Category: national trust

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Dunster Castle uncovered #50places2025

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

I have made quite a few visits to Dunster Castle over the years, but this was the first time I had undertaken a guided tour. Though as a member I don’t pay an entrance fee or the car parking charge, I did need to pay the £3 tour cost.

Dunster Castle

An ancient castle and comfortable country home with dramatic vistas and subtropical gardens

Current saving £32.80
One adult £18.00
Parking – £6.50
Tour cost – £3.00
Total saving £21.50
Cumulative saving £145.50
Membership cost £91.20
Net cumulative saving £54.30

Though not too far from Weston-super-Mare, the route along the A39 from Bridgwater is quite twisty and slow. It takes about 80 minutes to do the 40 mile journey.

The previous day had been quite warm and sunny, so I was a little disappointed by the chill in the air. Having parked the car, I walked to the reception to get my membership card scanned. I was a little early for the tour, but didn’t think I would have time to walk around and enjoy the house. So I went for a coffee in the cafe. 

Having arrived at the entrance of the house I headed in for the uncovered tour.

We didn’t see many different spaces in the house, though all of the tour was interesting. It was interesting for example to hear that the main bedrooms weren’t available to view as the Trust need to protect the ceiling of the dining room which is below these rooms. As a result these rooms are used as offices and meeting rooms. Another challenge in showing off some rooms is access, and another of the main bedrooms was up a narrow staircase, and it would have been difficult to manage access for visitors up and down the staircase. Same issue with the upstairs servants quarters, which are accessed by a narrow spiral staircase. The servants quarters are in the main used for storage of artefacts now.

Following the upstairs rooms, we were led down the stairs to the basement. We then headed through a corridor to the gatehouse, and saw the rooms which had been used by the manager of the Estate when the land around was farmed.

Overall it was an interesting tour and I am glad I made the effort to get to Dunster to see it, I had missed out on the behind closed doors tour at Stourhead.

After the end of the tour I then went around the house following the “normal” route. It was much the same as I remembered from previous visits. One of the rooms I quite like is the modern kitchen that was installed in 1962. There are some great rooms in the house and I enjoyed exploring the house.

Walked around the grounds and then headed into Dunster Village. Did think about going around the house again but decided to leave that for another day. Also thought about walking to the Watermill but wasn’t sure what would be on the lunch menu in the café. So I headed back to my car and went to Minehead to grab some lunch, but that’s a story for another day.

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Croome #50places2025

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

Though when I was last a member of the National Trust I had visited a few properties in the Midlands, I hadn’t been to Croome.

Croome

Expect the unexpected. Incredible innovation, devastating loss, remarkable survival and magnificent restoration all in one place.

Current saving £15.80
One adult £17.00
Parking – Free
Total saving £17.00
Cumulative saving £124.00
Membership cost £91.20
Net cumulative saving £32.80

As well as the house, there is some lovely parkland, and a small RAF museum.

Unlike some National Trust properties there is no furniture inside the house, but this means that you can explore the entirety of the property, including the basement and the first floor. I liked how I was able to walk freely around the house. Not to say I missed the furnished rooms, but it was an interesting change.

This year I have planned to visit fifty places.

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Lacock #50places2025

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

I had never been to Lacock before. I think I always thought it was too far away for a visit, but the reality was that though it’s fifty miles away, due to its location it was only, according to Google Maps an hour away. So I thought I would go and visit, especially as it was now open for the summer season.

I nearly didn’t go there, as I travelled up the M5 I hit traffic around Gordano, so I came off the M5, and as I drove towards Bristol, I did think about just going to Tyntesfield again. However I had only visited a couple of weeks back, so I made the decision I would go to Dyrham Park which is close to Bath, which I had visited back in May 2023. As I drove towards Dyrham Park I saw that Waze was telling me, it wasn’t that much further to get to my first choice of Lacock. So took the decision to stick with plan A and go to Lacock.

There is a National Trust car park, which is free to members, otherwise is £5 for the day. It’s then a short walk to Lacock and Lacock Abbey.

Lacock

Country house with monastic roots, once home to William Henry Fox Talbot, inventor of the photographic negative

Current saving £9.20
One adult £20.00
Parking £5.00
Total saving £25.00
Cumulative saving £107.00
Membership cost £91.20
Net cumulative saving £15.80

I walked through the grounds to the house. You then walk around the house before entering the building and into the cloisters.

The first part of the house you see are the older parts of the Abbey, which when it was an Abbey would have been used by the nuns.

This part of the building was used to film certain scenes in the Harry Potter films, including the corridors and two of the rooms. There are a couple of houses in Lacock itself that were also used by the filmmakers.

After exploring the cloisters, you enter the rest of the house, exploring the kitchens, before heading up the stairs to the main rooms.

It was a beautiful house and also I loved how light it was. There was protective screens on the windows (like many National Trust properties) but these still let in a lot of natural light.

There was a real mix of rooms, I was surprised by the small size of the main bedrooms and then the vastness of the entrance hall.

After exploring the house, I took a short walk around the grounds before heading into the village of Lacock.

This year I have planned to visit fifty places.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Glastonbury Tor #50places2025

For Christmas 2022 I got a National Trust membership. It had been a few years since I was last a member, went to quite a few new places and returning  to places I had been to before.

I have been thinking about joining again for 2025. However, there are quite a few National Trust places you can visit, which don’t need membership, such as Glastonbury Tor.

Though I have visited Glastonbury quite a few times over the years I have been living down in Somerset, I had never climbed the Tor until October 2017.  With some lovely sunny weather, and some frost, I decided I would head off to climb the Tor again.

Glastonbury Tor is a distinct prominent hill amongst the Somerset Levels and can be seen from a quite a distance.

It is topped by the roofless St Michael’s Tower. There was originally a  wooden church, however that was destroyed by an earthquake in 1275. A stone replacement, the Church of St Michael built on the site in the 14th century and over the centuries has been restored and partially rebuilt several times. Now just the roofless tower remains

The hill and the tower are now managed by the National Trust. Mythically the Tor was thought to be the Isle of Avalon, a legendary island featured in the Arthurian legend. When the surrounding land was swamp, the Tor was essentially an island.

It was back in 1190, that Avalon became associated with Glastonbury, when monks at Glastonbury Abbey claimed to have discovered the bones of Arthur and Guinevere.

There is plenty of cheap parking in the town itself and there are a range of esoteric shops that also deserve exploring (after you have climbed the Tor). As you might expect there are a fair number of teashops too.

This year I have planned to visit fifty places. Glastonbury Tor is the first of that fifty.

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Greys Court

For Christmas 2022 I got a National Trust membership. It’s being a few years since I was last a member, but now looking forward to visiting new places and going back to places we have been to before.

Back in 2016 I did start to keep a note of how much we saved with the membership, but looking back over the blog, I never kept up to date with that, but with this membership I am intending to blog about the visits we do this year and the savings we made. Over the last year I blogged about all the different places I visited and how much money I saved by being a member.

I was recently reviewing some photographs from May 2023, and I realised I hadn’t blogged about my visit to Greys Court.

Greys Court

An intimate family home and peaceful estate set in the rolling hills of the Chilterns. This picturesque 16th-century mansion and tranquil gardens were home to the Brunner family until recent years. The house exudes a welcoming atmosphere with a well-stocked kitchen and homely living rooms. The series of walled gardens is a colourful patchwork of interest set amid medieval ruins.

Current saving £283.35

Adult Ticket £14.00

Total saving £14.00

Cumulative saving £417.15

Membership cost £133.80

Net cumulative saving £297.35

When I posted about my final visit to Tyntesfield, I really did feel I got my money’s worth from the membership, this extra saving just reinforces that.

I walked to the house from the car park and after scanning my membership card. Continue reading “Greys Court”