Gloucestershire

South Gloucestershire

The popular session for pre-schoolers is back in March 2024 with nature activities each Tuesday morning in term time until mid October.

Sessions will usually include a song, story, craft and a game.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

This event is aimed at pre-school children

Please meet at Old Lodge in the parkland, a 10-minute walk from the car park.

Please wrap up for the great outdoors. Wellies or sturdy shoes advised.

The parkland is steep and uneven in places.

Dyrham team

An expert volunteer guide will lead you around the 270 acres of parkland to learn more about the site's history, archaeology, management and significance. At 10.30am and 1.30pm on selected days.

Want to find out more about Dyrham's garden? Why not join one of our expert volunteer guides on a tour?

Join a tour guide to discover Dyrham village in the summer of 1704. Learn about how the village was connected to the estate and interesting facts about the villagers at that time. Please be aware that this walk has a limited number of places....

Crawl like a caterpillar, jump like a grasshopper and leap like a frog this May half term at Dyrham Park. Get active around the garden while picking up some fascinating facts.

Nature tots at Old Lodge

Botanical and embroidery artist Olga Prinku brings her exclusive Nature’s Tapestry: Botanical Embroidery at Hidcote exhibition to Hidcote. Find out more.

Nature’s Tapestry | Botanical Embroidery at Hidcote Friday 29 March to Monday 30 September

Hidcote will host botanical and embroidery artist Olga Prinku in the exhibition hall this spring. Olga’s work combines dried and preserved flowers and other natural materials with tulle fabric, to create motifs inspired by nature.

Olga has been visiting Hidcote through the seasons to collect materials which she will use to create three artworks inspired by the garden. These will be displayed alongside her wider body of work. Her work uses materials like seed-heads that we ordinarily overlook to create intricate and unique artworks inspired by the changing of the seasons, and the raw beauty of the natural world.

The exhibition is located in the Entrance Hall of the house and is free to enjoy. Normal admission to the property applies.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Exhibition takes place in the Entrance Hall of the House

Level access to the House can be found via East Court

Discover the history of Hidcote and its creator, Major Lawrence Johnston, as well as the garden conservation work of the National Trust on a guided garden tour. Find out more...

Join Hidcote's Building Historian to explore the history of the estate and its buildings in a series of behind-the-scenes tours. Find out more...

Wander Hidcote's blooms and borders in the magical light of early evening.

Join Swan School of Tai Chi & Qigong at Hidcote as they take you through the ancient Chinese tradition of Tai Chi.

Nature’s Tapestry | Botanical Embroidery at Hidcote

FREE EVENT - Join us every other Tuesday, and second Sunday of the month. Experience the peace and tranquillity of the trees and have a chat with new friends, there is plenty of inspiration for conversation.

There’s no need to plan your route on this walk or worry about getting lost as the route is guided by our friendly volunteers. Come along for some gentle exercise, then pop to the Café in Comer for tea and cake afterwards.

Walking has so many benefits, it is great for increasing general mobility and muscle strength in the lower body. Walking can also help maintain wellbeing and is widely recognised as a way of improving your mood to reduce the risk of depression.

The trails in Comer Woods are surfaced and suitable in wet weather. The walk is relaxed and is suitable for a range of abilities. A Powered Mobility Vehicle is available to borrow. Please email dudmaston@nationaltrust.org.uk for availability.

To create a peaceful atmosphere, free from distractions, the Wellbeing Walking group is not suitable for dog walkers. Parents or carers with young children (under 3) are welcome to bring them in a pram or sling.

This activity is free but please book a space so we know how many walkers to expect. Check times and dates and book your space

Call 0344 249 1895

Suitable for all ages

Meet us in the car park in Comer Woods. Car parking is free for everyone attending this event. If you are a National Trust member, please scan your card at the ticket machine.

This is an outdoors activity so please come dressed in suitable clothing and footwear.

A Powered Mobility Vehicle is available to borrow. Please email dudmaston@nationaltrust.org.uk for availability.

To create a peaceful atmosphere, free from distractions, the Walk With Us group is not suitable for dogs/dog walkers. Parents or carers with young children (under 3) are welcome to bring them in a pram or sling.

Dudmaston

Join foraging experts from Wild Food UK on a walk in Comer Woods. Learn when and where to look for edible and poisonous plants in the woodland.

Come out and play in Comer Woods this half term. Help yourself to a range of play equipment and have fun!

The Trust 10 is a monthly, 10k trail run that gives you the opportunity to explore the wider Dudmaston estate.

FREE EVENT - Help us spot nature on this guided walk through the woods.

Wellbeing Walks in Comer Woods

Step back in time with Summer of Play at Sizergh.

Inspired by archival footage from the family archive, Summer of Play at Sizergh will transport you back in time.

In the 1930s, the Strickland family used the Dutch Garden and South Lawn to spend time together. Scan the QR code to see footage of games in the garden and a garden party.

Choose a hat and make your way up the steps, just like the guests arriving at Sir Gerald’s garden party, or try your hand at some skipping games like the ones the Strickland children enjoyed.

Further afield, walk to the bird hide to see what’s visiting the wetland, or discover which special plants are growing on Sizergh Fell.

You can also trace the history of Sizergh by following the scallop trail through the house.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Reception

Discover Sizergh’s garden and plant collection with a garden tour.

Discover spectacular ancient trees and a historic mural with a guided walk to Helsington Church. Booking is essential.

Meet some of the key characters in Sizergh’s history, delving into 800 years of history.

Discover some of Sizergh’s lesser-known stories with pop-up talks.

Summer of Play

As the weather warms up, delight in Canons Ashby’s ‘Flutterby Butterfly’ summer trail, running from late May until early September.

As the weather warms up, delight in Canons Ashby’s ‘Flutterby Butterfly’ summer trail. Spot the butterfly’s favourite flowers, flap your wings and even dance like a butterfly (grown-ups too!) Bring the family and enjoy this free activity in our green spaces, as part of your visit to Canons Ashby. Pick up a free trail sheet at Visitor Reception when you come in. Normal admission prices apply

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

This is aimed at families

Pick up your free trail at Visitor Reception when you're scanning your membership cards or buying your admission tickets.

Please dress for the weather

There are no steps in this area, but there are uneven outdoor surfaces which can get muddy in wet weather. There are also some small slopes where the trail will be located.

This is an extra thing to do for families on their visit to Canons Ashby

Canons Ashby

Come to the medieval Priory Church and browse a wide selection of books which have been donated by our supporters, all different genres from crime to cakes, new and old.

Find out more about the medieval history of Canons Ashby with a guided visit to the church, and then to the recently restored medieval stew ponds: an area not accessible to the public without a guide.

Enjoy beautiful classical recorder music in the Priory Church, performed by the Nene Consort. There’s no extra charge or formal ticketing: feel free to pop in and out as you wish or take a pew and enjoy the whole hour.

From misty marshes to the streets of London; our new adaptation of Dickens’s popular and atmospheric novel, delivers high comedy and thrilling drama as we follow Pip’s journey to discover the true nature of his ‘great expectations’.

Flutterby butterfly trail

A snapshot of the Rawnsley's private lives and holidays in Europe displayed in the house where they lived.

Displayed for the first time, this collection of watercolours and small black and white photographs will give you a glimpse into the the private lives of the Rawnsleys.

Discover a snapshot of genteel tourism in the mountain resorts of the Alps and the Dolomites, while the shadow of the first world war loomed over Europe.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

On private road about 300metres (0.2miles) uphill from Inn at Grasmere / Emma's Dell in village centre. Blue Badge parking. Not accessible by mobility scooter. Accessible toilet on ground floor. Induction loop. Steps to upper floor of house.

Allan Bank

Fun things to do with kids this May half term at Allan Bank.

Get involved with Great Big Green Week.

Get involved with Great Big Green Week

Chat to our outdoors team about how we manage the woodland at Allan Bank and get hands on if you fancy it.

Flower time in the Oberland: The holiday watercolours of Eleanor Rawnsley

Join us as we explore the power of myths in shaping identities and understanding the world around us. Delve into the rich tapestry of myths, legends, and folklore.

Step into the fascinating world of Benjamin Disraeli, a remarkable British politician and storyteller. Disraeli knew that words held enormous power. Disraeli’s love for storytelling is reflected in his library and writings but also in his deliberate efforts to shape his personal narrative and legend, and in doing so attempt to influence public perception.

As you explore the mansion and grounds you will see how Disraeli wove together the art of myth making and storytelling to extend beyond the page to Hughenden’s manor, garden, and parkland.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Hughenden

Step into the enchanted woods and embark on a journey of discovery.

In the Manor, discover how Disraeli masterfully used myths to craft his public persona and navigate the complex worlds of belonging, identity and relationships.

Are you looking to get outdoors, meet new people and improve your health and wellbeing? Join this free, friendly 2.5 mile led walk through the woodlands around the Hughenden Estate, with views down to Hughenden Valley & High Wycombe.

Join us in celebrating Hughenden's literary heritage with our outdoor book fair. Discover literary treasures and support Hughenden with every book you take home.

Myths & Mythmaking

FREE EVENT - Join us every other Tuesday, and second Sunday of the month. Experience the peace and tranquillity of the trees and have a chat with new friends, there is plenty of inspiration for conversation.

There’s no need to plan your route on this walk or worry about getting lost as the route is guided by our friendly volunteers. Come along for some gentle exercise, then pop to the Café in Comer for tea and cake afterwards.

Walking has so many benefits, it is great for increasing general mobility and muscle strength in the lower body. Walking can also help maintain wellbeing and is widely recognised as a way of improving your mood to reduce the risk of depression.

The trails in Comer Woods are surfaced and suitable in wet weather. The walk is relaxed and is suitable for a range of abilities. A Powered Mobility Vehicle is available to borrow. Please email dudmaston@nationaltrust.org.uk for availability.

To create a peaceful atmosphere, free from distractions, the Wellbeing Walking group is not suitable for dog walkers. Parents or carers with young children (under 3) are welcome to bring them in a pram or sling.

This activity is free but please book a space so we know how many walkers to expect. Check times and dates and book your space

Call 0344 249 1895

Suitable for all ages

Meet us in the car park in Comer Woods. Car parking is free for everyone attending this event. If you are a National Trust member, please scan your card at the ticket machine.

This is an outdoors activity so please come dressed in suitable clothing and footwear.

A Powered Mobility Vehicle is available to borrow. Please email dudmaston@nationaltrust.org.uk for availability.

To create a peaceful atmosphere, free from distractions, the Walk With Us group is not suitable for dogs/dog walkers. Parents or carers with young children (under 3) are welcome to bring them in a pram or sling.

Dudmaston

Come out and play in Comer Woods this half term. Help yourself to a range of play equipment and have fun!

FREE EVENT - Take your little ones on a guided walk in the woods. What will you spot as you toddle together through the trees?

Take a closer look at the marvellous moths that call Comer Woods home. Our ranger team will be on hand to help you identify these amazing creatures before releasing them back into the countryside.

The Trust 10 is a monthly, 10k trail run that gives you the opportunity to explore the wider Dudmaston estate.

Be inspired by the blossom that's filling Killerton with colour.

Local community groups have been getting creative, writing poetry inspired by the blossom of the Killerton estate. Wander through the emerging magnolias and cheerful cherry blossom in the formal gardens, reading poetry displayed across the site from 20 April to 30 June.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Content of the poetry may be suitable for older children.

Check in as you usually would at Visitor Reception, then keep an eye out for the poetry displayed across the site.

Some of the poetry may be displayed outdoors, so please dress for the weather.

Routes may be muddy and slippery, and some have inclines which may be challenging for pushchairs and manual or motorised mobility aids. Route information and difficulty will be available at Visitor Reception.

Killerton

Killerton's 2024 fashion exhibition will explore children's clothes of the 19th and 20th century.

Join Killerton’s Ecologist, Fiona Hailstone, as she guides you to discover some of the 1500 ancient trees on the Killerton estate.

The University of Exeter archaeology department are excavating a site close to Columbjohn Chapel on the Killerton estate. Visit the excavation site and discover what they have found.

Learn more about how a gift in your will could help carry out crucial conservation work at Killerton.

Killerton Springs into Rhyme: Blossom poetry display

See the rooms on the ground floor of Bath Assembly Rooms and learn about the history of this building.

Join your host for a fully guided tour of the ground floor of the Assembly Rooms. You'll learn a little about the future plans and be taken through the Ball Room, Great Octagon, Tea Room and Card Room where we'll share some of the history behind the building.

Tours will last approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Tours are aimed at adults, but are also suitable for interested older children. Please book a space for everyone in your party.

Charges apply, National Trust members will need to bring their membership card with them.

National Lottery Open Week (Visits between 9 - 17 March)

Present your lottery ticket or scratch card at our visitor reception to experience our place free of charge from Saturday 9 March until Sunday 17 March inclusive. One National Lottery ticket (physical or digital), scratch card, or Instant Win Game will give access to one adult. To book, please select one National Trust member ticket per person (adult) covered by your Lottery ticket(s) and enter 'National Lottery Open Week' when asked for your membership number at checkout. Please remember to bring your lottery ticket or scratch card with you for free entry.

Call 0344 249 1895

Tours are aimed at adults.

Please enter via the main doors.

Tours are on the ground floor only, level entrance and no steps involved. Please email: bathassemblyrooms@nationaltrust.org.uk for specific requirements.

Please arrive at 10am, 11am, 12pm or 2pm for your booked tour, we allow 15 minutes for arrival and the tour will start as soon as everyone has arrived or at 10.15am, 11.15am, 12.15pm or 2.15pm at the latest. Each tour lasts 45 minutes to 1 hour. Latecomers will be admitted up to 15 minutes after the start of the tour.

Bath Assembly Rooms

Come behind-the-scenes and see the lower ground floor stripped back to its original architecture.

Join Party in the City at Bath Assembly Rooms.

Share your thoughts and experience at this community workshop day.

During the half-term break there will be new craft activities themed around fashion and music.

Guided Tours in 2024

Brought to you by the National Trust and Stoked Watersports, an opportunity to get out on the lake and maybe try something new.

At Stoked Watersports there is something for everyone. We run regular kayak, paddleboard and row boat hourly hire sessions throughout the day perfect for beginners.

For more experienced paddlers we have our SUP pick up and go service giving you the freedom to explore Lake Windermere at your own pace.

Our watersports base at Fell Foot on the southern tip of Lake Windermere is set within the National Trust’s Fell Foot park - a very special place which never fails to impress. It is quite simply the best place to experience watersports hires on Lake Windermere.

Call 02393 593939 Book direct with our activity provider Stoked Watersports.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Please take a look at the joining instruction PDF you receive when you make a booking as it contains useful information including a site map.

Recommend wearing quick drying clothes, wetsuit shoes or lightweight trainers. Bring a full change of clothes and towel. Sunglasses, suncream, hat and waterbottle are advisable.

Speak to the team at Stoked Watersports about access requirements.

It is normally adverse weather (heavy rain and/or strong winds) which limits us from operating due to your and our team’s safety. We are always checking the weather and our team is pro-active with this and so if the weather is looking iffy Stoked Watersports will contact you to discuss all the options.

Stoked Watersports

Join us every Thursday in May and June for a story and nature walk around the park.

A simple way to get fit, with a great community at its heart.

Get involved with Great Big Green Week at Fell Foot

Guided Nature and Environment Walks with the NT team. Learn more about the hidden natural gems around Fell Foot and take away ideas and inspiration for what you can do at home. Meet at the tea room at 11am.

Paddleboard, kayak and row boat sessions

Discover the fascinating world of moths.

Join the rangers to take a closer look at some of the many species found at Wallington. Be ready with your questions and learn lots of fun facts to take home with you.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Meet at Visitor Welcome

This event is weather dependent.

Estate Office

Enjoy an evening in the Central Hall at Wallington with beaver ecologists Wild Intrigue and Wallington's Lead Ranger Helen McDonald to find out more about this intriguing native species.

New for 2024 Following the arrival of beavers at Wallington in the summer of 2023, the first in Northumberland for over 400 years, we're delighted to be working with Wild Intrigue to bring you beaver enclosure safaris this year.

Discover what lies beneath on a tour of the cellar at Wallington.

Explore the incredible world of insects on a trail in the Walled Garden this May half term.

Moth mornings at Wallington

Can you follow the trail and find the birds hidden in the gardens?

Collect your trail sheet from the welcome team and start your hunt around the gardens.

Find the wooden birds and discover more about our feathered friends on this self-led trail.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Trail sheets can be collected from the welcome team on arrival

Our full access statement can be found on our homepage, for specific access requirements please contact the team.

Beningbrough events

Uncover generations of memories with stories from the people who have called Beningbrough home during this time between art exhibitions.

Join one of a series of free 30-minute sessions with the garden team, focussing on one aspect of their work and the gardens at Beningbrough.

Meet the team as they carry out their conservation work on the laundry collection.

Feathered friends nature trail

At Dunham Massey, families and friends are encouraged to harness the vibrancy and joy of longer warmer days, with a playful, three-month celebration of summer

The North Park Play Hub, brimming with colour and activity, brings an opportunity to share games and challenges amongst ancient trees and nature. Catch special events like crafts and storytelling, and bring a picnic to enjoy under dappled shade or at one of our accessible picnic benches.

Clamber and climbing are a must at the natural play Log Pile. Balance on fallen trees, hop across stumps, and let their imaginations run wild in the great outdoors.

In the gardens, the thousands of summer bulbs create beautiful displays that change weekly. Across the wider land of walking paths and veteran trees, deer spotting is always a family favourite.

With snacks, meals and beverages on hand from the numerus outlets, and a trip to the treasure trove shop enroute home, Dunham Massey is the ideal place to enjoy a celebratory summer day.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Suitable for all ages

Stop by the Visitor Centre for direction to Summer of Play top spots and activities.

Weather appropriate clothing and footwear.

The North Park, where the Play Hub is located, is accessed via both cement and natural paths, both of which are relatively flat and accessible.

Dunham Massey

Who lives here? From hedgehogs in their houses to worms tunnelling underground, discover the gardens brimming with life. For under 5s and their grownups.

Make music in the formal gardens and discover big, bright and bold musical installations.

All aboard! Pack your bags and giddy up for Speechly’s ‘Grand Tour’ of the historic house.

Throughout the school summer holidays, Dunham Massey is hosting a collection of playful happenings, with different family-friendly events every day. How will you play today?

Explore this stunning meadow consisting of over 120,000 spring bulbs

Last October, over 120,000 bulbs were planted in the arboretum by staff and volunteers. Between February and June, see them bloom into a vibrant display of colour at Knightshayes. With different flowers every month, there’s something new to explore every time you visit.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

The arboretum is on a step free route.

Knightshayes

Discover the Victorian Language of Flowers this Half Term

Get ready for a summer full of play!

The Knightshayes Bulb Meadow

Inspired by the landscapes of Cornwall and it's ever changing moods, an exhibition by Rosie Mack is now showing at Botallack Count House.

A graduate of Canterbury University, Rosie Mack studied classical oil painting with Robert Greenham and lives and works in North Cornwall.

This exhibition, inspired by the landscapes of Cornwall, draws from many sources "imprinting a memory of light, colour, place and shape".

"The landscape of Cornwall has long been my inspiration, it's ephemeral light qualities and ever changing moods fascinate me. One of my ongoing themes is the exploration of the rich local landscape with its range of industrial architecture, which acts as man-made geological layers. The remains of the old tin and copper mines both blend into and form the existing geography, the previously bruised landscape being absorbed back into nature."

There is accessible parking and ramped access to Botallack Count House, and accessible toilet facilities on site. For any further information please call 01736 786934.

The exhibition will run during Botallack Count House opening hours, please see the website for times. Botallack and Botallack Count House are free to visit. The Count House Cafe (not National Trust) will be open, serving tasty snacks and drinks. There is plenty of parking available, charges apply (free for National Trust members).

Botallack Count House Workshop

Rosie Mack Exhibition

Experience a sound and visual art installation this spring

Colour, collage and sound are filling the aviary this spring. A group of young people from Hartcliffe have been working with artists Oshii and Jono Gilmurray to create a sound and visual art installation for Tyntesfield’s aviary. The group explored the history of the building and the bird life that would have inhabited it. They also delved into the significance of birds to Tyntesfield’s wider history and how the mining of seabird droppings (guano) for fertilizer made William Gibbs his fortune.

The final artwork not only explores these histories but encourages us to learn from them and think about how we can look after nature and our birdlife in future.

Echoes from the Aviary is a collaboration between the National Trust and Heart of BS13 and is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Yes

The aviary is found at the back of the house.

Please dress appropriately for the weather. Layers and sturdy shoes are advisable.

The Aviary is accessible via a step free route.

Tyntesfield

See Pif Paf's Sunshine on the Fallen Tree at Tyntesfield

Create your own colourful collaged bird

Join our rangers for a ramble around Tyntesfield’s beautiful estate

Make friends and get outside with a friendly group walk around Tyntesfield’s beautiful estate

Echoes from the Aviary

Experience a sound and visual art installation this spring

Colour, collage and sound are filling the aviary this spring. A group of young people from Hartcliffe have been working with artists Oshii and Jono Gilmurray to create a sound and visual art installation for Tyntesfield’s aviary. The group explored the history of the building and the bird life that would have inhabited it. They also delved into the significance of birds to Tyntesfield’s wider history and how the mining of seabird droppings (guano) for fertilizer made William Gibbs his fortune.

The final artwork not only explores these histories but encourages us to learn from them and think about how we can look after nature and our birdlife in future.

Echoes from the Aviary is a collaboration between the National Trust and Heart of BS13 and is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Yes

The aviary is found at the back of the house.

Please dress appropriately for the weather. Layers and sturdy shoes are advisable.

The Aviary is accessible via a step free route.

Tyntesfield

Join our friendly and knowledgeable Estate Guides for a gentle walk around Tyntesfield estate.

On this two day course, learn to make a Celtic backstool (three legged chair) with the Somerset Bodgers.

See Pif Paf's Sunshine on the Fallen Tree at Tyntesfield

Create your own colourful collaged bird

Celebrate the festival of blossom with us here at Wightwick and admire the knitted (and real!) blossom in the gardens this spring.

Admire the blossom in our orchards and wider gardens this spring and see the handiwork of our talented volunteers and local craft groups with their knitted blossom displays around the gardens.

Accompanying the blossom displays will be printed poetry written by Simon Armitage, Poet Laureate, in collaboration with the National Trust.

See if you can find all of the knitted blossom displays and let them point you in the direction of the best views of the season.

You can also use the hashtag #BlossomWatch to share your pictures on social media.

This is a free, self-led trail around the gardens, normal admission costs apply, no booking required.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Suitable for all.

Please check in at Visitor Reception on arrival. The knitted blossom displays will be around the main areas of the garden for you to find.

The knitted blossom displays will take place around the outside of the buildings and throughout the main gardens, so please wear appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear if it has been raining.

The trail is located throughout the gardens, which contain some hard paths and some unmade grass paths. It may get muddy underfoot in some areas.

Events Team

Throughout the day Wolverhampton glass artist Suzie from Suzie Lavender Contemporary Glass will be teaching two sessions of fused glass making techniques. These workshops are suitable for beginners or as a refresher course.

This May Half Term, bring along the family to have a go at our craft activity and try some of our outdoor games.

Join us in the wonderful surroundings here at Wightwick to build on what you already know and see what you can do with your photography.

This is a workshop aimed at adult beginners or first time felters with tutor Natalie Harris(Brooks). Natalie is a fine artist using needle felting and the creator of Roly Poly Ponies.

Knitted Blossom and Poetry Trail at Wightwick Manor and Gardens

If you've always wanted to see more of Dunster Castle, come on an attic tour with one of the castle's knowledgeable tour guides.

Join an attic tour to experience life behind the scenes at Dunster Castle. See spaces you haven't seen before and hear stories about the servants who lived and used the spaces upstairs.

Call 0344 249 1895

The tours are not recommended for children under 12.

The tour will begin outside the front of the house. Members need to scan their membership cards on arrival, non-members will need to purchase an admission ticket.

Please wear suitable shoes for walking on uneven ground. The attics can be quite cold with uneven steps.

There are 87 steps up a spiral staircase which are worn in places. Please take time to consider this before booking.

Normal admission applies. Members need to scan their membership cards on arrival, non-members will need to purchase an admission ticket.

Dunster Castle and Watermill

Come and see Dunster's rare double overshot watermill in action with a day of milling and talks to celebrate National Mills Weekend.

Relax with a delicious afternoon tea at the Watermill Tearoom.

Join a member of our garden team on a walk through the gardens and enjoy the best of the day's blossom.

Step into the past and prepare for a great feast in the 1400s. Help find out more about the food and festivities needed for the big event!

Behind the scenes: Attic Tours

An expert volunteer guide will lead you around the 270 acres of parkland to learn more about the site's history, archaeology, management and significance. At 10.30am and 1.30pm on selected days.

Walks start at visitor reception and finish down by the house. They are free of charge, but normal admission costs apply. Walks are subject to volunteer availability - please check on arrival.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Suitable for all ages.

Visitor Reception in the car park.

The parkland is steep and uneven in places so please wear sturdy footwear and clothing suitable for the outdoors.

The parkland is steep and uneven in places.

Dyrham team

Crawl like a caterpillar, jump like a grasshopper and leap like a frog this May half term at Dyrham Park. Get active around the garden while picking up some fascinating facts about these brilliant creatures.

Want to find out more about Dyrham's garden? Why not join one of our expert volunteer guides on a tour?

Alice, a young, curious girl, follows a white rabbit down a rabbit hole and ends up in Wonderland. There, she begins on an adventure she will never forget.

The popular session for pre-schoolers is back in March 2024 with nature activities each Tuesday morning in term time until mid October.

Guided parkland walks

This half term, learn how to be a Garden Guardian and earn your first Looking after Lyme Badge.

Pick up your Guardian Guide from the Ticket Office or Lyme shops which is buzzing with activities and games for both the young and young at heart. Follow the trail for imaginative play, sensory activities.

Will you…

Join the Bug Ball? Dress up as your favourite pollinator to join in the fun!

Find all the sensory bugs in the garden? Just like in real life, some are spiky, some are smooth and can be touched with care.

Take a Bug's Eye View? Lots of bugs come to life in spring, change your perspective to see what they’re all about.

Win the game of I-Spy? Use your Guardian Guide – what can you see?

What’s the buzz in Crow Wood? Welcome to The Hive to learn all about our VIPs – Very Important Pollinators – challenge your friends and family with waggle dances, races, and pollinator games!

Hive highlights:

Meet the bees – Who lives in a house like this, who’s in charge?

Bee in the moment – close your eyes and see what you can hear.

Honeycomb hive – who will make all their matches first?

Suitable for all ages

Suitable outdoor clothing.

The trail routes around the garden and Crow Wood are step free, however the pathway in Crow Wood is uneven.

Estate Office

The Bogtastic Van it back! Join Moors for the Future and the Bogtastic Van at Lyme.

If you visit Lyme with your dog, why not join the dog walking group, giving you the chance to meet new people and your furry friend an opportunity to socialise with other dogs!

Enjoy a delicious treat before Concerts in the Chapel with a delicious Lyme afternoon tea.

Be swept away by classical and modern melodies while seated in a setting steeped in heritage, with Concerts in the Chapel at Lyme.

May Half Term

In this exhibition we will explore the story of the past, present and future of the cotton textile industry in the North West and the world

Before the Industrial Revolution, making clothes was slow. People would make their own clothes, in small quantities and would wear them for a long period of time, repeatedly repairing them. They were patched, resized, remade, and handed down until there was nothing left to use.

The Industrial Revolution saw a rapid change in the pace in the production of textiles, the growth of cotton and technological advancements within mills, and faster transport. This meant there were more options for people in all levels of society and is the starting point in the story of how we consume clothes today.

In this exhibition we will explore the story of the past, present and future of the cotton textile industry in the North West and the world, the human drive for fashion and ‘faster, easier, cheaper’ clothes, and the global, environmental and societal impacts that had and continues to have today.

Admission charges apply. Free entry for National Trust Members.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

suitable for children of all ages

The exhibition will be hosted on the fourth floor of the mill

This is an indoor event

The space is accessible by lift.

Quarry Bank

Indoor and outdoor fashion history fun this May half term

Explore the home of the child workers of Quarry Bank on a unique tour

This is your chance to see what life was like for the crowded families in the village

Visit the comfortable home of the Greg family: funded by the mill and right next to it, but far away from the world of its workers

Exhibition: For the love of cotton

See Pif Paf's Sunshine on the Fallen Tree at Tyntesfield

Pif Paf’s Sunshine on the Fallen Tree is an immersive sound and light sculpture, made from Ash trees felled due to Ash Dieback, traditionally steam bent and set with re-usable innovative technology.

Walk through its branches and be seated in the canopy, bath in its flickering light as a sound composition takes you through movements of a requiem and sonic memories of the tree, inviting you to reflect on the decline of the Ash Tree and the energy and optimism we need to fill the spaces as we lose so many species to climate change.

The sound composition was created by Eleanor Hooper and Kate Griffin, and together makes a very moving 12-minute experience.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Yes

As you'll need to head to the Sawmill from the Welcome Building, please dress appropriately for the weather. Layers and sturdy shoes are advisable.

The route to the sawmill is step-free, but does involve a steep slope. Our mobility shuttle is available to take visitors with access issues to the event. The room will be relatively dark with low level lighting.

Tyntesfield

Experience a sound and visual art installation this spring

Create your own colourful collaged bird

Join our rangers for a ramble around Tyntesfield’s beautiful estate

Make friends and get outside with a friendly group walk around Tyntesfield’s beautiful estate

Sunshine on the Fallen Tree

National Trust

We look after the places you love, from houses, buildings and gardens to coast and countryside. Join us and help protect them.

Nature tots at Old Lodge

National Trust

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