Bring the whole family together this Easter and enjoy the magic of National Trust Easter egg trails.
Get ready for a long weekend of fun and discovery as you spot the signs of spring, and experience nature bursting into life at the special places the National Trust looks after.
From creating wild art to waddling like a duckling the trails have been designed to tickle the senses and immerse little ones in the natural world.
And of course, each National Trust Easter adventure in nature trail ends with a chocolate egg, made here in the UK using cocoa responsibly sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms.
There are over 180 Easter trails to choose from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Most trails will take place over the bank holiday weekend, 15-18 April but please check before visiting.
Here are some of the best National Trust Easter egg trails to enjoy
©National Trust/James Dobson;
South East – Bodiam Castle, East Sussex
Easter adventures in nature trail 9–18 April
One of the most perfect moated medieval castles in the land. The towers, reflected in the water, look as they would have done 600 years ago. This is a place where you can relive your childhood memories and let your imagination run riot. As you enter under the 600-year-old portcullis, look out for the murder holes, and medieval graffiti on the sandstone walls. On the Easter trail take in the view of Bodiam Castle and the surrounding countryside as you tick off the activity list. Look or listen out for a chiffchaff among birds singing in the castle grounds and find springtime reflections in the moat.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent
Easter adventure in nature trail 2–18 April
Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson fell in love with Sissinghurst Castle and created a world renowned garden. The Easter trail runs through our estate and is crammed with fun sensory activities, from identifying creepy crawlies and listening out for the cuckoos call to sniffing out floral scents. Enjoy the views across Sissinghurst Castle Garden and the weald of Kent as you weave around the country estate, peering into the veg garden and seeing the orchard blossom. There’s also an opportunity to find out about the key conservation work which helps protect this world-famous garden.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: Sitting on the edge of Sissinghurst Castle’s gardens is Priest’s House or just a 20-minute stroll away in open countryside is 2 Bettenham Cottages (sleeps 4).
The Vyne, Hampshire
Easter adventure in nature trail 9–24 April
Set in spacious gardens on the edge of a large lake, The Vyne was once a great Tudor powerhouse visited several times by Henry VIII, with both first wife Catherine of Aragon and then second wife Anne Boleyn. The sprawling grounds and woodlands are just waiting to be explored on the Easter adventure in nature trail. Look out for the delicate pink and white blossoms in the orchard (perfect for picnics), the scented blanket of bluebells in Morgaston Woods and keep eyes peeled for young ducklings, goslings and cygnets bobbing behind their parents on the lake.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Basildon Park, Berkshire
Easter adventure in nature trail 8–25 April
Sitting elegantly in 162 hectares (400 acres) of historic parkland and gardens, this 18th-century house was purchased by Lord and Lady Iliffe in the 1950s. Cheery buttercups and daffodils cover Basildon’s parkland and swathes of bluebells transform the woodland, making Basildon a picture-perfect location for an Easter egg trail. And when you need a spot to pause there are plenty of great picnic spots to choose from in the parkland, with clearings in the trees, and benches with views to the Thames Valley.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stowe, Buckinghamshire
Easter adventure in nature trail 15–24 April
The scale and beauty of Stowe have attracted visitors for over 300 years. The gardens and park provide the ultimate backdrop for igniting imaginations. The Easter trail invites families to explore a world of lakes, magical woods, ginormous temples and twisted trees. As you play and have fun on your family adventure in nature, there’s plenty of new life to spot along the way. With lambs roaming the gardens, a new meadow of bluebells and the unusual cuckoo flower in bloom in the old orchard.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
The Needles Old Battery and New Battery, Isle of Wight
Easter adventure in nature trail 15–18 April
Sitting high above the Needles at the western tip of the Island, with bird’s-eye views of the Solent and unspoilt countryside, is the Needles Old Battery. This atmospheric Victorian fort has two huge original guns, hauled up from the sea below, an underground tunnel to explore, a signal tower tea-room, and exciting stories about the soldiers who lived here. Behind the Old Battery is acres of beautiful downland to explore.
This Easter search for signs of nature and activities to complete around the parade ground. There’s a giant blackboard to decorate with spring colours, a lighthouse bug hotel to discover, and a ‘track the bats’ challenge. Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: The Needles Headland Coastguard Cottages three individual cottages sleeping a total of 14 guests.
Polesden Lacey, Surrey
Easter adventures in nature trail, 2–18 April
A country retreat, only four miles from Dorking and junction 9 of the M25, Polesden Lacey has glorious views across the rolling Surrey Hills and acres of countryside to explore. With its amazing views over Ranmore Common and secluded walks through the Upper Sunken Garden or Preserve Copse, the pleasure ground at Polesden Lacey is a perfect place to enjoy spring. And it’s the flowers that herald the arrival of spring at Polesden with nearly 200, 000 planted creating a floral fiesta of daffodils, irises and anemones (to name but a few).
This year’s Easter trail will get families up and about exploring the colourful gardens with activities including spotting the hidden bunnies, listening out for nature’s songs and finding spring’s treasure.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: Polesden Garden Cottage (sleeps 6) sits next to the rose gardens and new for this year is Yew Tree Barn (sleeps 2) on the Polesden Lacey Estate.
Ham House, London
Easter adventures in nature trail 2–18 April
After a chilly winter the gardens of this 17th century house come to life, with sunny yellow daffodils and colourful tulips appearing from March. Celebrate the season with an Easter adventures in nature trail, following clues and exploring the sounds and colours of nature on your way. Explore the wilderness, a woodland garden, perfect for hide and seek. Or run through the mile long hornbeam hedge surrounding the garden, perfect for little ones with lots of energy. Finish your day in the Orangery café for hot drinks, lunches or snacks.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Midlands – Attingham, Shropshire
Easter adventures in nature 2–24 April (please book in advance)
From the moment you enter Attingham’s gates, the views open across 200-year old parkland to the Shropshire hills and the impressive Regency mansion emerges against silhouettes of cedar trees. Cattle graze and fallow deer roam, historic trees cluster in woodland glades, and beautiful stretches of the Severn and Tern can be enjoyed. Inspired by the Mile Walk the Easter trail will take in the sights and sounds of the historic Pleasure Grounds, from spotting colour shrubs and flowers to discovering curiously twisted hazelnut trees and meeting an English Oak planted nearly 250 years ago.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: Attingham West Lodge (sleeps 3) a neo-classical lodge at the grand entrance to Attingham Park, Smethcote Barn (sleeps 4) a converted barn or Threshing Barn (sleeps 6), a converted brick and timber barn on the Attingham Park Estate.
Belton House, Lincolnshire
Easter adventures in nature 11–19 April (please book in advance)
Generations of the Brownlow family made their mark on Belton, commissioning the finest designers and craftsmen of their age to shape the estate we see today.
Today, Belton welcomes new generations to explore the ancient deer park, picnic in the pleasure grounds, or burn off energy in the National Trust’s largest outdoor adventure playground. Surround yourself with the sights and smells of spring as you explore Belton’s gardens on the Easter trail.
Enjoy the scent of the confetti like blossom in the Dutch Gardens, look up for swooping swallows and listen out for pollinators in the beds. Complete your adventure with a swing by the outdoor adventure playground.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: No.1 Belton (sleeps 6) a pretty, detached cottage in Belton village, with the whole of the majestic Belton estate on your doorstep waiting to be explored.
Hardwick, Derbyshire
Easter adventure in nature trail 9-24 April
Winding its way through parkland scattered with ancient oaks, Hardwick’s drive offers glimpses of the famous house, with its golden stonework, turrets, and sparkling glass. While the Estate surrounding the Hall, covers around 2,000 acres of stunning parkland, woodland, and farmland. This Easter, the adventures in nature trail will encourage families to be a hedge detective and find out what creatures are living in the undergrowth. Count bumblebees as you explore the parkland, or maybe you’ll spot the colours of Spring in our woodland.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: Rowthorne Lodge (sleeps 2), a restored gate lodge for two or stay in the estate’s Brewhouse in one of two large cottages in Hardwick Hall Stable Yard (sleeps 17 in across the two cottages).
Shugborough Estate, Staffordshire
Easter adventure in nature trail, 8-24 April
A rich blend of landscape, monuments, gardens and architecture, shaped by exploration and global encounters, Shugborough was once described as ‘a perfect paradise’. Explore sweeping parkland, ancient woodland and a landscape peppered with monuments. See seasonal blooms in the formal gardens or produce in the walled garden. On the Easter trail activities include, playing pooh sticks, jumping and twitching like a rabbit, as well as gambolling like the resident new-born lambs.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: 1 Lichfield Lodge (sleeps 2) and 2 Lichfield Lodge (sleeps 2) are a pair of lodges on the boundary of Shugborough’s 900-acre estate.
East of England
East of England – Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire
Easter adventure in nature trail, 2–18 April
With 2,500 acres of gently rolling countryside west of Cambridge the gardens and parkland surrounding Wimpole Hall offer plenty of room for family adventure. The formal gardens include a walled garden with flower borders and orchard that’s home to 300 blossoming fruit trees. There are also miles of footpaths around the Capability Brown-designed parks, as well as woodland, picturesque folly and chain of lakes. Take to the Easter trail and discover different parts of the gardens and parkland, completing nature inspired activities along the way. Families will enjoy spotting the 85 different varieties of daffodils as well as watching the new born lambs from Wimpole Home Farm skip and play.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Blickling Estate, Norfolk
Easter adventure in nature trail 2–19 April
Blickling’s breathtaking Jacobean mansion and ancient yew hedges sit at the heart of a magnificent garden and historic park in the beautiful Bure meadows. Feed your imagination and go on a wildlife adventure this Easter. Explore the garden with its beautiful displays of daffodils and notice the bluebells coming to life across the estate. Cycle-hire is also open every day and from balance to e-bikes, it’s a perfect way for you to explore some hidden parts of the parkland while keeping active.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: Nine varied holiday properties to choose from, from the Georgian Itteringham Manor (sleeps 8) to Blickling Tower (sleeps 4).
Sheringham Park, Norfolk
Easter adventure in nature trail 2–19 April
Wander through Sheringham Park and you’ll discover why it became the personal favourite of its 19th century designer, Humphry Repton. Today, you can spend a day here exploring 1000 acres of varying habitat including woodland, parkland and cliff top. The undulating Easter trail will take you into the wilder areas of Sheringham Park. Birdsong and maybe the call of a soaring buzzard will accompany your search for clues amongst the towering trees on this approximately 1 ½ mile route.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: Sheringham Wood Farm (sleeps 4) a detached house with an enclosed garden on the edge of Sheringham Park. 1, 2, 3 and 4 Cart Lodge Barn, barn conversions on the edge of Sheringham Park, sleeping between 2 and 6 people.
Dunwich Heath and Beach, Suffolk
Easter adventure in nature trail, 15–18 April
Tucked away on the Suffolk coast, Dunwich Heath offers you peace and quiet and a true sense of being at one with nature. A rare and precious habitat, the Heath is home to special species such as the Dartford warbler, nightjar, woodlark, ant-lion, adders and much more. This Easter families can get closer to some of these species on the nature inspired Easter trail.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: Bridge Farm Cottage (sleeps 4) or stay within one of the three apartments at the Coastguard Cottages (Stonechat (sleeps 2), Nightjar (sleeps 2), Woodlark (sleeps 4)).
Ickworth, Suffolk
Easter adventure in nature trail, 9–24 April
Ickworth is an Italianate Palace in the heart of an ancient deer park. Formal gardens, pleasure grounds, rolling Suffolk landscape and woodlands invite gentle strolls or long walks, runs, bike rides and picnics. The Italianate Garden with its pink magnolias mirrors the architecture of the house, whilst also encasing a magical Victorian stumpery, contrasting light and shade as well as a secret dragon. This spring get closer to Ickworth’s nature and explore the wildlife, colours and smells across the estate on the Easter adventure in nature trail.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: Ickworth Keeper’s Cottage (sleeps 6), Carpenter’s Cottage (sleeps 4), Ickworth Gardens House (sleeps 6), The Round House (sleeps 6) and Horringer Park Gates (sleeps 4).
©National Trust/James Dobson
South West – Tyntesfield, North Somerset
Easter adventure in nature trail 9–24 April
An ornate Victorian Gothic Revival house just a stone’s throw from Bristol (and just off junction 19 of the M5) with extensive gardens and parkland, Tyntesfield is the perfect destination for a spring day out, especially with the additional Easter activities. Making a grass trumpet, being a bugs’ eyes and hopping like a rabbit are just some of the different experiences you could enjoy. And for bluebell fans the Tynings walk is great place to spot them.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: On the edge of the Tyntesfield estate, Chaplain’s House (sleeps 6), Chaplain’s Lodge (sleeps 5) and on the edge of Tyntesfield’s woodland Summerhouse Cottage (sleeps 2).
Dyrham Park, South Gloucestershire
Easter adventure in nature trail 9–18 April
Dyrham Park was created in the 17th century by civil servant William Blathwayt. The 270-acre (110 hectare) ancient steep and sloping parkland is full of magnificent trees, breathtaking views towards Bristol and beyond and plenty of wide-open space for young explorers to run free and be in nature. This year’s Easter trail includes 10 different activities designed to get the whole family inspired by nature, from spotting pops of colourful tulips in the garden to peering into the cascades and ponds for frog and toad spawn.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Buckland Abbey, Devon
Easter adventure in nature trail 9–24 April
When you visit Buckland Abbey, you follow over 700 years of footsteps; from the Cistercian monks who built the Abbey and farmed the estate, to seafarers Grenville and Drake who changed the shape of the house and the fate of the country. Outside meadows, orchards and woodlands are just waiting to be explored, with the Easter trail taking place through the kitchen garden, Elizabethan garden and orchard, with 10 fun nature themed activities along the way.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: Cider Cottage (sleeps 4), tucked away on the Buckland Abbey estate with its own private garden and a bright interior.
Stourhead, Wiltshire
Easter adventure in nature trail 9–24 April
When Stourhead first opened in the 1740s, a magazine described it as ‘a living work of art’. The world-famous landscape garden has at its centrepiece a magnificent lake reflecting classical temples, mystical grottoes, rare trees, spectacular rhododendrons and offers a day of fresh air and discovery. This Easter set out on a springtime adventure around the pretty borders of the Top Garden, there are 10 points along the trail, with an activity at each.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: 89 Church Lawn (sleeps 7), Sitting at the entrance to Stourhead, this secluded cottage has a world-famous garden on the doorstep.
Cotehele, Cornwall
Easter adventure in nature trail 2–24 April
Cotehele was the ancestral home to the Edgcumbe family for centuries. The Tudor house, perched high above the River Tamar, is decorated with tapestries, arms and armour, pewter, brass and old oak furniture. Outside, explore the formally planted terraces, or lose yourself in the Valley Garden, which includes a medieval stewpond and dovecote and leads down to the river.
In the 19th-century local industries boomed and Cotehele Quay bustled with vessels loading and unloading cargo.The Easter trail will take families through the garden, where a riot colour and scent will greet them. Not to be missed are Cotehele’s famous daffodils which flower through until May and include over 200 different varieties.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: There are six different holiday cottages at Cotehele and each has its own character. Two are at the house, one is on the quay and three others are scattered in the woods.
©National Trust/ Trevor Ray Hart
Wales – Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire
Easter adventure in nature trail 9–18 April
Dinefwr is an iconic place in the history of Wales. Two forts are evidence of a dominant Roman presence. The powerful Lord Rhys held court at Dinefwr and influenced decisions in Wales. Standing proudly at the heart of the estate is Newton House, a family home for over three hundred years to the descendants of Lord Rhys, the powerful Prince of the Welsh Kingdom of the Deheubarth. The visionaries, George and Cecil Rice designed the 18th-century landscape, which is protected as a parkland National Nature Reserve.
The Easter trail is 1.3km long across the Dinefwr Estate. Wind through woodland paths, where ancient oak trees are in bud, and through the deer park that’s home to Fallow deer. Keep eyes peeled for the bluebell display on Rookery Ridge, while bluebells are usually at their best in May, we’ve had such a mild winter they could appear much sooner.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: Home Farm Farmhouse (sleeps 12),Penparc (sleeps 8) orCariad Cottage (sleeps 2).
Dolaucothi Gold Mines, Carmarthenshire
Easter adventure in nature trail 13–17 April
Pull on your boots and discover the UK’s only known Roman Gold Mine. Hidden in these wooded hillsides is evidence of Roman gold mining dating back over 2,000 years. On pre-booked guided tours expert guides unveil the secrets of Roman mining ending with the chance to try some gold panning. The Easter egg trail will wind through the mine yard and woodlands, rewarding families with expansive views across the Cothi Valley.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Erddig, Wrexham
Easter adventure in nature trail 11–24 April
Sitting on a dramatic escarpment above the winding Clywedog river, Erddig tells the 250-year story of a gentry family’s relationship with its servants.
A large collection of servants’ portraits and carefully preserved rooms capture their lives in the early 20th century, while upstairs is a treasure trove of fine furniture, textiles and wallpapers. Outdoors lies a fully restored 18th-century garden and the 486-hectare (1,200-acre) landscape pleasure park, designed by William Emes.
It’s the beautiful 13.5 acres of walled gardens which host the Easter egg trail this year. Awash with spring colour, pathways will lead families to fruit trees in blossom and past the buzzing of bees as they come out of hibernation.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Plas yn Rhiw, Gwynedd
Easter adventure in nature trail 13–24 April
Standing on a hillside overlooking Cardigan Bay, Plas yn Rhiw is a beautiful 16th-century manor house with Georgian additions. The garden is an enchanted maze of grass paths and benches amongst flowering trees and shrubs, with beds framed by box-hedges. Inspired the wildlife that call Plas yn Rhiw home the Easter trail encourages families to explore the garden, woodland and orchard. Look out for common spotted orchids in the orchard, bluebells in the upper woodland and primroses by the mill pond – a sight to behold.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: Bwthyn yr Ardd (sleeps 4) is a former gardener’s cottage, adjoining Plas yn Rhiw or Pant Rhiw (sleeps 4) is a 19th-century cottage that enjoys breath taking views across Hell’s Mouth Bay.
Plas Newydd House and Garden, Anglesey
Easter adventure in nature trail 15–18 April
Set on the shores of the Menai Strait amidst breathtakingly beautiful scenery, this elegant house was redesigned by James Wyatt in the 18th-century.
The 1930s restyled interior is famous for its Rex Whistler association and contains his exquisite romantic mural and the largest exhibition of his works. The Grade-I-listed gardens include the Italianate Terrace, Rhododendron Garden, Australasian Arboretum and extensive woodland (also home to an adventure playground, treehouse and Frisbee golf).
This year, the Easter trail takes you on an adventure in nature, with a series of 10 activities suitable for all ages, located along the easily accessible route through the garden at Plas Newydd.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: Porthdy Wiwer Goch (sleeps 5), a quirky, period cottage on the Plas Newydd Estate.
Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion
Easter adventure in nature trail 15–18 April
Llanerchaeron is an 18th-century gentry estate designed and built by architect John Nash. The estate is centred around a historic farmyard which is home to some of the best Welsh artefacts of farming technology, as well as animals such as Llanwenog sheep and rare Welsh pigs. Explore the grand Georgian Villa and the beautiful redbrick walled garden, which is packed full of home grown produce.
Stroll around the peaceful lake which is brimming with wildlife. In spring, daffodils decorate the garden with swathes of sunshine, fragrant with pink and white apple blossom and beautiful birdsong fills the air.
Get even closer to nature with the Easter trail, which takes you around the lake, through the garden and into the farmyard.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: John Nash designed Llanerchaeron, for the Lewis family and Abermydyr (sleeps 6) was built for their coachman. Pontbrenmydyr (sleeps 2) sits on the edge of the Llanerchaeron parkland.
Tredegar House, Newport
Easter adventure in nature trail 11–18 April
Tredegar House is one of the architectural wonders of Wales and one of the most significant late 17th-century houses in the whole of the British Isles. Situated within 90 acres of beautiful gardens and parkland, this delightful red brick house provides an ideal setting for a spring day out. Vibrant colours are filling the borders, the scent of flowers and blossom is in the air, and birdsong can be heard across the grounds. Complete the adventure in nature Easter trail and get even closer to the wildlife that calls Tredegar home.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
©National Trust Images/Chris Lacey
North – Beningbrough Hall, Gallery and Gardens, North Yorkshire
Easter adventure in nature trail 9–24 April
Surrounded by parkland, with riverside and woodland walks on all sides, the view of the hall as you turn on to the long drive evokes images of an intriguing past. The gardens are experiencing a renaissance; new planting schemes and garden rooms, designed by award-winning designer Andy Sturgeon, enhance the herbaceous borders, walled and American gardens.
The nature-themed Easter trail takes place in the kitchen garden, with activities focused around the 90 fruit trees and wildlife that call it home. Families will also enjoy the wilderness play area with its den zone, swings for all ages and a new smaller clamber stack for smaller legs to test their climbing skills.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: The Victorian Laundry (sleeps 4) only 45 yards from the historic Beningbrough Hall.
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire
Easter adventure in nature trail 2–18 April
The ruins of Fountains Abbey are truly something to behold. Walk down the path from the visitor centre and come face to face with some of the oldest abbey ruins in the country.
From the abbey follow the gentle banks of the river Skell down to the 18th-century water garden, which has been channelled into canals, cascades and tranquil moon ponds, filled with frog and toad spawn in spring. From here riverside paths lead to the deer park, home to red, fallow and sika deer and ancient trees; limes, oaks, and sweet chestnuts.
Pick up an Easter adventure trail and follow the map around the estate to complete activities during your visit– from spring flowers blooming and boxing brown hares to deer appearing in the park, there’s plenty to spot.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay:
Cragside, Northumberland
Easter adventure in nature trail 9–24 April
Experience Britain’s original smart home. Illuminated by hydro-electricity and powered by hydraulics, this pioneering home was filled with Victorian gadgets for efficient modern living.
Man-made lakes, tumbling waterfalls and swathes of rhododendron combine to form the surrounding fantasy mountain landscape imagined and engineered by inventor and arms manufacturer Lord Armstrong and his wife Lady Margaret.
The gardens and grounds of this Arts and Crafts house offer 1,000 acres and 14 waymarked routes to explore. Jump into spring at Cragside on the Easter adventure trail. Walk – or hop – around Tumbleton Lake searching for the activity markers as you explore. Have a go at shaking like a squirrel, see what you can find underneath shrubs and rocks, or lie back on the ground and cloud watch. What can you see?
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Souter Lighthouse, Tyne and Wear
Easter adventure in nature trail 15–18 April
Hooped in red and white and standing proud on the coastline midway between the Tyne and the Wear, Souter Lighthouse is reached by car in less than half an hour from Newcastle, and less than 15 minutes from Sunderland. Once the site of a busy mining community, these cliffs are now home instead to the solitary lighthouse and a whole host of wildlife, including seabird colonies and wildflowers.
This Easter enjoy a trail by the sea, full of inspiring nature adventures. Use your senses as you explore the coast, discovering 10 fun activities to do as you go.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage 1 (sleeps 4) and 2 (sleeps 4) are a pair of cosy, white-washed seafront houses at end of the iconic red and white, Souter Lighthouse.
Quarry Bank, Cheshire
Easter adventure in nature trail 2–18 April
The early Industrial Revolution changed our world forever. At Quarry Bank you can discover a complete industrial community and experience the very different worlds of owner and worker, who lived and worked here side by side. Throughout the Easter holidays families can explore the picturesque riverside gardens which twist and turn down to the valley bottom with the special Easter adventure in nature trail.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Dunham Massey, Cheshire
Easter adventure in nature trail 2–24 April
Less than an hour after boarding a train at Manchester Piccadilly station, you can be transported to the green oasis of Dunham Massey. With its beautiful ancient trees, bubbling waterways and croquet lawn Dunham Massey represents a quick and total escape from city life. Spring wildlife is the theme for the Easter trail, listen out for the song of the returning migratory birds, spot fallow deer with just one antler (as they ‘cast’ off their old ones) and spot colourful butterflies in the meadows throughout the winter garden.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Northern Ireland – Castle Ward, County Down
Easter adventure in nature trail 8–19 April
Strolling through this 820-acre walled demesne takes you along trails that wind their way through atmospheric woodland (famous for its spring bluebell displays), parkland and gardens, offering impressive views over Strangford Lough and the surrounding countryside.
The quirky 18th-century house, designed as a combination of two completely different styles: gothic on one facade and Palladian on the other and farmyard that doubled up as Game of Thrones’ Winterfell add to the charm of the grounds.
The Easter trail celebrates the arrival of spring with nods to the new birds visiting the shore and the arrival of cheery spring blooms.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: The Potter’s Cottage (sleeps 4), sits on the historic farmyard of Castle Ward, which provided the backdrop for Winterfell in the first series of Game of Thrones. Castle Ward Caravan Park includes 10 camping pitches as well as pods to stay in. Castle Ward Bunkhouse a 14-sleeper bunkhouse.
Florence Court, Co Fermanagh
Easter adventure in nature trail, 15– 22 April
This 18th-century house and gardens are surrounded by thick woodland, with Benaughlin mountain rising in the background. Miles of walking paths and cycling trails wind through the forest to reveal industrial heritage features such as a water-powered sawmill and a blacksmith’s forge. Take to the Easter adventure trail and listen out for the chorus of birds, from resident robins, blackbirds, thrushes and wrens to visiting chiffchaffs and blackcaps.
Mobility scooter available to hire in advance
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Stay: Butler’s Apartment (sleeps 4) 18th-century apartment sits in the laundry yard in the south wing of Florence Court.
Rowallane Garden, County Down
Easter adventure in nature trail 15– April
Carved from the County Down landscape, Rowallane has grown from 19th-century beginnings and remains a place where you can leave the outside world behind and immerse yourself in nature’s beauty. A mix of formal and informal spaces with many unusual vistas and unique plants from across the world. Rowallane Garden is home to a range of fascinating creatures. Take to the Easter trail and look out for frogs and birds, a range of pollinators and insects that call this special place home.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
Mount Stewart, County Down
Easter adventure in nature trail 13–24 April
Mount Stewart is one of Northern Ireland’s most celebrated gardens, a world class garden much loved for its originality and unrivalled collections of plants. A place of the imagination, the Formal Garden around the house is themed using plants from all round the world. While the Pleasure Ground surrounding the Lake is a semi natural woodland garden containing many rare plants which thrive in the mild climate of the Ards Peninsula.
The Easter trail will celebrate the arrival of spring, with opportunities to sniff out Allium ursinum also know as Wild Garlic, and the chance to check out the variety of southern migratory birds, including swallows, singing blackcap and chiffchaff.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
The Argory, County Armagh
Easter adventure in nature trail 11–24 April
The Argory was built in the 1820s and its hillside location enjoys peaceful views of the River Blackwater, running wild through its woods deep in the green County Armagh countryside. Even toddlers can get on board in the play area with its huge jungle climbing frame, low ropes challenge, balancing logs, rope swings and a cool zip wire leading from the play area all the way out into the woodland. On the Easter trail take in the colour spring blooms, from blue trailing wisteria to speckled foxgloves and listen out for the low-hum of buzzing pollinators.
Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate Rainforest Alliance Easter egg
To discover your nearest National Trust Easter adventure in nature trail, visit: nationaltrust.org.uk/easter.
If you enjoyed Easter egg trails at National Trust venues offer memorable nature adventure for all, you’ll find more walks for all the family on our Outdoor Leisure channel.
Images: ©National Trust; James Dobson; Trevor Ray Hart; Chris Lacey.
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