Favourite National Trust place

[Sparklyring]

We're travelling from the North East to Cornwall stopping at various places on the way to and fro. We have NT passes so would like to use them. Would love recommendations please. TIA

Lanhydrock House! It's near Bodmin. I love the nurseries there. The nanny's room resonates with me because I am one myself.

Calke Abbey, Hanbury Hall is a smaller one but close to motorway, Croome (takes quite a while to get up to house, allow time!) new one on us Newark Park, bit off beaten track but lovely views! Tyntesfield (you don't have to book as pp said, but I guess it depends on the day you are travelling) Killerton /Knightshayles depending on your route!

Used all of these as short stops on longer journeys. You don't get to see everything but so much nicer than the services!! We always plan journey to visit somewhere (unless traffic plays havoc with the schedule!)

Croome is our local and I use the parkland loads for dog walks! It's very unspoiled and lovely for wandering round the gardens.

My favourite is Fountains Abbey. Wouldn’t mind having my ashes sprinkled there

Stourhead is my absolute fav.

Killerton and tyntesfield fab too!

Stourhead for the gardens.
My most visited NT property. It's just off the A303 in Wiltshire (close to Somerset border).

Knightshayes just off the North Devon link road is lovely, about 5 miles from M5.

Quarry Bank Mill is lovely. It’s about 45 mins from me and we go a lot.

I was going to say llanhydrock in Cornwall too

Another vote for Stourhead.
I have just got back from there , went with mil and the dog .
I usually go twice a week as it's very local to me so I can walk from home and dogs are allowed in after 4 plus it's free in the evenings.

Croome and Hanbury are both local to me and are worth visiting for sure. Went to Dunster Castle (Somerset) last week and really enjoyed our visit.

My favourite place to date has to be Mottisfont (Hampshire) so much to see and do. We have been lucky enough to visit when art exhibitions from Julia Donaldson and Judith Kerr books were on which the kids loved.

We really enjoyed Finch foundry, near okehampton in Devon. Definitely worth staying for the demonstration when they get the water mill working and all the old tool making equipment, really fascinating. And lovely surroundings, as it's in Dartmoor.

For pure romance, Sudeley Castle in the Cotswolds. The white garden is a dream. The ruined abbey also. It’s like time stood still there.

I second snowshill manor.
If you can pass that way, Tredegar House in Newport is good.

Coleton Fishacre.

Woolsthorpe Manor, home of Isaac Newton. You can see the apple orchard, his doodles etc. Nice little science play area for children. Excellent scones.
Belton House has fabulous play equipment. We spent hours there.

You don't have to book for Tyntesfield any more, entrance ticket gives you a time to go in the house

Killerton just off the m5 north of exeter, not huge but very beautiful. Stourhead in Somerset is also stunning but a bit further from your route.

I love Castle Drogo - I went through a phase of liking 1930s architecture (well - I still do) and it was designed by Lutyens, so it is fairly modern as castles go. It has an interesting history though. The gardens are lovely too.

We've stopped there on the way from the NE to Cornwall as well many times - great way to break up the journey and definitely better than the services!

Knightshayes and Lanhydrock are lovely as well.

It depends what days you're travelling and how old the family is, so check opening hours, but:

• Tyntesfield (mentioned, near Bristol) is nice; can get very busy
• Knightshayes is lovely and big (Devon)
• Lanhydrock (gorgeous, gorgeous gardens) - I see a few people have mentioned this one

If you don't mind a little bit of a drive from the motorway (under 10 minutes), then Clevedon seafront is not a bad place to stop and stretch your legs usually a lot quieter than Weston-super-Mare, where I live. There is a small NT property, Clevedon Court, in the town, but you really do need to check the opening days & times for that one.

I'd suggest Brean Down or Sand Bay as well but I think they might be a bit more of a drive from the motorway than you'd want on such a long journey. (Yes, I have done it, several times. ;)

I don't know if the Gardeners' World 2 adults, pay for 1 ticket is still available but that has masses of gorgeous gardens down this way.

And my favourite place to stop on the way down to Cornwall is the Orange Elephant at Taverners Farm at Kennford - again, a little bit of a drive from the motorway but not too long a nice stop and they do really lovely ice creams and coffees (only open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays though).

Oh, and there is also the farm shop at Gloucester Services now - not quite as good as Tebay and a bit more expensive, but a good half way option.

@PrivateIsles

I think it's still shut isn't it? They closed it to the public years ago while it underwent restoration. I don't know that it's reopened yet.

Fountains Abbey and Nostell Priory near Wakefield.

Toss up between cragside and fountains Abbey.

Furry I wondered that as well, but I looked at the website and the picture shows it half covered in scaffolding! - but it says it's open (although perhaps not the whole house?).

I hope so as we are going to Cornwall this summer so it would be nice to stop there again.

Once in Cornwall :-
Lanhydrock
Trerice
Trelissick
Glendurgan
Loads of NT beaches etc