Confession time – we cheated a little bit for this one. Given that we were staying at a lovely hotel in West Runton (near Cromer) we decided to walk to the National Trust bit, through the village, rather than drive up to the official NT car park. Therefore, rather than keep going once we had … More West Runton and Beeston Regis Heath – Norfolk

Despite the overcast day, Sheringham Park was one of my favourite visits of the week. The park is enormous at almost 1,000 acres, so it’s perfect for long walks, and the woodland is magical – filled with rhododendrons and azaleas, as well as towering trees. As you meander along the undulating path through the woods, … More Sheringham Park – Norfolk

It’s a field. In the middle of nowhere. Between a cornfield and a field of cows. But it’s another successful visit to a National Trust site! If you’re expecting anymore from Darrow Wood, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. It is literally a field with a few very old trees, and a small mound at the … More Darrow Wood – Norfolk

Dunwich Heath is an area of coastal lowland heath a little bit further down the East coast from Southwold in Suffolk. There’s nothing particularly remarkable about it – there’s a beach, some long walks through purple heathers, bright yellow gorse and green ferns, and a cafe in the old lighthouse building, but it is incredibly … More Dunwich Heath – Suffolk

Today was a big day for the AYOT blog – I made it to Sutton Hoo after about five years of trying. On all other occasions it has been shut, or being renovated, or COVID has got in the way, or we’ve just not made it. Until today. The excitement was palpable. Most people have … More Sutton Hoo – Suffolk

Under gorgeous blue September skies, my NT companion and I sat and admired the bay of the hamlet Pin Mill, books in hand. Pin Mill has to have one of my favourite lines of a Wikipedia page – ‘the expression “pin mill” means a pin factory, and also a word for a wheel with projecting … More Pin Mill – Suffolk

There’s not an enormous amount to say about Kyson Hill – it’s a hill. However, once you’ve abandoned your car in the little car park and walked on down the private road lined with luxury properties set in the forest, the classic National Trust sign appears staked in a field overlooking a river. A little … More Kyson Hill – Suffolk

If you’re driving through the Dorset countryside, you might just come across a 36-foot erect penis on the side of a hill. Despite earlier claims that the Cerne Giant was from the Saxon period, this particularly well endowed chap is actually believed to be from around 1700 (evidencing that men have been exaggerating for at … More Cerne Giant – Dorset

Understatement of the century: 2020 is not remotely going to plan. And one of the more insignificant inconveniences that comes with a global pandemic is that most of the National Trust sites have been closed for the last 4 months, somewhat buggering up my plans to surpass last year’s total of 30 properties. Nevertheless, National … More Eggardon Hill Fort – Dorset

Everyone knows the story – Isaac Newton was sat in his garden, under an apple tree, when a juicy one fell and bingo – he discovered gravity. What most people don’t seem to know is that Isaac was actually a little terror of a child who drew on the kitchen walls, spent hours locked away … More Woolsthorpe Manor – Lincolnshire