Category: National Trust

On 28th April, 2022 all members were waiting at Hucknall Market Place for a 9.30am departure to Kedleston Hall allowing us to make a prompt start to the day. Despite the many road closures in the Kedleston area, Paul, our driver, got us safely to the venue by 10.30am.

On arrival staff from the venue boarded the bus and spoke about the Hall, the walks available and the other facilities. National Trust membership cards were checked and we were free to enjoy our day.

The only thing missing was the sunshine and a cold wind to start the day meant that warm clothing was needed for the first part of the day. Many members warmed themselves with a hot drink before setting out on one of the many varied walks. The Lakeside walk proved popular along with the longer woodland walk.

The Estate was built in an attempt to copy the Chatsworth Estate, including the bridge which you cross on the way in to Chatsworth. The Hall itself is one of the most beautiful and ornate in the whole of the National Trust. A volunteer guide was available in every room to give out information and answer questions.

After a walk and the Hall visit many members visited the shop and other facilities before a final visit to the cafe before boarding the bus home. Arriving back in Hucknall for 5.00pm members had enjoyed a good day out.

National Trust Future Visits – A Reminder

Tuesday, 17th May, 2022 – Canons Abbey in Northants. Price £10
Monday, 13th June, 2022 – Packwood House in Warwickshire. Price £10
Wednesday, 20th July, 2022 – Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire. Price £14. Please note that this is an 8.30 am departure due to the extra travel distance. This is one of the really special National Trust visits with a tour of the Manor owned by the Rothschild Family.

Thank you to all members who continue to support this group.

Barrie and Sue

Bookings are now complete for the next four visits, which are firstly to Kedleston Hall on Thursday April 28th. Coach fare is £7.50. Seats are still available if you would like to contact me via the form below.

Secondly to Cannons Abbey in Northants, on Tuesday 17th of May. Coach fare is £10.
Thirdly to Packwood House in Warwickshire, on Monday 13th of June, Coach fare is £10.
Finally to Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire on Wednesday 20th of July. Coach fare is £14.

The first three visits will depart from Hucknall Market at 9.30am with the visit to Waddesdon leaving at 8.30am to allow for the extra distance involved. All visits will see us leave the venue at 4.00pm.

I hope all the venues prove to be interesting but a special mention goes to Waddeston Manor which is owned by the Rothschild Family and really makes for a wonderful day out. The cost of entry to Waddesdon is £25.20 for non National Trust members which gives you an idea of how good the day there will prove.

I have kept coach fares to the lowest level possible but I am having to pay considerably more for the coach hire for obvious reasons.

NOSTELL PRIORY VISIT MARCH 23RD 2022

Firstly a big thank you to Anne and Steve Lawrence who stepped in at short notice to lead the visit when Sue and myself tested positive for Covid. I hope the other members of the group ,who also tested positive, are now fully recovered. Steve knows Nostell Priory very well and was the ideal person to pass over information about the venue. The sun shone all day and the mild conditions provided the backdrop to a lovely and interesting day. Members feed back was very positive, apart from lengthy waits at the cafe!!!

To contact Barrie, the group leader, please use the form below:-

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I have now managed to map out our venues for 2022, subject to any future Covid restrictions.Our full list of visits are set out below.

Wednesday March 23rd Nostell Priory near Wakefield. Coach Travel £8.50 pp
Thursday April 28th Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire. Coach Travel £7.50 pp
Tuesday May 17thCanon’s Abbey in Northants
Monday June 13th Packwood House in Warwickshire
Wednesday July 20th W6addesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire
Thursday August 11th Nunnington Hall 0in Yorkshire
Tuesday September 13th Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire
Wednesday October 10th Gunby Estate in Lincolnshire

Please note that with increased fuel costs, an increase in driver wages and the cost of spare parts, prices will have to be slightly higher than last year but June at JB Tours has kept these to a minimum for us.

Most visits will depart from the bus stop on Hucknall Market place at 9.30 am and return from the venue at 4.00pm. The TWO EXCEPTIONS to this will be the visits to Waddesdon Manor and Gunby Hall when we will leave at 8.30 am to allow for the longer journeys.

To be fair to everyone I will accept bookings by email OR telephone one calendar month before each visit. So for Nostell Priory that will be on February 23rd and for Kedleston Hall on March 28th onwards. Cheques payable to Hucknall and District u3a can be sent to my home address at 3 Roughs Wood Lane, Hucknall, Notts.NG15 6SH.

Finally just to remind members that once you have paid for coach seats if you are subsequently unable to attend then it becomes your responsibility to sell your seat to another member. If I have a waiting list then I will of course try to help out. I look forward to a more normal set of visits this year!!!

Any queries, please contact Barrie using the form below:-

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Although the situation with Covid remains serious I have set the dates below for our National Trust visits for the period from March to October, 2022.

I will let members know the venues in February but I would like to visit places such as Kedelston Hall, Waddesdon Manor, which is owned by the Rothschild Family plus venues in Yorkshire and Warwickshire.

Dates in 2022
March – Wednesday 23rd
April – Thursday 28th
May – Tuesday 17th
June – Monday 13th
July – Wednesday 20th
August – Thursday 11th
September – Tuesday 13th
October – Monday 10th

Barrie

On Wednesday, 15th of December, 2021, a coach party of National Trust group members enjoyed an afternoon and evening visit to see the Belton House Light Trail. The weather was perfect for our visit with the sun shining as we left Hucknall Market at 2.30 pm and the rest of the day remained dry and very mild for December – even the wind stayed calm for us!!

After passing through Grantham – once described as “England’s most boring town” we arrived safely at Belton House in perfect time to start the Trail. On arrival we met up in the Courtyard at Belton House where some members took the opportunity to have a warm drink before starting on the Trail.

The Trail itself was quite amazing with glorious displays of colour centred around the buildings and the features in the grounds. There was a tunnel of white lights to pass through before we passed some beautiful displays lighting up the trees, water areas and planted areas that make up the Belton Estate. Many members took the opportunity to take photographs. While on the Trail there were further refreshment points with the chance to roast your own marsh mellows proving popular.

Once at the end of the Trail there was still time to revisit the Courtyard which included food outlets and the National Trust shop. Everyone was safely and happily back on the bus in time for our departure back to Hucknall at 7.30 pm. A big thank you goes out to our driver Paul, from JB Tours, who got us safely back in Hucknall for 8.30 pm. All the members had enjoyed what had proved to be a very pleasant visit.

The group will restart (Covid permitting ) in March 2022

Barrie