Celebrate all that is great about the outdoors this summer with the National Trust and have heaps of fun discovering new surroundings and great things to do.
With hundreds of adventurous ideas, events and activities for the whole family to enjoy, the National Trust has everything you need to keep the children entertained throughout the summer holidays. From a-mazing mazes to wonderful wildlife, there will never be a dull moment this summer – even on a cloudy day.
Here’s just a selection of National Trust events and activities for a thoroughly wild and wonderful summer:
2-8 July – travel back in time!
Bodiam Castle, East Sussex
Dress to Impress, 7-8 July 11am-4pm
Transform yourself into a knight, princess, lord or jester using Bodiam’s collection of replica medieval armour and costumes. Keep an eye out for archery, siege engines and much more taking place over the summer.
Normal admission charges apply, plus an additional £2 per person.
Booking not needed, for more information please call 01580 830196.
Re-enact the past... and discover interactive ways of reliving times gone by. Visit the Victorian Past Times centre at Castle Ward, Co. Down, and find toys and costumes, or become an Anglo-Saxon at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, or an Industrial Revolution apprentice at Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire.
9-15 July – go wild with nature!
Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey
Bat Walk, 14 July 8.45pm-10.40pm
Explore the arboretum with our bat expert to see if you can track down our brilliant bats. Join our expert leader for an evening's walk in the Arboretum in search of Noctule, Daubenton's, Common and Soprano Pipistrelle bats amongst others, aided only by skill, knowledge and bat detectors.
Normal admission charges apply, plus £8 per adult and £4 per child.
Booking is essential, please call 01483 208936.
Roam free… in search of wildlife. From the mini-beasts and creepy-crawlies in the grounds of Calke Abbey, Derbyshire, to the seabirds and seals of the Farne Islands, Northumberland, there are loads of natural delights across the National Trust. See spectacular nature at Brownsea Island, Dorset or Strangford Lough, Co Down.
16-22 July – find secret places!
Godolphin, Cornwall
Bear Hunt, 22 July 11am-2pm
Bring your teddy bears and a packed lunch to a fun filled family activity day. There will be loads of activities to keep children, and teddy bears, entertained; hunt for bears in Godolphin woods and finish off with a picnic in the orchard.
Normal admission charges apply.
Booking not needed, for more information please call 01736 763194.
Play hide and seek… in the abbey ruins at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden in North Yorkshire, beside the ruined gothic chapel in grounds of Penrhyn Castle in Gwynedd, between the castle remains at Corfe Castle in Dorset or in the apple orchards at Barrington Court in Somerset.
23-29 July – explore the great outdoors!
Berrington Hall, Herefordshire
Den building, 28 July 11am-3pm
Put your outdoors survival skills to the test with bushcraft activities in the woods at Berrington. How big can you build your den?
Normal admission charges apply.
Booking not needed. for more information please call 01568 615721.
Stay outside… and go camping. From unspoilt beaches and craggy cliffs to spectacular mountain ranges and river banks teeming with wildlife, when it comes to National Trust’s pitches there can be few comparable sites. Try Great Langdale campsite in Cumbria, Hafod y Llan campsite in Gwynedd, Highertown Farm campsite in Cornwall, Upper Booth Campsite in the Peak District or for a wigwam or Mongolian yurt experience head to Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire.
30 July-5 August – be active!
Kingston Lacy, Dorset
Edwardian Sports Day, 5 August 1pm-5pm
Enjoy the sporting summer and travel back in time to enjoy an Edwardian sports afternoon. Take part in traditional races, with a shiny half-crown for winners, enjoy lashings of lemonade and relax with croquet on the lawn.
Normal admission charges apply.
Booking is essential, please call 01202 883402.
Get energetic... and go for a bike ride. Choose from a wide range of bikes to hire and enjoy a ride on any of the network of cycle paths around the park and gardens at Blickling, Norfolk. Excellent cycling days out can also be found at Ashridge Estate in Buckinghamshire, Barrington Court and Montacute House in Somerset, Box Hill in Surrey and Erddig near Wrexham.
6-12 August – hunt for treasure!
Overbeck's, Devon
Pirates at Overbeck's, 11-12 August 11am-4.30pm
Dig out a fierce pirate costume and join the Overbeck's team for a fun day of childish adventure. Hunt for buried treasure, have faces painted and listen to the storyteller's tales of pirates and shipwrecks.
Normal admission applies, plus an additional £2 per child (includes everything needed for the treasure hunt and a keepsake).
Booking is not required for this event, for more information please call 01548 842893.
Test your searching skills… get out and about in the wilderness and explore new places with geocaching. Pick up a hand held GPS and seek out the boxes hidden outdoors. Some of our great trails include Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire, Clent Hills near Birmingham and Roseberry Topping, North Yorkshire.
13-19 August – enjoy the seaside!
Brancaster Millennium Activity Centre, Norfolk
Raft Building, 15-17 August 10am-12pm
Cool off as you find your adventurous side and take to the water! Build and float your very own raft down in the creek at low tide in Brancaster Harbour. Be prepared to get wet!
£5.45 per child (ages 8-14)
Booking is advisable for this event, please call 01485 210719.
Go rockpooling… nothing beats squelching around in the rocks by the sea, looking for creatures hiding in the water. Try Wembury Beach in Devon, Birling Gap in East Sussex, Golden Cap in Dorset, Robin Hood's Bay in North Yorkshire and Worms Head near Rhossili, Swansea.
20-26 August – experience the elements!
Quarry Bank Mill and Styal Estate, Cheshire
Make a splash! 20-24 August 12pm-4pm
Find out why the River Bollin was the driving force behind Quarry Bank Mill. Experiment with water & make a paper boat at our free workshops and try our water trail. Be prepared to get extra wet in our Tuesday and Thursday activities.
Normal admission charges apply, plus 50p per trail.
Booking is not needed, for more information please call 01625 445896.
Use the wind... find an open space and run wild in the wind with a colourful kite! Find a wide open beach like Portsteward Strand, Co. Londonderry, or head to a windy hilltop – Dunstable Downs in Bedfordshire or Marsden Moor Estate, West Yorkshire, are perfect spots.
27 August – 2 September – get soaked!
Cragside, Northumberland
Splash Festival, Daily 10am-5pm
Water and the power of water was a major influence throughout Lord Armstrong's life so this summer we're celebrating water. See a beautiful installation of dancing fountains on Tumbleton Lake and get involved in a whole host of water themed events and activities. From water fights to hydraulic demonstrations - the wetter the better.
Normal admission charges apply.
Booking is not needed, for more information please call 01669 620333.
Catch the last rays of summer and get wet… by going surfing. Try Sandymouth near Bude in Cornwall – one of the cleanest beaches in the UK and a great way to avoid the crowds. Other great breaks can be found at Rhossili in South Wales, Compton Bay on the Isle of Wight, Portstewart Strand in Northern Ireland and the Llyn Peninsula, Porthoer.
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