Recommendations for National Trust properties to visit.

All the works have been completed now at Castle Drogo, it looks fabulous.

Come and see us down here in Devon on the edge of beautiful Dartmoor. CASTLE DROGO is a beautiful granite castle built at the beginning of the 20th century and designed by Edwin Lutyens for Julius Drew and his family. He founded the Home and Colonial Stores at the turn of the 20th century. They were the first grocery stores which sold everything, similar to our modern day supermarkets but over the counter style. The house is exactly as it was in their
time complete with all furniture, knickknacks, household gadgets, family paintings etc. Fabulous views of Dartmoor
from every window, and family stories connected to the 1st and 2nd world wars.

Just to add, if any Beatles fans (like me) are interested in visiting John and Paul's houses, you can only go inside if you book with the NT. All other tours just take you to the front gate. It was marvellous for me

Thank you everyone for your recommendations. I really appreciate them.

Hardwick Old Hall the ruins is English Heritage. Hardwick Hall is NT!

One that doesn’t seem to have made it on to the list yet is Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. I imagine it will be a while before travel there is possible from England, but when it is, I highly recommend it. There’s a marvellous visitors’ centre. Parking there is normally monstrously expensive, but is free for NT members. And of course the walk down and along the causeway itself is glorious.

It’s close to Bushmills, so if you are a whiskey lover, that’s an extra reason to visit the area.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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 .

Ickworth! Not Ickworgh

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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