Category: National Trust

Visit to Chester Christmas Market on Tuesday 2nd December

Our last visit of 2025 saw the group leave Hucknall enroute to Chester in beautiful sunshine. As we prepared to leave we were able to watch lorries arriving with some very large funfair rides for the Hucknall’s light switch on the following day.

Arriving in Chester just after 11.00 am we were dropped off by the Grosvenor Park which was close to the city’s main attractions.

Over the  course of the day the historic Roman city offered multiple activities and attractions. The Cathedral, which is over a thousand years old was beautifully adorned with dozens of decorated Christmas trees.

The city is also home to the largest Roman ampetheatre in Britain. Walking groups were there in large numbers as were groups of schoolchildren all suitably attired to take part in their Roman day.

A walk on the Roman city wall was a must for many group members along with a sedate boat trip along the River Dee.

The  Christmas market stalls, housed in the usual wooden chalets sold a variety of Christmas gifts and seasonal food and drink. Allowing time for lunch and a visit to the many shops including the eight hundred year old “Rows” made for a very full and enjoyable day.

Returning back to Grosvenor Park for 4.15 to meet the coach our driver, Wayne, got us safely back in Hucknall for 7.15pm.

The group now enters a winter break and resumes its visits in March with a visit to the Dunham Massey Estate.

Visit to Nostell near Wakefield on Thursday 30th October

Sixty five members of the National Trust group set out on two coaches to visit Nostell.

The journey up the A1 was uneventful and with roads generally quiet we reached Nostell in under an hour and a half. By now the sun was shining and most members took advantage to walk one or more of the beautiful grounds.  Others started the day with a hot drink and cake in the restaurant.

The gardens also proved popular during the sunny weather.

The House then proved a good place to visit in the afternoon as skies clouded over. The House was very expansive and featured many interesting offerings.

Visits to the gift shop, plant shop and for many a last hot drink completed a lovely day at a super venue.

 Barrie

We will be running National Trust coach trips from March to October in 2026. We depart at 8.30 am from Hucknall Market and start our return journey at 4.00 pm

We travel with Vallance coaches.

Dates and venues

Monday  23rd March to Dunham Massey, Warrington area. T.B.C.

Tuesday 21st April to Upton House,  Worcester

Wednesday  27th May  to Croome. Worcestershire

Thursday 25th June to Ickworth, Suffolk

Monday 20th July to Dudmaston Estate, Shropshire

Tuesday 25th August to Chirk Castle, Wrexham

Wednesday 23rd September Shrugborough Estate, Stoke on Trent

Thursday 22nd October to Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire

These visits include five venues new to our group.

Coach fares to follow.

We will also be visiting a Christmas Market in December.

Barrie Saunders

Visit to Kedleston Hall on Wednesday 24th September.

We set off an hour later than usual for this month’s destination which involved a much shorter journey to neighbouring Derbyshire. Despite encountering heavy traffic close to Derby itself we still arrived safely by 10.30 am. The weather was now looking favourable as we were met by a member of staff from Kedleston Hall.

The estate at Kedleston is both beautiful and extensive and many members used the estate walks to explore the estate taking on walks ranging from 1.2 miles to over three miles in length. Surrounded by beautiful water courses the walks were well explored.

The Hall itself proved a popular venue to explore as we looked  at the Curzon family’s fine collections including fine arts, furniture and Asian treasure. There were also gardens, café, gift and plant shops to  explore over the day.

The final National Trust visit this year sees us venture to Nostell near Wakefield in October before ending the year with a visit to Chester’s Christmas Market in early December.

A huge thank you must go to Vallance Coaches who have provided coaches to a very high standard on all of our trips. Special thanks to the excellent drivers, Bob, Mick and Wayne.

Barrie

Visit to Lyme Park in Cheshire on 19th August.

Departing at our usual time of 8.30 am from Hucknall Market we enjoyed a pleasant and very scenic journey through the Peak District up to Lyme Park. On arrival we were greeted by members of staff from Lyme Park who issued maps, tokens to enter the house and spent time explaining the facilities and tours on offer for the group.

The House, gardens and estate are very extensive and covering everything in a day presents a challenge.

The estate is very well staffed with volunteers who were both enthusiastic and knowledgeable.

Over the day members had the opportunity to go on a behind the scenes tour of the House, attend a series of talks concerning the history of the Estate, tour the superbly maintained gardens, walk around any of the pleasant walks around the estate and possibly catch sight of the deer who were roaming around. There was a choice of cafes available which baked many of the items on site also a selection of shops including a gift shop, plant shop and second hand book shop.

All this before entering Lyme House itself with its twenty four splendid rooms adorned with period furniture.

Arriving finally back at the coach for the journey home we all agreed that Lyme Park is one of the gems in the National Trust collection with an army of volunteers helping to make the visit one to remember.

Next month the group will be heading to Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire when due to the shorter journey time we will be departing at the later time of 9.30 am. 

Barrie