Category: national trust

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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”

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A final festive visit to Tyntesfield

For Christmas 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.

We visited Tyntesfield back in January, I also visited in November. I had planned to go before Christmas, but the weather and other things meant that I didn’t actually get there until New Year’s Eve. This was the last day of my membership.

Tyntesfield

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

Current saving £263.35

Adult Ticket £17.00

Parking £3.00

Total saving £20.00

Cumulative saving £417.15

Membership cost £133.80

Net cumulative saving £283.35

I really of feel I got my money’s worth from the membership. I do feel though I didn’t get as much out of it in the last few months, than I did in the first few months of 2023.

Anyhow onto my most recent visit to Tyntesfield. I liked the red ribbons on the bushes along the driveway into the estate. Continue reading “A final festive visit to Tyntesfield”

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Tyntesfield Again

For Christmas 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.

We visited Tyntesfield back in January, this time I was on my own. I was going for a walk, and decided I would walk the grounds at Tyntesfield and visit the house whilst I was there.

Tyntesfield

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

Current saving £243.55

Adult Ticket £17.00

Parking £3.00

Total saving £20.00

Cumulative saving £397.15

Membership cost £133.80

Net cumulative saving £263.35

Continue reading “Tyntesfield Again”

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Lytes Cary Manor

For Christmas 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.

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 £231.35

One adult £12.00

Total saving £12.00

Cumulative saving £377.15

Membership cost £133.80

Net cumulative saving £243.35

Continue reading “Lytes Cary Manor”

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Killerton

For Christmas 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.

Killerton

A family home and a great estate. Glorious landscape garden surrounded by parkland with fine 18th-century house.

Current saving £188.85

Family ticket £38.50

Parking £4.00

Total saving £42.50

Cumulative saving £365.15

Membership cost £133.80

Net cumulative saving £231.35

Continue reading “Killerton”

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Polesden Lacey

For Christmas 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.

Polesden Lacey

Edwardian country retreat of socialite, Margaret Greville. Home to her extensive collection of paintings, ceramics and fine French furniture.

Current saving £169.85

One adult £15.00

Parking £4.00

Total saving £19.00

Cumulative saving £322.65

Membership cost £133.80

Net cumulative saving £188.85

Continue reading “Polesden Lacey”

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Mendip Hills

For Christmas 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.

You don’t need a membership though to visit the Mendip Hills. We walked up Crooks Peak, before walking towards Wavering Down, we then walked back to where we had parked the car.

Mendip Hills

Dramatic gorges and ancient woodland rising above the Somerset Levels.

Current saving £169.85

No admission fee

Total saving £0

Cumulative saving £303.65

Membership cost £133.80

Cumulative saving £169.85
Continue reading “Mendip Hills”