Stourhead Review

We’ve visited Stourhead multiple times now but for some reason I’ve not actually written a review. With autumn rapidly approaching after our most recent visit it seemed like a good time to finally write one up. Stourhead is a National Trust property and stunning gardens in Wiltshire and we often use it as a pit-stop […]

Mwnt Beach Review

Before I visit a beach like Mwnt, I like to try and find a review and see what it’s like before going. Everything I found seemed to imply it was going to be amazing. And they didn’t lie! First of all, it’s right next to the National Trust car Park, which meant that we didn’t […]

Chastleton House Review

Before actually typing up this review of Chastleton House I had to check the county borders for Oxon, Warks and Gloucs because as we were driving in you keep dipping in and out of all of them! I wasn’t 100% sure which county we were in by the time we arrived. Turns out it’s technically […]

Claydon House Review

Since my first review of Claydon House in Buckinghamshire the National Trust (or possibly the family that own Claydon) have completely changed how everything works on-site! There used to be a separate charge for the house and the gardens, even for NT members. Now it’s all one price. One thing that Claydon House is famous […]

Lyveden Review

Despite the fact that there is not one, but two houses at Lyveden, this is one of the most outdoorsy National Trust places I have written a review of. Part of the reason for that is because one of those houses doesn’t have a roof. Or any floors for that matter. It’s just a shell […]

Hatfield Forest Review

It’s worth pointing out that this review of Hatfield Forest is written during the winter months. Why does that matter? Well, they ask that during the winter you keep to the hard standing paths and don’t walk through the smaller woodland tracks. You also have to pre-booking parking at weekends and during the school holidays […]

Canons Ashby Review

Although this wasn’t my first visit to Canons Ashby in Northamptonshire, I haven’t written a review until now because my last visit was pre-blog. In fact it was pre-Smallest Child! At that stage I was too scared to take children into NT houses. However, we’ve been back at this time we’ve been inside the house […]

Basildon Park Review

Although we have been to Basildon Park before I haven’t written a review until now because our last visit was pre-blog! Basildon Park is nowhere near Basildon BTW. Technically it’s just outside my four counties area, but it’s only just over the border in Berkshire so I think you’ll forgive me. It’s a National Trust […]

Percy the Park Keeper’s Winter Wander

This year the National Trusts’ Christmas trail is Percy the Park Keeper’s Winter Wander. Most of the National Trust properties across the UK are doing it, although not all of them are. In Bucks, Beds, Oxon & Herts you’ll find trails at; Hughenden Manor, Cliveden, Stowe, Grey’s Court, Dunstable Downs, Basildon Park, Upton House and […]

Foresters’ Walk – a quiet family walk on the Ashridge Estate

A significantly quieter walk around the Ashridge estate in Hertfordshire