Category: National Trust

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

                                                             

Visit to Charlecote Park on 14th July

The National Trust group left Hucknall Market place at 8.30 am and enjoyed a relatively trouble free journey to Charlecote arriving just after 10.00 am. After collecting our tickets for the tour of the House and our maps we then continued in to the grounds to begin our day. The estate has been the family home for the Lucy Family for nine hundred years. The house was extensively changed during the early nineteenth century.

The estate has been home to fallow deer for many centuries and there are rumours of a young William Shakespeare poaching on the grounds.

Within the House there is a  service courtyard with Carriage Houses, Laundry and Brewhouse and also  a Victorian Kitchen and Servants quarter.

The river Avon passes through the grounds which also has various gardens, an Orangery Cafe, and Summerhouse, along with a choice of beautiful walks. The ground also housed the National Trust gift shop, plant shop and second hand book shop.

Apart from two very brief rain showers the weather was perfect and we returned to the coach at 4.00 pm to enjoy the journey back to Hucknall.

Next month sees the group travel to Lyme Park in Cheshire.

Barrie

Visit to Powis Castle.

We met up at Hucknall Market in very bright and warm sunshine to board our two coaches visiting Powis Castle near Welshpool. The number travelling was the highest that we have taken since the group restarted, a total of 78 members visiting this wonderful castle.

Leaving promptly we enjoyed a comfort break at Telford before completing the journey. In a rapidly increasing temperature the group enjoyed a lovely day at a very special venue.

Many members walked the extensive terraced gardens and enjoyed the excellently maintained and very colourful gardens that stretch extensively below the castle itself. Incredibly the gardens are maintained by only five full time gardeners and an army of volunteers.

The castle itself provided some respite from the now soaring temperatures as the array of displays proved very interesting and gave a good insight to the way life was lived here many centuries ago.

There was still time to have a snack, a short walk, visit the garden and gift shops before settling back on the coaches for the return journey.

If you are ever across near Welshpool take the opportunity to visit this special place,

July sees the group travel on a shorter visit to Charlecote Park in Warwickshire. Visits for later this year include Lyme Park in Cheshire, Nostell in West Yorkshire and Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire before our final visit to Chester Christmas market.

Barrie and Sue

Visit to Beningbrough Hall, York on Wednesday 28th May

A prompt departure from Hucknall Market place and a journey devoid of traffic jams meant that we arrived safely at our venue by 10.30 am. After a meet and greet session with one of the National Trust staff and passes scanned we set off for some light refreshments. The restaurant area was well stocked and well staffed and with plenty of seating available both indoors and outside most of the group were soon enjoying their refreshments. 

The rest of the day was enjoyed in generally dry weather with increasing amounts of sunshine. The gardens were exceptionally well cared for and a pleasure to walk round with what seemed like an army of volunteers eager to talk to our group members.

The grounds presented some lovely walks for the group to enjoy over the day with some members taking in several different walks.

The House was relatively small but again the volunteers were eager to bring the rooms to light with their knowledge of the building.

The plant shop and gift shop proved popular at the end of the day and members felt that this was one of the nicest venues that we had visited for a long time.

A lovely day completed we returned to the coach for the journey home having enjoyed a lovely relaxing day. 

We are taking two coaches to Powis Castle on 19th June.

 Barrie

The group met up in glorious sunshine for the visit to Attingham Park and after leaving at 8.30 am we were at the venue two hours later.

We were met on arrival by a NT member of staff, Will, who took time to give us maps, information and all the details needed for us to make the most of the day.

The property is the second most visited NT site in the country and in the lovely sunshine there was plenty to enjoy.

The Mansion proved popular with some members joining organised tours or a Tour of Hidden Attingham which allowed visits to rooms and areas usually closed off to the public.

Members made the most of the estate itself walking by the river and through beautiful countryside, on walks of varying distances.

There was still time for a cafe stop and a visit to the NT shop before gathering at the coach for the return journey.

A really god day out!!

A big thank you to Mick, our coach driver, who found an alternative route from the A50 /M1 junction when the road signs displayed that the M1 had delays of over an hour because of a lorry fire!

We arrived back safely in Hucknall by 7.15 having enjoyed a very good visit.

The next visit takes us to Beninborough Hall near York on Wednesday 28th of May.

 Barrie