of one of the steam locomotives that the Southern Railway used in 1923. I had wanted to plan a return visit to see this loco in action.

This time, it was a fleeting visit, and I didn’t travel on the train itself. However, I did take the time to visit the tearoom, and did treat myself to a teatowel in the shop.

I did enjoy watching this recreation of the original Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Trust steaming in and out of Woody Bay station.

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Arlington Court #50places2026

Looking over the National Trust website, I was planning where I should go in the future. Arlington Court was on my list, but even though it is about eighty miles away is a two hour drive.  Whilst planning I also saw that Arlington Court had EV chargers, which made planning the trip so much easier.

Though I enjoy visiting National Trust properties, I did have another reason for visiting Arlington Court. Checking the Arlington Court page on the National Trust website they talked about a painting of two of the Chichester family who lived there, which was painted in 1849. Reading the description I realised that Caroline Chichester was my great great great aunt, she had been married to my great great great uncle.

Went to reception and got my card scanned. I then headed to the house. Upon my arrival at the house I was given a warm welcome and I asked about the painting.

I was taken to the room with the painting, though mentioned on the webs page, I was expecting a small painting, it was much bigger, 100 x 84 inches. It’s a fascinating painting which dominates the room it is in.

Had some lovely conversations with various volunteers and staff about my uncle and his connection to the house. After chatting for a while I went to explore the rest of the house. It is a lovely house and hasn’t been changed much since it (and the contents) was given to the National Trust in 1945.

Arlington Court

Intriguing Regency house and impressive collection of horse-drawn vehicles, set in a picturesque garden.

Current saving £310.55
One adult £18
Parking £5.20
Total saving £23.20
Cumulative saving £429.75
Membership cost £96
Net cumulative saving £333.75

After exploring the house, I headed to the Kitchen Cafe for some refreshment. It was a beautiful hot day, so I had a single espresso, iced water and a cheese scone. It was a nice scone, but I have had lots of cheese scones at various National Trust properties over the years. As I said it was a nice scone, but it wasn’t one of the best I’ve had, it was a little dry compared to others I’ve had. Not sure if that was the scone or possible the weather.

After finishing my refreshments, I headed to the Carriages Museum. This was quite fascinating, showcasing a range of different carriages that were used in houses like Arlington Court.

Headed back to the shop, bought a tea towel as one does.

I drove to Arlington Court going down the M5 and then taking the A361 Barnstaple Road. This is longer from a distance perspective, but is quicker. Coming home though, I took the shorter distance route, on the A39, which though takes longer, is a lot more scenic, and I had planned a couple of stops on the way as well.

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Shute Barton #50places2026

Shute Barton was on my list of places to visit. However the house is only open to members of the public eight times a year for pre-booked guided tours. You aren’t able to book tickets until 2 weeks before these dates. I missed the June dates as I was working, but I was able to book a ticket for July.

It’s not too far from Weston, but half of the journey is on slower country roads. I arrived and parked the car, it was quite busy the car parking. Made my way to the house and a volunteer checked my booking. 

Shute Barton

A 14th century Medieval manor house with Tudor additions, with royal connections. A building of battlements and towers set in the rolling east Devon countryside,

Current saving £305.30
One adult £5.25
Parking n/a
Total saving £5.25
Cumulative saving £406.55
Membership cost £96
Net cumulative saving £310.55

The tour was excellent, we learnt about the house, it’s history and the different owners and occupants. There are links to other properties in the area as well. The property is usually used as a holiday letting, hence the reason for the restricted opening times.

The final chapter was to enjoy the garden.

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Great Chalfield Manor and Garden #50places2026

After an enjoyable visit to Westwood Manor, it was a relatively short drive to the other property I wanted to visit which was Great Chalfield Manor in Wiltshire.

I arrived just before 3pm and parked on the verge as per the instructions on the website. I booked a house tour, which was at 4pm. 

I thought no worries, they have a refreshment place, I’ll get a tea. However, their refreshments were in a barn, it was cash only and make it yourself. I did have some water. I then headed out for a walk in the grounds and around the moat. At 4pm I headed to the front door for the tour. 

Great Chalfield Manor and Garden

This beautiful medieval manor sits in peaceful countryside. Cross the upper moat, passing barns, gatehouse and delightful parish church to enjoy fine oriel windows and the soldiers, griffins and monkey adorning the rooftops. Romantic gardens offer terraces, topiary houses, gazebo, lily pond, roses and views across the spring-fed fishpond.

Current saving £290.30
One adult £15
Parking n/a
Total saving £15
Cumulative saving £401.30
Membership cost £96
Net cumulative saving £305.30

We weren’t allowed to take photographs indoors, as it is still used by the family and there were personal items on display. I quite like this kind of house, more of a home, than a museum. Though I do feel sometimes like I am intruding into a personal space.

I saw some lovely rooms. Many of the spaces have been used for filming, notable the BBC’s Wolf Hall.

After enjoying the grounds and the house, I headed back to the car for the journey home. 

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Westwood Manor #50places2026

Last July I planned to visit Westwood Manor, however when I arrived the car park was full and there was lots of cars parked on the verges. So, after waiting a while I headed home. I planned to attempt to visit again later in the year, but I didn’t manage it.

This time I planned to arrive just before it opened at 2pm. I arrived with ten minutes to spare; I explored the surrounding environs of the village. At 2pm I headed to the house.

Westwood Manor

This beautiful small manor house, built over three centuries, has late Gothic and Jacobean windows, decorative plasterwork and two important keyboard instruments. There is some fine period furniture, seventeenth and eighteenth century tapestries and a modern topiary garden. 

Current saving £277.30
One adult £13
Parking n/a
Total saving £13
Cumulative saving £386.30
Membership cost £96
Net cumulative saving £290.30

After an introduction I was able to explore the house. Found it somewhat amusing that some visitors had not understood some instructions and went to explore some closed parts of the house beyond the dining room, which are used by the tenant.

It’s not a huge house and much is closed off to visitors. I was impressed with the plasterwork which was over four hundred years old. The rooms are lovely and there is lots other see in each of the rooms.

After enjoying myself exploring the house I headed into the garden.

I did think about getting a cup of tea and a slice of cake (from the village hall), but in the end headed off to see Great Chalfield Manor and Garden which is just a few miles away.

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Baddesley Clinton Hall #50places2026

I had been to Baddesley Clinton Hall before back in January 2023. I had planned to visit it again in 2023, but never did, nor did I visit last year, though I visited some other places close by.

So, after visiting Packwood House, it was an easy choice to make to head to Baddesley Clinton Hall which was just over two miles away. I drove up to the car park, parked and headed to reception. This is a lovely house surrounded by a moat.

There is a real sense of history as you walk through the house, starting with the medieval origins, walking through the Tudor rooms before seeing how the house was used in the 20th-century before being handed over to the National Trust. 

Baddesley Clinton Hall

Moated manor house with late medieval, Tudor and 20th-century histories. Home to the Ferrers family for 500 years.

Current saving £259.30
One adult £18
Parking n/a
Total saving £18
Cumulative saving £373.30
Membership cost £96
Net cumulative saving £277.30

Unlike my visit in January 2023, this time I did take the opportunity to walk around the lake and the gardens.

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Packwood House #50places2026

I had Packwood House on my list of National Trust properties to visit for a while now.

I drove off to Packwood House, up in Warwickshire. Though the app didn’t say the property had EV chargers, the website did. I arrived with 12% charge left and there were EV chargers, and I plugged in the Funky Cat.

I headed to reception, got my membership card scanned, and got a timed ticket for the house. I headed to the house.

This was a wonderful house, I really enjoyed exploring all the different rooms. Though not authentically Tudor, the early 20th century restoration, which is being conserved, is delightful. The upper floors are lovely. I really enjoyed the long gallery and the great hall at the end was unexpected.

Packwood House

The culmination of a lifetime of dreams: salvaged objects and exotic pieces come together in a Jacobean meets Edwardian style. Beautiful, homely, warm and welcoming. The house was originally built in the 16th century, yet its interiors were extensively restored between the First and Second World Wars by Graham Baron Ash to create a fascinating 20th-century evocation of domestic Tudor architecture. Packwood House contains a fine collection of 16th-century textiles and furniture, and the gardens have renowned herbaceous borders and a famous collection of yews.

Current saving £241.30
One adult £18
Parking n/a
Total saving £18
Cumulative saving £355.30
Membership cost £96
Net cumulative saving £259.30

After exploring the house, I headed back to the café and had the ploughman’s lunch, which was significantly better than the one I had at Stourhead. I got bread this time.

After eating my lunch and drinking my green tea, I headed back to the house, well the gardens. I enjoyed walking around the collection of Yews, and the spiral terrace at the end of the garden was an intriguing surprise.

I had a lovely time at the house and would go again in the future.

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Denbies Wine Estate #50places2026

You could say at one level that putting a place like Denbies, essentially a wine shop in my list of #50places2026 might be seen as cheating, it’s just a shop isn’t it?

However there is a lot more to the place then a shop to buy some English wine. On the day we went, there was a Peugeot car rally, alongside an antiques fair.

Across the estate are the wine shop, restaurants, a farm shop, a beer shop, coffee roastery, to name some.

However what you can also do is walk around the vineyards in the estate. On the day we went it was hot and sunny and I did feel like I was walking around a vineyard in France or Germany.

I was pleased to have reached my fifty places in 2025 for my #50places2025 series of blog posts. This year I am planning to do something similar with a new hashtag, #50places2026 and it will be the same rules. Each time I visit a place I will post a blog post and some photographs. I can’t repeat places, and in an extra twist I can’t use the fifty places I visited in 2025 in the list as well (though I anticipate visiting some of those places again).

So far I have visited 34 places.

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Royal Albert Hall#50places2026

This was my first visit to see a performance at The Royal Albert Hall. We went to see the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s Film Music Gala. It started off with the march from Raiders of the Lost Ark and finished off with Axel F from Beverley Hills Cop. Magnificent performance, which I really enjoyed.

I had been to see the hall in October 2022, but was just passing by and took a few photographs of the exterior.