Walking & Cycling Guide

with up to the minute information about the weather forecasts and specific advice on climbing Ben Nevis and guides for local walks

with displays showing the development from a Norman fortification to an Elizabethan country house, a working tidal mill and family picnic areas

build dens in the woods, cook your own food at one of our campfires, play on the rope swings or use our free pond dipping kits and games for the meadow

the largest inhabited castle in Scotland with a fine collection of artefacts and recently restored tapestries. The Victorian gardens boast outstanding herbaceous borders. The modern tapestry garden and fruit cage add a contemporary slant to the garden

herbaceous borders, over 80 heritage pear and apple trees, over 100 varieties of snowdrops, display of antique garden equipment, children's garden and a garden trail for younger visitors. Truly, something for everyone

designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, who was also responsible for Portmeirion Village, and made up of a series of 'rooms' with a mixture of yew and box privet forming the architecture of the garden, with a centuries old Holme Oak taking centre stage

the stunning Welsh Wildlife Centre stands within the Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve on the banks of the River Teifi

rescuing and conserving historic buildings, teaching traditional trades and crafts to ensure their preservation and sharing the untold stories of rural life

a delightful sheltered garden, with a partially restored watermill, renowned for its herbs and orchards, growing old English fruit varieties, and planted with over 250 medicinal and culinary herbs

ancestral home of the Spencer family since the sixteenth century with a fine collection of antiques. Diana, Princess of Wales was laid to rest here

Suffolk's largest reservoir offers a whole host of activities. Sailing, Windsurfing, fishing, walking & cycling are the most popular. Camping is also offered

covering over 2,500 hectares with Balmacara Square and Plockton the two main villages with excellent walks and cycle trails

a wealth of architectural history, with buildings dating from the 14C and a superb 30-acre garden famed for its rhododendrons and unique quarry garden

displaying exhibitions of contemporary and historic art in the spacious Saloon Galleries. The gardens are experiencing a renaissance with new planting schemes, enhancing the herbaceous borders

collection of thatched buildings - date back more than 200 years - set in a valley that reaches down to the sea - working forge & mill - see the blacksmith in action - enjoy a traditional cream tea in the Old Bakery - explore the woodland or beach

little changed since completion in 1583 - wide variety of paintings - tapestries - porcelain - 17th century needlework - rare James I carpet - period furniture - tea barn

14 acres of gardens - herbaceous borders - rose garden - rockery - cottage garden

18th century town house, bought in 1901 by E A Hornel, the renowned artist. He added an art gallery and a studio overlooking the fascinating garden with Japanese influences

peaceful island with diverse wildlife, including the famous red squirrels and with spectacular views across the harbour

all visits include a guided tour of the House and Garden. Many interesting mature trees and shrubs. The Poison Garden is unique containing over 110 poisonous plants, including ricin and hemlock, intrigues and fascinates the visitors

open, coastal landscape and wide skies are full of the sights and sounds of nature – and very little else. Bring your own picnics

Mentioned in Shakespeare's Macbeth, although he couldn't have lived here. Sumptuous 18th and 19th Century interiors and many objets d'art and extensive gardens

with breathtaking views from the battlements and much of the connecting walls intact, the circuit walk is well worth the effort

the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity crammed full of ingenious gadgets – most of them still working and with one of the largest rock gardens in Europe

a secret, wartime airbase now a museum and visitor centre, restored parkland great for walking and with the 18th Century mansion at its centre

famed for the Dewstow Grottoes which lay hidden for half a century, now fully restored and surrounded by beautifully landscaped paths, decorative beds, artificial waterfalls and man made pools

the principle rooms include a superb drawing room, a great library, the Duke's study, bedrooms and kitchens, surrounded by extensive gardens

the brilliance of this garden is that it works as one body, despite comprising distinct areas. All generously planted and interspersed with architectural and sculptural features making a beautiful and inspiring visit

the striking great lawn with its picturesque canal can be seen in all its glory from the upstairs of the House. Extensive Edwardian gardens with a stunning collection of intimate garden rooms. Children's play area

boasting a collection of blackwork embroidery and decorated, plaster ceilings with intimate gardens, duck pond and bird hide

with many art treasures including paintings by Gainsborough and Constable. The gardens have recently been lavishly restored with a number of specimen plants with interesting walkways lacing the gardens

offering unrivalled close ups of thousands of puffins, Arctic terns and guillemots (May to July) and seal pups in the autumn. Charges apply including members

a classic lat 18th Century mansion with political, wall paintings by Sir Jame Thornhill and extensive, relaxed gardens and parkland

famous for its Grade l listed gardens set within a 400 acre deer park surrounding the moated Tudor Hall. Enchanting herbaceous borders within the walled kitchen garden, also a rose and knot, herb and wild gardens with rare and beautiful plants

started in 1922 with 63 acres to explore including a magnificent Magnolia Walk, bluebell woods, with peonies and roses in the summer months. A chain of 7 lakes has been surrounded with rare trees and shrubs

producing the famous Westmorland Green Slate, which has been extracted for centuries and offering a wealth of adventure experiences

perfectly preserved, medieval, moated manor with a deep sense of history, with tranquil gardens where the streams and lakes are fed by natural springs

an historic park in the heart of suburban Newcastle. It is a peaceful haven for residents, visitors and wildlife alike

Kielder Castle is the visitor centre for Britain's biggest forest with over 250 square miles to explore with exhibitions about forestry and conservation

home of the Hart Dykes since the 15th Century, the historic mansion boasts a great hall, grand staircase and library. The gardens have recently been updated to include thousands of rare, unusual and beautiful plants from around the world

step into this 125 acre oasis with peaceful tree lined riverside paths, picnic spots, a wetland boardwalk, and open air theatre and cinema in the summer months

a lovely 18th Century house with an unusual drawing room pained by Rex Whistler, a permanent 20th Century art collection and magnificent gardens

plantsman's paradise containing over 2.400 different choice varieties of herbaceous perennials arranged into areas with different growing conditions to provide inspiration to gardeners whatever their soil and aspect

with a world class collection of furniture, textiles and wallpaper and priceless paintings inside and room to explore outside - including cycle trails -

a welcoming house on the River Rye including a collection of high quality, miniature rooms and touring art exhibitions throughout the year

Pembrokeshire’s finest stately home. Forty acres of some of the most beautiful woodland gardens and grounds in West Wales

world famous garden with Italianate terraces and fine statuary. With period paintings, furniture and tapestries in the castle, including a beautiful collection of Indian treasures

the park is packed with activities, from cycle trails to an adventure playground - fun for all ages

breathtaking scenery and beautiful wildlife for all its visitors. There are a variety of different wildlife habitats and nature trails

set around Rudyard Lake, this narrow gauge railway runs throughout the year. The Lake is a family centre for picnics, sailing, boating, walking and fishing

a fine regency hall surrounded by parkland designed by Capability Brown and will modern gardens designed by the renowned Dutch plantsman Piet Oudolf.. Alive with clever contrasts and colour throughout the seasons

the ancestral home of Patrick Lichfield, the fashion photographer, a glamorous estate mansion with sweeping parkland and a natural play area for children

set on a rocky outcrop, one man's realisation of an Arts and Crafts vision within a family home surrounded by 4 acres of lovely gardens

peaceful and secluded with a winding path down to a lake and small waterfall. Autumn is a particularly time to visit with spectacular colouring and a magnificent view looking back up from the other side of the lake

designed by Sir Roy Strong and his late wife, stretching over 4 acres, these innovative gardens reflect their interest in the arts and weaves the story of their marriage and lives into them. Picnics are welcome

a vision of a world where we understand, value, use, enjoy and sustain plant life to create a balance of life on earth

built as a family home, the garden and estate balance faded beauty and function with an abundance of nature; celebrated in ornate Gothic carvings

the house, home of the quirky Museum of Curiosities, is surrounded by an informal landscape of lawns, lakes, woodland, parkland and farmland

lose yourself along the 200ft long herbaceous border, formal knot and rose garden, waterlily canal or riverside walk. Has a wide range of year round events, including arts and crafts and gardening courses

where the lush valleys of East Lyn and Hoar Oak Water meet giving a haven for wildlife and offering excellent walking

internationally important wetland site, with up to 40,000 ducks, geese and swans visiting each year with five hides on the site for watching the wide range of wildlife that visit the reservoir

rare and exotic plants from world-wide locations with a mixture of formal and informal gardens with world famous camellias and magnolias

offering a range of activities and attractions. A petting farmyard, a range of craft shops, children's playground and a train ride round the site

Tudor house and gardens, privately owned for 500 years, with connections to Thomas Hardy and formal Elizabethan gardens

185 acres of extensive conifer woods and moorland with forest walks and viewpoints including a summit of 266m above sea leavel

enjoy magnificent views, woodland walks, and open heathland. Discover the rhododendron labyrinth and the many unique wooden sculptures. Children’s play area with a hazel maze and log train in the Natural Play Area

this popular beauty spot is set within an ancient valley with numerous walking trails to the falls & through the woodland - indoor & woodland theatre - petting zoo - reptile house - events & activities - picnic area

a handsome Georgian mansion with a fine collection of antiques and objets d'art, including the Charles Paget Wade Costume Collection

this beautiful stately home houses a vast collection of antiquities, chapel, library, sculpture gallery, laboratory, costumes, adventure playground & beautiful woodland gardens

a sensational survivor of ‘the wildwood’ that once covered much of Britain, where post-glacial melt waters have carved out some spectacular limestone cliffs and gorges

home of the Lucy family for over 900 years and reputedly where Shakespeare was caught poaching, it is filled with treasures collected from around the world

walk through the peaceful grounds to the Walled Kitchen Garden where you can experience sights, scents and a taste of the past

set in classical parkland landscaped by Capability Brown, now with an adventure playground, this period mansion is also a world class art gallery

7 hectare park with mountain views across Windermere, wild play area and multiple activities on and off the lake for all ages and abilities

this charming hamlet was the inspiration for many of Constable's paintings, famously 'The Hay Wain' and 'Flatford Mill'

a fine 18th Century Manor House with unrivalled art collections surrounded by formal and woodland gardens and children's adventure playground

a 4.5 mile walk round will encounter, fulmars, guillemots, numerous puffins and great skuas

beautifully preserved railway with Victorian and Edwardian steam engines. There is also a children's playground and woodland walks

set in over 6000 acres of woodland, a welcoming Georgian house, holding the National Trust's largest fashion collection with interactive displays

the Gothic Revival house is surrounded by gardens which are a masterpiece of architectural planting, home to one of the most outstanding botanical collections in the country

an imposing ruin overlooking the river Taf dating back to Norman times

azalea, rhododendron and flowering shrub gardens with picnic spots in the deer park. Also a Roman temple site with museum and a museum geared at New Zealand

the inspiration of the talented Messel family with Rose Garden with many old fashioned, scented blooms and elegant, yet comfortable house

set in a picturesque location surrounded by a deer park with family heirlooms in the castle and extensive grounds to explore

grand and tranquil historic house with an impressive ionic temple, a woodland play area and outdoor games for children. Picnics welcome

lived in by the same family since the fourteenth century with armour and portraits of the family down the centuries and extensive gardens and parklands. Picnics permitted

set around beautiful Rutland Water and covering 4,200 acres of open countryside, the park offers everything from walking and cycling to fishing and water sports

a magnificent Georgian house which has been a family home for nearly 300 years with extensive grounds with year round interest

with a nature trail and waterfalls, which is illuminated during the summer evenings, this gorge has been a popular visitor attraction for over 200 years

predating Stonehenge and the pyramids of Giza, Northern Europe's best preserved prehistoric village, with an excellent reconstruction to give the site more meaning

this trail links a series of footpaths along the quieter southern side of Loch Ness and can be done on foot, bike or horseback

an oasis of peace and tranquility within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Comprising of 35 acres set in a wooded valley of ancient oak and ash, with traditional herbaceous borders, walled kitchen garden and rose garden

medieval Manor House which was the ancestral home of George Washington, with a tranquil garden and a 'nuttery' - a haven for wildlife

Whinlatter is home to stunning views, fantastic walks, exhilarating mountain biking, rare wildlife and adventure play

one of the finest gardens in Wales with on site educational programmes and extensive, abundant gardens

enjoy a walk through this beautiful setting with free wine tastings and staff willing to answer questions.

creating the story of the rainforest, this exotic wildlife park has many unusual and rare animals. Conservation is the driving force behind the zoo, participating in breeding programmes and public education

surrounded by a beautiful landscaped deer park, this elegant country house has had its fortunes rise and fall; this is still visible in the building today

created by Geoff Hamilton of BBC's Gardeners' World programme with beautiful, individually landscaped gardens set in 8 acres

lauded as "Britain's most beautiful waterway", the canal runs through unspoilt countryside in the heart of North Hampshire. The Visitor Centre provides a history exhibition & information point

providing on site information about the canal and sightseeing trips on the historic working boat during the warmer months

with something for everyone and boasting an outstanding collection of conifers, this large pinetum is a beautiful setting for family picnics

beautiful grounds surround this 18C house which is home to a wonderful collection of clocks, paintings & much family memorabilia

overlooking the Vale of Belvoir, this castle holds numerous art works, tapestries & sculptures. Also enjoy the Statue Gardens built into the hillside

the South East's largest lake which offers activities all year round from water sports in summer to interactive exhibitions in winter

a wide variety of birds in wonderful surroundings. Discover the Forest Lodge Garden Centre and children's farm

site of the Battle of Bosworth between Richard III and Henry Tudor in 1485 with many interactive exhibits explaining this significant battle

850 acres of natural parkland surrounding the ruins of Bradgate house, home of Lady Jane Grey, the 9 day Queen of England. Also featuring extensive wildlife

medieval manor house - still a family home - set in riverside meadows & woodland - unspoilt & relaxing -

visit these beautiful gardens featuring a raised lily pool leading into a walled garden

admire the panoramic vista across the water and the wide variety of wildlife from the Wildlife Centre reached by a boardwalk

ancient and peaceful, this tranquil Tudor manor house is far from today's busy lifestyle and is surrounded by rare terraced gardens

Chartwell in Kent was the family home of Sir Winston Churchill. Surrounded by gardens and lakes, it preserves his personal belongings, paintings, and study, offering insight into the life of Britain’s wartime leader.

surrounded by 1500 acres of ancient woodland, this historic castle has had many ups and downs. Rescued in the 1920s, it is now full of the Croft family memorabilia

a vast expanse of peat bog with a mosaic of small pools and lochans, the area is internationally important for its wildlife

Hampstead Heath is a vast green expanse in North London with woodlands, meadows, and ponds. It offers panoramic views from Parliament Hill, natural swimming spots, and rich wildlife, making it a perfect escape from the city bustle.

an elegant Palladian stately home, with a magnificent walled garden, extensive parkland with cycle routes and children's play areas

set across 11 acres, the visitor can discover the incredible world of Anglo-Saxon Northumbria and the extraordinary life of Bede - the father of English history with plenty of interactive displays and a rare breed farm with rescued animals

moated, Tudor manor with fine furniture and paintings, surrounded by period gardens and offering a variety of hands on Education Days for children

discover surprisingly cosy homes carved into the rock. Walk across Kinver Edge, buzzing with wildlife. Quirky tea room inside a rock house

a fine Elizabethan house with oak panelling, ornate plasterwork and period furniture, surrounded by magnificent 17th century topiary

this stately home spans the centuries with a colourful history and reputed ghost. There is also a Hawk & Owl Centre with a wide range of birds

set alongside the ruins of Armadale Castle, detailing the Clan Donald history and local history with extensive gardens and children's play area

wildlife park with a wide range of animals from all over the world. Daily talks and displays. Large children's play area

spanning some 450 acres, and home of the legendary Robin Hood, the forest offers something for everyone of all ages and abilities

taking small groups (4-6 people) into the wilderness of Skye to reveal its most dramatic landscapes, rewarding views, and its diverse wildlife

first lighthouse to be powered by electricity with a real flavour of a working lighthouse, surrounded by wildflower meadows and great wildlife viewing

cliff-nesting seabird colony, with 3 viewing points giving superb views of the colony and on a clear day the Isle of Man is visible

best known for its spectacular springtime daffodils, also has colourful, summer herbaceous beds and a striking autumnal, heather garden

dating back to the twelfth century, these romantic ruins evoke earlier monastic times which came to an abrupt end during the Reformation

stunning Hebridean nature reserve with sweeping sandy beaches, a rocky foreshore, wild marshes and sculpted sand dunes

beautiful landscaped area surrounding an impressive collection of 66 owls from around the world. Visit the creepy crawlies & flying displays

situated on Nottingham's urban fringe this 450 acre park is made up of pleasant grassland & secluded woods with many beautiful mill lakes and many picnic spots throughout

Neolithic burial tomb and stone circle about 5000 years old with a way marked circular path with specatular views

built out of a former quarry over the last 25 years, visited by thousands of visitors a year. From ferns, shrubs, perennials and grasses to The National Collection of Centaurea. There is plenty to inspire gardeners and visitors alike

natural landscape - dramatic clifftop with far-reaching views - levelled circular walking trails - breathtaking coastal landscape - hotel & inn nearby

Cape Wrath Trail and the Kirk Yetholm trail are the two best known, but the options for walks and alternate pathways are numerous

an important breeding ground for dulling, redshank, greylag goos and corncrake with a self guided 5 mile walk through the reserve

once an important and wealthy monastery and part of the Benedictine order who were renowned for their tradition of hospitality

11 acres if gardens landscaped by Capability Brown. The history of the ruined 18th Century house is depicted in the Gate House Museum

the house dates back to the early fifteenth century and has had many refurbishments down the centuries, the museum portrays the history of the local fenland and the spacious gardens include an eighteenth century ice house

surrounded by 30 acres of parkland and home to over 1000 animals including penguins, leopards, fur seals, tigers and zebras

remains of an ancient Iron Age village in a scenic setting which was inhabited for some for 500 years