Category: National Trust

Visit to Dunham Massey on Monday 23rd March

Seventy members of the National Trust group started out from Hucknall Market at 8.30 am to travel across to Cheshire to visit the Dunham Massey Estate.

Traffic was relatively light on the journey and we arrived within two hours. Both coaches arrived together and NT cards were soon checked and maps and general information given out.

First point of call for many was the café for a midmorning drink.

The Estate is one of the jewels in the National Trust portfolio and seeing everything in a day was a challenge!!!

The House itself reflected four hundred years in the life of the Booth and Grey families demonstrated over two floors. The parkland is extensive with a wide range of walks ranging from two miles and longer. Fallow deer roamed the grounds and the extensive gardens were a real highlight for many members.

Sadly, the Mill was closed but the roomy restaurants, ice cream parlour, extensive garden shop and gift shop were all open and popular.

Although the group had previously visited in September 2023 the group verdict was that this was one of the best estates visited.

As usual everyone was back on the coach by 4.00 pm and another good journey saw us back in Hucknall by 6.00 pm.

A lovely day to start this year’s visits.

Next month’s visit takes us to Upton House across in the West Midlands.

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