Category: National Trust

Visit to The Croome Estate on Wednesday 27th May

After the hottest recorded May day ever  the group travelled to the Croome Estate in Worcestershire for our first ever visit to the venue. Arriving at around 10.30 in bright sunshine we were soon enjoying the beautiful estate.

The heart of the Estate is the House which was the brainchild of the 6th Earl of Coventry, an 18th century trendsetter who worked closely with the best talent of the time, Robert Adam and Lancelot (Capability) Brown to plan the House and Estate.

The House is not a typical National Trust property, with eighty percent of the  collections missing and replaced by temporary exhibitions.

The Estate, with its specular views of the Malvern Hills, was only acquired by the National Trust in 1996, a move that saved it from being totally lost to visitors. On the Estate lies a serpentine river, a tree lined lake, and elegant garden buildings, a perfect place to spend a summers day.

As you walk one of the four marked walks you can view kestrels, herons, swans and Canada geese.

In previous times the Estate has housed a Catholic School and during the Second World War a secret RAF camp employing over two thousand staff.

All this with a large cafe, walled gardens, a shuttle coach around the Estate and plant and book shop meant that there was plenty to occupy the group.

Leaving promptly at 4.00 pm we were safely back in Hucknall just after 6.30 pm.

Next month we travel to Ickworth Estate in Suffolk.

Barrie and Sue

National Trust Group visit to Upton House near Banbury on Tuesday 21st April.  

On a sunny if slightly chilly morning, the group left Hucknall Market Place for our journey down to Upton House.

Arriving just after 10.30 we had a brief talk given by the volunteers at Upton before collecting our timed entry tickets to the House.

The House was used as a country retreat for Viscount Bearsted’s family in the 1930’s before being gifted to the National Trust some years later. The House is now home to some of the best collections of paintings and porcelain in Britain with a total of over three thousand items on display.

The terraced gardens on the Estate were very colourful and proved very popular.

A number of lovely walks were available in the grounds along with a large restaurant, gift shop and second hand book shop and plant shop.

All in all a lovely venue.

In May we visit Croome on our third visit of the year.

Barrie

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