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8 literary National Trust properties and a Family Pass giveaway

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Children in the garden at Hill Top, Near Sawrey, Lake District. ©National Trust Images:Paul Harris

Children in the garden at Hill Top, Near Sawrey, Lake District. ©National Trust Images:Paul Harris

The National Trust looks after hundreds of properties throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland, preserving them for all of us to enjoy. If you’re looking for inspiration for a family day out, check out the National Trust website. The charity cares for everything from historic houses, castles and villages to forests, gardens and beaches, and offers many activities for families, particularly during the school holidays.

The National Trust have given me four Family Admission Passes to give away to Mums do travel readers. As this is Visit England’s Year of Literary Heroes, and many of the National Trust’s properties have literary connections, I’ve picked out eight great National Trust places for you to visit for a family day out with a bookish twist.

Hill Top

Hill Top is in the Lake District and is author Beatrix Potter’s former cottage. Beatrix Potter used the royalties which she earned from her Peter Rabbit story to buy Hill Top, and the garden layout reflects Peter’s famous adventures with Mr McGregor. Tom Kitten, Samuel Whiskers and Jemima Puddleduck were all written at Hill Top.

Bateman’s

Bateman’s is a Jacobean house in East Sussex, in the South of England, and was home to writer Rudyard Kipling. Kipling’s works include The Jungle Book and Just So Stories, and he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907.

Bateman's, the Jacobean house that was the home of Rudyard Kipling from 1902 to 1936, set in its garden in the countryside at Burwash, East Sussex ©National Trust Images:John Miller

Bateman’s, the Jacobean house that was the home of Rudyard Kipling from 1902 to 1936, set in its garden in the countryside at Burwash, East Sussex ©National Trust Images:John Miller

Coniston Water

Arthur Ransome took inspiration from Coniston Water for his book Swallows and Amazons. The Lake District location was used for filming for the 2016 adaptation of the book.

Knole

Knole House in Sevenoaks, Kent, was used as a film location for Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, released in 2011. The Stone Court at Knole became the courtyard of a Swiss castle in the film following the famous detective in pursuit of Professor Moriarty.

Antony House

Antony House in Cornwall is a beautiful Queen Anne building, with sweeping landscaped gardens. It is the home of the Carew Pole family and was used as a film location for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, released in 2010.

Lavenham Guildhall

Lavenham Guldhall in Suffolk is a timber-framed Tudor building, and it was used as Harry Potter’s derelict childhood home in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, which was released in 2010.

Lavenham Guildhall. Copyright Jane Gosling :National Trust

Lavenham Guildhall. Copyright Jane Gosling :National Trust

Brownsea Island

Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, Dorset, was Enid Blyton’s inspiration for Whispering Island which features in her Famous Five books.

The Vyne

The history of The Vyne, Hampshire, starts with royal Tudor beginnings – its chapel was once visited by Henry VIII. Its gardens and woodlands are great to explore, and one of its exhibits is a solid-gold ring dating from the fourth or fifth century which is said to have inspired J. R. R. Tolkein’s ring in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books.

Close view of a gold ring at The Vyne, Basingstoke, Hampshire ©National Trust Images:David Levenson

Close view of a gold ring at The Vyne, Basingstoke, Hampshire ©National Trust Images:David Levenson

National Trust Family Admission Pass

A National Trust Family Admission Pass gives you, two children and one other, one free entry to any National Trust place during normal opening times – except for certain properties which are listed on the pass. The passes are valid until 31st December, 2017, and the National Trust has sent me four of them to give away.

How to enter

If you’d like to enter to win a National Trust Family Admission Pass, this is what you need to do.

  1. In the comments section below, tell me which of the places (either from the list above or from the National Trust website) you’d most like to visit.
  2. Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below.
  3. The closing date for entry is Monday 15th May, 2017.
  4. That’s it – good luck!

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Comments

  5. Would love to visit Hill Top but a long way from me so locally Woolsthorpe Manor is a great family day out.

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  6. I’ve always wanted to go to the Lake district so visiting there and especially Hill Top would satisfy both my Adult and childhood urges ..BTW Jemima Puddleduck is my favourite character always

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  18. Quarry Bank Mill in Styal, Cheshire. I went last year for my birthday and I loved it. Would love to go back and do the nature walks too

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  25. Brownsea Island looks incredible, to be honest they all look amazing and Id love to go to them all!! What a decent prize!

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  27. I would go to Sudbury Hall in Staffordshire – museum of childhood. show my Children the old style toys etc, et they wouldn’t believe it!

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  32. I would love to visit Dunstanburgh castle, looked it up and omg it looks beautiful. Fab prize Xx

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  38. craigside in Northumberland, been a couple of times before but always something new to see there, the gardens are amazing and the dog loves it to

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  39. I’ve always wanted to visit Killerton House and Gardens which isn’t too far away from me, just never had the time or money for a visit really so i’d love to win

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  40. I visited quite a few of the stately homes in and around Cornwall when I was a child but haven’t ever visited St. Michaels Mount so would like to go there. This would also be a really useful prize for all the parking in national trust car parks at certain beaches we visit. Great prize, thanks for the chance to win.

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  41. I’d like to visit Speke Hall with my Daughter as I remember visiting when I was a child.

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  46. I would love to visit Scotney Castle as it looks so beautiful.Of course it is one of place which I would love to visit as we recently moved to Kent and it is amazing beautiful place to explore!

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  47. We would love to visit Anthony House amongst so many other amazing National Trust properties. We have a 3 year old and a 1 year old so we need somewhere for the children to use their energy up! We are hoping to take them to Cornwall this summer hence my choice – Anthony House. It would be brilliant to win this amazing prize to help keeping our little ones entertained this summer and autumn. ?

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  53. Brimham Rocks, we have holidayed near there loads and always say we will go but we’ve never got round to it. Family members have been and love it so I would take my children there

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  54. I would love to visit the Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire – the house and grounds look fantastic!

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  56. Speke Hall is a beautiful place to visit, I have taken my kids many times. I would love to visit Lacock Abbey and see where they filmed some of the Harry Potter scenes.

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  57. As a military family of 7 moving around the UK we would absolutely love to win this wonderful prize ? my 3 year old and I would love to see where Beatrix Potter spent her time relaxing in the idyllic countryside in between writing. Thank you x

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  58. As a military family of 7 we are always moving around the country and the National Trust Family admission would be an absolute wonderful prize to our family ? As avid readers and lovers of history there are so many places to visit. My 3 year old would love to visit the hilltop where we could enjoy the idyllic countryside where Beatrix Potter drew inspiration for her writings. Thank you xx

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  61. Stowe Landscape Gardens. It is such a beautiful place and I would love to share it with my family.

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  63. Lyme Park- I’ve always wanted to go since watching the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice! It looks beautiful!

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  68. I’d like to go to Bateman’s – it’s only up the road so I don’t really have any excuse not to have gone!

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  76. I have always wanted to go to Hill Top – I love the Lake District and Beatrix Potter has always been my ‘go to’ writer (along with Enid Blyton) for bedtime stories!

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  79. Fantastic prize thank you! From your list it would have to be Lavenham Guildhall, we are huge Potter fans in this house. However I would love to go visit Winchester city mill. It’s a working 18th century corn mill and is fascinating!

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  84. Wellington Monument, right by our house and we go so often, it’s a beautiful wooden walk.

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  89. Brownsea Island. We were near there on holiday last summer but somehow didn’t get around to seeing it. It’s top of the list for next time we’re in Dorset!

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  93. Well there re just so many to pick from! But I do like the idea of visiting Calke Abbey.

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  95. I would love to go to Hill Top. I have been before, many years ago so I am due a re-visit. I love the Lake district and never tire of its beauty.

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  100. As a massive Harry Potter fan i would like to go to Lavenham Guildhall, but you would never be short of somewhere beautiful to go to with a National Trust membership.

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  105. I would love to go to the lake district and visit Hill Top, see where the famous Beatrix Potter wrote her stories. I would take the family and we would go on the Beatrix Potter trail

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  113. I’d love to visit Brownsea Island 🙂 I went there once as a child and I remember it was amazing but I don’t remember it – if that makes sense! So I’d love to go back

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  114. Chartwell looks amazing! Love the kids getting to these places, happy childhood memories are made.

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  115. Stourhead. My mum used to work in the Estates office when she was first married. She talks often about how much she enjoyed having her lunch breaks in the gardens. I’ve never been but of love to go there with her.

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  119. I want to say all of them as they all offer something great.
    However, I will go for Hill Top in the Lake District. We love the Lake District and this would be a great opportunity to visit again.

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  124. I’m a Harry Potter fan, so Lavenham Guldhall sounds like a great start. I’d probably also look into properties close to where I live.

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  128. Wimpoke Hall would love to take the grandkids love NT houses sweeping around wondering the tales behind every room and all the lives they have seen.

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  133. I have a subscription to national trust. Would love to win this so I can give it to my dad so they could come with us. We love all the houses. Knowle is next on our list

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  134. Croft Castle & Parkland Nr Leominster, Herefordshire. I love stately homes & castles & this combines both!

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  137. I’d love to visit Coniston Water, despite having visited the Lakes a number of times it’s a place I’ve never visited

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  146. For me it would have to be the Pineapple gardens in The Walled Garden in Scotland looks beautiful

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  148. I’d like to say I’d go somewhere new, but I’d really like to take my family back down to Cornwall where I grew up and visit Antony House. It’s where I had my school leavers prom! Ray x

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  149. Avebury Manor & Gardens would be lovely as we all watched it being restored on the television, but would love to see it in real life! ?

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  154. I’d love to visit West Wycombe Park – Dashwood House and Grounds. We visited the West Wycombe Caves recently and saw West Wycombe Park on the way. Would love to go back and visit it.

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  158. Moseley Old Hall – being from this area we all grew up learning about Kind Charles being hidden locally I’d love to go here and see it and I understand they have great activities for the children all year round (and a tea room for me of course!)

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  163. I would love to visit Hill Top and Coniston Water. As a child, we used to spend a week in the Lake District visiting these places 🙂

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  165. Brownsea island. We’ve done corfe castle and kingston lacy recently. I’d love to see the red squirrels and peacocks there and as my boys are in Scouts and beavers, would be a perfect day to show them where it started

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  176. We’d like to visit Cragside near Rothbury in Northumberland. A journey through time to see the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity.

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  177. I would love to take my Granddaughter to Hill Top in the Lake district they are avid Beatrix Potter fans love all her books and we are collecting the 50p Beatrix Potter coins its somewhere i have never been and would love to take them 🙂

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  183. I love Fell Foot park, its a brilliant day out with the family, we would definitely go more often with a pass

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  184. Bateman’s – although there’s a fair few I’d love to visit and some already ticked off the list

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  194. I love visiting the Lake District but we have yet to make it down to Ambleside so I would love to make that our next destination xx

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  198. I’d like visit Fountains Abby – because we went there once, in the summer and it was really lovely and the kids really enjoyed it. Plus, they got to learn a little bit about history. We love the National Trust! Lovely prize, thank you!

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  209. It has to be Hill Top.
    Childhood memories that I’m slowly passing onto our little boy. He’s of an age now where he’s understanding and showing interest in things, so Hill Top would be a perfect stop on a Lake District visit along with the museum.

    Caroline.

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  210. would love to go to Highclere Castle this would be amazing what a brilliant day out this would be and memory to keep

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  211. I’d love to follow to the Vyne. Not only is it relatively close to me but I would love to see that ring (huge fan of the books as a kid!)

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  219. Oh there are so many I would love to go to some for a repeat visit and some new ones! I am planning a visit to the Lake District so Hill Top and Coniston Water are on the list

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  227. Coughton Court in Alcester would be a favourite venue to visit, wonderful house and beautifu grounds makes it an easy place to explore and spend a day.

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  232. I’d like to visit Clumber Park, it’s not too far away from where I live but we’re yet to make it over there

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  235. alfriston monk’s house (i think that’s what it’s called!) it was the first property the trust acquired and is near me

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  241. Sutton hoo,its right on our doorstep but there is a charge just to go in the car park.Its such a shame as I know I would use the shop regularly for gifts.

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  242. We’d love to visit ‘Hill Top’ – Beatrix Potter’s former dwelling in the beautiful Lake District…it’s just such an inspiring part of the country.

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  255. We’re going to Suffolk later this year so it’d be great to visit Lavenham Guildhall, I do love anything Harry Potter.

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  261. Scotney, Bodium and Sissinghurst are all on my list, I’d love to go back to Ightham aswell though. I’m such a history geek though I’d be happy at any of them!

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  263. Wallington Hall! The kids love the tree climbing tree and all the parks, especially the one with the train. We haven’t been for ages and would love to go again!

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  267. Hilltop House
    I never got to do it when I went to the Lake district. Really feel like I missed out.

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  277. I’d love to visit Rudyard Kipiling’s house and Chartwell – which I used to pass driving to work every day !!
    Great comp Gretta – thanks xx

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  285. I’d love to visit Calke Abbey, which has fascinated me ever since it was discovered virtually untouched in the 1980s.

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  287. We are hoping to go to the Lake District in the summer hols, so Hill Top & Coniston Water are top of my list.

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  293. I would like to visit Hill Top – always wanted to visit Beatrix Potter’s former cottage looks lovely

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  297. I’ve always wanted to visit Sudbury Hall, but it’s a bit of a drive and we’ve just never got around to it. I think my daughters would love it! 🙂

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  307. We’re taking our children to The Lake District for the first time this year and we’d love to see Hill Top and learn more about Beatrix Potter.

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  315. I’ve been to National Trust properties 100s of miles away, including some in Northern Ireland, but I’ve never been to The Vyne, even though it’s only 30 minutes away from my home! So that’s my pick!

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  325. I’d love to take my children back to Sudbury Hall (Childhood Museum). We went a few years ago and they really enjoyed it. It was wonderful to see all the ‘old’ toys we used to play with and be able to show them to our own children.

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  331. What a lovely competition. I’ve been to some of these. But every year we go to the Lake District and I would love to take my daughters to make better use of Coniston Water and also to see Hilltop again with an excuse to talk about the amazing work the National Trust has done in protecting the most wonderful houses and landscapes in the UK. Nicola
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    Reply

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This is a personal blog written and edited by me, Gretta Schifano. Sometimes I’m given products or sent on trips to review, but I always make this clear and give my honest opinion. See my About page for full details.