Our top 5 National Trust places to visit in the South West of England

One of our favourite Spring road trips was taking 2 weeks to explore the South West of England, through Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. We were lucky enough to have lifetime National Trust membership gifted to us from family in Christmas 2018, which we were eager to put to good use, and we set out to see as many of the sites and properties as we could! We’ve since returned to the area to re-visit our favourite National Trust properties and we enjoy learning something new on each trip. There are so many beautiful National Trust places to visit in the South West of England, but the list below includes a varied selection of must-see properties, so there’s something for everyone!

Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire

Dyrham Park spans 274 acres of gorgeous grounds, with the house and gardens dating back to the 17th century. There’s a path from the car park to the house which takes around 15 minutes to walk, but on our first visit to Dyrham we chose to attend the free, hour-long guided tour of the grounds right from the car park. We recommend timing your visit to arrive for one of these tours as you hear such a wealth of information about the park from a very knowledgable guide! Any questions we had were answered with interesting added facts about the park as we were guided on a wide, sweeping walk through the North half of the grounds. Here we managed to see some of the 185 fallow deer that roam freely, as well as spectacular views over Bristol and Bath. The tour then leads down to the main property where you’re welcome to explore the beautiful 300-year-old house or join another house-only tour there. The grounds are truly breathtaking and have such a rich history.

For two people who usually like to skip tours and go at our own pace, we were really surprised not only at how much we learned, but how interesting we found all the history! After exploring the house you can continue your walk across the sweeping grounds, or head back up the hill to the car park. A complementary shuttle bus is available for those who don’t feel like tackling the steep hill, but if you do walk you’ll have the opportunity to stop and look around to admire the gorgeous views over the house and hills behind you.

Stourhead, Wiltshire

Sprawling over 2,650 acres of beautiful gardens, at Stourhead you can discover a whole host of magical treasures, from classical-style temples and magical grottos to exotic foliage and the stunning Palladian house. You’ll need the best part of the day to explore absolutely everything – our visits always take longer than expected as we stop to take a lot of photos of the gorgeous scenery! We begin our visits to Stourhead at the house, just a 7 minute walk from the car park, where you can easily explore the house in around an hour – admiring dozens of paintings, decorative furnishings and sparkling chandeliers. From there we make our way down the gentle winding path to the lake, to begin a circular walk under the shade of cobbled archways and blooming trees with flowers in a kaleidoscope of Spring hues.

As if the picturesque lakeside views aren’t enough, there are so many quirky sights to see on this walk. The small, cobbled grotto tucked away in the tree line is the perfect excuse to slow your pace and enjoy its magical atmosphere. With only natural light from gaps in the stones illuminating the lead statues and accompanying poem inscribed into the marble floor, the grotto really takes you out of your surroundings for a moment.

In striking contrast, the Pantheon stands proudly by the water’s edge at the farthest part of the lake, and it’s a fantastic place to stop and rest, admiring the lake in full view from one side to the other. Heading back on the South side of the water, you’ll pass a traditional waterwheel before arriving at the last lakeside stop – the Temple of Apollo. While you can’t enter the Temple, its raised position provides a final stunning view over the gardens before a sloping descent back to Stourhead’s entrance. On the way out you can rest your legs at the restaurant, local pub or cafe, or browse the farm shop or National Trust gift shop for mementoes of your day.

Glastonbury Tor, Somerset

Glastonbury Tor is situated in beautiful open land on the edge of Glastonbury town, and as such doesn’t require National Trust membership to visit even though the site is owned and maintained by the Trust. The Tor is easy enough to walk to as it only takes around half an hour to reach from the centre of town, where you can park and stroll along the high street to get a glimpse of day to day Glastonbury life before beginning the walk to the Tor. Slowly the mural-covered corner shops and pubs fall away to narrow residential streets, and before long you’ll find yourself in open countryside.

Glastonbury Tor is known for being a spiritual site and, though the walk is short, the trail has a really peaceful and calming vibe. We enjoyed the pleasant walk over the fields before arriving at the hill atop which the Tor sits. This hill rises 518 feet above the surrounding flat land, which caused us to take things slower for the ascent on the unusually hot March day that we visited. That being said the climb is very gradual, which we appreciated! Once at the top by the Tor itself, you’re instantly rewarded with 360 degree views over Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Wales. We found ourselves joining the many other walkers who had chosen to simply sit on the ground and take it all in, appreciating the cool breeze and tranquil atmosphere for a while.

The descent was a lot easier on that particular hazy and sticky day, and we rounded off our visit to Glastonbury with a peruse around a plethora of spiritual and hippie-themed shops on our way back through town. There are no National Trust facilities on the site of Glastonbury Tor, so ending your walk in town is a perfect excuse to head to a local pub or cafe.

Lydford Gorge, Devon

A secluded nature reserve with a few short walks and a rocky, waterside trail, Lydford Gorge is the deepest gorge in the South West. It is home to the stunning 92-feet-high White Lady waterfall which makes it a popular spot for visitors during Summer months. For safety reasons the National Trust closes trails in bad weather, and all trails are closed from November to February apart from the short Waterfall trail, so if you’re keen to see all of the Gorge on your visit make sure you check ahead to see if the trails are open. You’ll need to wear sturdy walking shoes, as the spray from fast-flowing water at both ends of the gorge means it’s slippery in places.

We like to begin at the main entrance which is farthest from the White Lady Waterfall – though in busier times it might be advisable to begin at the waterfall entrance to appreciate it in all its glory before more people arrive! Don’t let this put you off as it is a beautiful and serene walk, with options in places to either take sets of wooden stairs or a gentler slope to descend the path to the waterfall. With only the sound of water and rustling leaves in the trees, it’s not only necessary to take it slow along the route but it makes for a much more mindful walk if you do.

As you come back to the entrance, via cute footbridges and natural stone paths, be sure to visit the gushing water at The Devil’s Cauldron which is hidden away in a cave-like part of the rocks. It’s a bit of a squeeze along the small metal walkway here so be prepared to queue on busier days. Climbing back up the path, we always round off our walk with a rest up at the Devil’s Cauldron tea room where you can enjoy the usual pasties, hot drinks and cream teas – a delicious way to read yourself for all that walking!

St. Michael’s Mount, Cornwall

Cornwall is especially excellent for visiting National Trust sites as there are so many historic landmarks in the county – during our Spring road trip we visited 9 National Trust places in Cornwall alone! We’ve definitely saved one of the best for last as St. Michael’s Mount is such an interesting place, steeped in history. Depending on the tide, the island is either accessed by a boat service or by taking a charming ten minute stroll along the causeway from Marazion beach. We like to arrive at low tide, so we can enjoy the walk along the cobbled path, admiring the Mount in the Spring sunshine as we approach.

The island has a sweet and cosy, village-like atmosphere, as it is home to a community of around 30 islanders who live in the cottages and work to maintain the gardens and grounds at St. Michael’s Mount. On our first visit, we arrived just in time for a short tour of the island and we’re SO glad we did, as we learned a great deal about the Mount and the St Aubyn family who still reside in the castle today. The island was purposely left untouched by the Nazis during WW2, as the then Nazi Foreign Minister intended to live at the Mount after the planned German conquest. Because of this, as you walk the steep path from the base of the Mount to the castle, you’ll see architecture that dates back to the 12th century, and it is magnificent.

The castle itself is like something straight out of a fairytale as it sits upon the highest point of the Mount. Take your time exploring the characterful rooms inside, as well as admiring the impressive views of the surrounding landscape from the turrets outside. Back at the bottom of the Mount there’s a sweet little shop full of local goods, as well as a café where you can buy the usual drinks, sandwiches or ice cream if the weather’s favourable! All National Trust properties and sites are beautiful in their own way, but for us St Michael’s Mount is next-level magical. If you’re looking for a modern day fantasy land, this is it! It is truly one of the most whimsical places to visit in the UK, and we recommend visiting off-season if you can as the Mount is incredibly busy in Summer.

Tips for your visits

A few tips to help you make the most of your visits:

• Download the National Trust app. The app is free and gives you an overview of every National Trust property, including facilities, opening times and current photos, so you can see which flowers are in bloom or what the house looks like in the current season. We find it easier to search on the app, where you’ll find any last minute bulletins for each property as well as any events taking place.
• Consider buying National Trust membership. If you’re looking to visit more than a few National Trust properties, it’s well worth investing in annual membership at the National Trust. The entry fee at some properties can exceed £20 per person, and if you’re heading to multiple properties this can soon add up! Check current membership prices here.
• Check the website or app for any unexpected closures. For places like Lydford Gorge, where the trails can become slippery and dangerous in inclement weather, the National Trust may choose to close these properties at short notice. Similarly, if you’re looking to visit the tidal island of St. Michael’s Mount, it’s imperative to check the tide times to ensure you’ll be able to walk across the cobbled causeway – the most magical way to arrive on the island! Save yourself any disappointment by checking theses details in advance.
• Look out for your four-legged friends. While the National Trust is mostly very dog-friendly, there are some properties where dogs are limited in where they can explore. It’s almost a certainty that you won’t be able to take dogs into any houses (with the exception of assistance dogs) but you may also find that dogs cannot enter formal gardens, and must be kept on lead throughout some parkland. Each National Trust property has a pawprint rating to let dog owners know how dog-friendly each place is, so check these details before you arrive.