Recommendations for National Trust properties to visit.

Killerton and Knightshayes in Devon and Dunster Castle in Minehead Somerset (All beautiful) Castle Drogo and Lahyndrock as others have mentioned plus Stourhead in Wiltshire which had stunning grounds best visited on a sunny day.

Dunham Massey and Quarry Bank Mill. An interesting visit and a chance to see a mill from the past.

I love this thread, we have just joined and our first visit was to Sissinghurst in Kent. We are starting local but planning a bus trip to Lamb House, Rye next week. Gotta make use of my newly acquired bus pass. Will make a note of all your choices as we are doing a round UK trip from Kent to Holy Island the beginning of July.

Not NT but I love Blackwell House near Windermere. It’s a beautiful Arts and Crafts house. ( gorgeous cafe and gift shop too!)

GardenofEngland if you’re doing Holy Island don’t forget that the Farne Islands are NT too, and they’re well worth the boat trip when they open them again.

I'm assuming you have joined the National Trust for Scotland, but your membership card will work in England and Wales too, also Italy if and when you eventually go there.
The England/Wales/N.Ireland NT handbook is well worth spending a tenner on. It gives details of all its properties, and you can get more information online too.
You do have to book online your time to visit but it's still free and no problem giving your NTS membership number.

HannahLoisLuke

Ro60

Wightwick Manor nr. Wolverhampton is one of my favourites - Arts & Crafts period. Difficult to get there from the South but so with it.
Another Midlands one - Charlcotte Park near Stratford on Avon.

That’s one if my favourites too. I could actually imagine living there, unlike many other NT properties which are too grand.
I live very close to Charlecote Park so tend not to visit. I loved the back to backs in Birmingham too and the cave houses in the hills somewhere in Staffordshire I think.

The rock houses are Kinver, someone else has mentioned them too

The Workhouse in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, is an unusual but extremely interesting place; it gives an insight into how poverty was tackled in society in past times. Worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Cotehele and Trerice in Cornwall, A La Ronde in Devon, Plas yn Rhiw and Chirk Castle in North Wales, Little Moreton Hall in Cheshire. These are just a few.

Little Moreton Hall, south of Congleton in Cheshire, is an Elizabethan gem. It's quite small and easy to walk round, so children don't get bored. The garden is small but picturesque and when my granddaughter was little, she loved the restaurant for its excellent puddings! I also second a visit to Dunham Massey which has a wonderful garden at all seasons, including a rose garden, established about five years ago. Tatton Park, near Knutsford, stands in a huge area of park land where, in the summer the Tatton Flower Show is held. The gardens are beautifully planned and maintained. I always meant to visit at blossom time to see the apples and pears in bloom. Is it too late, I wonder? The car park isn't free, even to NT members, but worth it nevertheless.

A La Ronde on the Exe estuary. Fascinating exterior & interiors and nice garden to eat good food in.

My favourite is Coleton Fishacre in Devon. It is described as 'A 1920s country retreat complete with luxuriant garden by the sea'.

It is full of Art Deco furniture and fittings and has a lovely walk along the cliff tops beside the sea. Enjoy.

Channel 4. This week was about the Rock houses at Kinver. Fascinating.

I think that virtually all the NT houses in the country have been listed. Although the UK is small, it can take a long time to get from place to place so I would suggest that you choose an area to visit because there are lots of other places to visit which may not be NT properties. Could you give us an idea or where you are likely to travel around and we could be a bit more specific.

In East Anglia: Blickling and Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk and Ickworgh in Suffolk. Then over to the coast to enjoy Dunwich Heath & Beach.

Ickworth! Not Ickworgh

Cotehele in Cornwall.Lucky to visit last month with beautiful weather and there as it opened.With pre booking lovely and quiet and absolutely beautiful.
Snowshill in the Cotswolds small but gorgeous setting and very interesting house and collection.
And years ago went to Blickling in Norfolk and going to go back again in a few weeks .

St Michael’s Mount and Powys Castle are my favourite.

Another vote for Waddesdon Manor near Aylesbury. it certainly has the Wow factor.

Cherrytree59

Parsley Hill house is on my list.
Last Thursday we visited Culzean Castle (Maybole Ayrshire) can highly recommend.

I didn't know that is now an NT property. I can remember going there on a school trip in primary school.

Did you visit the Electric Brae whilst you were there, Cherrytree59? Its real name is (I think) Croy Brae), where cars roll up the hill when you stop and take the handbrake off?

For NT recommendations, I can only echo Cragside. I absolutely loved it there.

I also really enjoyed Hughenden.

Something fun to do it to buy a National Trust passport at your first property and then get stamps at each property you visit, to keep a track of where you've been.

Another vote for Calke Abbey, lovely grounds, very nice cafe. My dog loves it too

Culzean Castle is a definite must - you might even experience The Electric Brae on the way to it. Apart from the fabulous castle, the gardens are beautiful, there is a good play area for children as well.

North Wales?
Plas Newydd Anglesey
Bodnant Gardens near Llandudno
Chirk Castle near Wrexham
Erddig ( my favourite!) Wrexham

I don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but you must visit Nostel Priory and gardens in Yorkshire. There are woodlands and wildflower meadows too.