A rainy autumnal October Saturday seemed the perfect day to visit a water mill in the Derbyshire countryside, so I did. Stainsby Mill is part of the Hardwick Estate – a some 200 acres of sprawling countryside, a couple of grand houses, and this little National Trust gem. Incredibly, there has been a mill on … More Hardwick Estate: Stainsby Mill – Derbyshire

A giant pink pineapple was not on the list of buildings I expected to see during this year of trust. Nevertheless, it is currently a key feature in the gardens at Berrington Hall, designed by local artists and intended to be the pavilion from which visitors can admire the ‘pleasure gardens’ (which were designed to … More Berrington Hall – Herefordshire

Knowing today’s adventure included an actual castle, I could barely contain my excitement as a drove from Shropshire into Herefordshire. The Disney princess in me was practically bouncing in her car seat as I pulled on to the lengthy driveway, past banks of bluebells and up to a stone gate befitting of a castle. Once … More Croft Castle – Herefordshire

In typical May fashion, it was pouring with rain when I reached Wenlock Edge. With the stoic words of my mother ringing in my ears ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad planning’, I pulled on my raincoat and stubbornly checked the information board in the car park. There are three National Trust … More Wenlock Edge – Shropshire

Wilderhope Manor was always going to be the most challenging property to fit in on this trip, as it is only open for a short window on certain days – because the rest of the time the grand house is a Youth Hostel! It was a miracle that I found the place at all as … More Wilderhope Manor – Shropshire

This is probably the most pretentious thing I’ve ever said, but I have a real weakness for Tudor houses. Therefore, Benthall Hall was probably always going to be my favourite property of the day, but not only is it a beautiful building, it has some cracking stories steeped in its walls as well. The ancestors … More Benthall Hall – Shropshire

I’ll be completely honest, when I started this blog and my tour of National Trust properties, I thought there might be properties where I would think ‘oh good, another stately home full of ugly paintings and furniture I’m not allowed to sit on. Yippee’. So I’ve been pleasantly surprised that in five months, that thought … More Dudmaston Hall – Shropshire

Following a morning coffee sat on the patio steps of my Airbnb, bathed in birdsong and watching the swallows chase each other across the yard, I set off for today’s first venue – Carding Mill Valley. A haven for walkers, there are three main routes of varying lengths set out by the National Trust. As … More Carding Mill Valley and the Long Mynd – Shropshire

Everything about Attingham Park is vast. The estate – vast. The house – vast. The rooms and their grandeur – vast. The cows blocking the driveway up to the mansion – vast. The debt that the 2nd Lord Berwick amassed leading to his bankruptcy – vast. You get the gist. But seriously, the estate is … More Attingham Park – Shropshire

Sunnycroft was doing a poor job of living up to its name as I arrived this morning, but even in the fine May drizzle the walk up to the house was truly magical. Despite being just six miles West of Telford, the twisting path lined with towering giant redwood trees felt like stepping into the … More Sunnycroft – Shropshire