Wild Creatures Hide & Seek Spotter Trail (October Half Term)
24 Oct–1 Nov
Explore the grounds at Barrington Court on a spotter trail to find fifteen wild creatures hidden around the estate.
Somerset
Somerset is a historic and scenic county in South West England, known for its heritage cities, natural landscapes, and cultural festivals like Glastonbury.
Near Barrington Court
Barrington Court is a Tudor manor house in Somerset, combining historic architecture with Arts and Crafts-style gardens originally designed by Gertrude Jekyll. Visitors can explore the historic house, converted stable buildings, and extensive ornamental gardens including a kitchen garden supplying the onsite restaurant.
Guided garden walks
8–9 Oct, 12–14 Oct…
Volunteer guides lead tours of Dyrham Park’s garden, highlighting seasonal blooms, its history and upcoming projects.
Near Dyrham Park
Dyrham Park is a Grade I listed baroque country house and extensive parkland in Gloucestershire, England, featuring historic interiors with Dutch art, 274 acres of gardens, an orangery, and a stable block now a tea room. It offers public access with events and has been a filming location for notable productions.
Make a rustic stool or coffee table (sorry, sold out)
21–22 Nov
In this two-day woodworking course, participants use hand tools and a pole lathe to make a rustic three- or four-legged stool or coffee table to take home. The course is for people over 16.
Near Tyntesfield
Tyntesfield is a Victorian Gothic Revival house surrounded by 540 acres of estate including woodland, gardens, and play areas, offering both indoor and outdoor experiences. Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the house, explore walking trails, dine at cafés and a restaurant, shop for gifts, and bring dogs on leads to designated areas. Accessibility features include a mobility shuttle, accessible routes, and wheelchair provision.
UPDATED: Remarkable Rangers: Apple Harvest Weekends
10–11 Oct (this weekend)
Visitors can join the Ranger team to collect apples from Barrington Court’s orchards, which contain more than 100 varieties. The harvest activity takes place across the first two weekends of October.
Piano Recital: An Evening with Janusz Piotrowicz de Jagiellon
22 Jan
An evening piano recital by Janusz Piotrowicz de Jagiellon, featuring expressive music performed on the Bluthner Grand Piano in Dunster Castle’s Inner Hall.
Near Yarn Market, Dunster
The Yarn Market in Dunster, Somerset, is a historic Grade I listed octagonal building from the early 17th century, originally built to support the local wool and cloth trade, featuring a unique central pier with timber roofing and marked by Civil War history.
Garden Yogis at Prior Park
10 Oct (this Saturday)
An outdoor yoga class held beside the lake and bridge at Prior Park Landscape Garden. Attendees should bring a yoga mat and blanket if they have them.
Near Prior Park Landscape Garden
Prior Park Landscape Garden is a historically significant English landscape garden near Bath, designed by Alexander Pope and Capability Brown, featuring iconic structures like a Palladian bridge and Gothic temple, set in a steep valley with lakes and restored grounds open to the public.
Ghost Tours 2026
28 Oct, 31 Oct
An after-dark guided tour through Dunster Castle’s reportedly haunted spaces, featuring stories of ghostly sightings, tragedy and mysterious happenings.
Near Dunster Castle and Watermill
Dunster Castle and Watermill in Somerset offer a rich experience combining a historic castle, working Victorian watermill, beautiful gardens, and scenic parkland with panoramic views. Visitors can explore the castle interiors, gardens with diverse plants, enjoy family-friendly activities, and visit cafés and shops on site.
A Nutcracker Christmas at Stourhead
28 Nov–23 Dec
Stourhead’s house is decorated for Christmas as an immersive retelling of The Nutcracker, with themed rooms following Clara’s journey and featuring festive displays and Tchaikovsky’s music.
Forage and cook course
25 Oct
A day-long foraging course at Stourhead covering the identification, harvesting, preparation and cooking of wild foods. Participants learn practical skills from a professional forager and can taste prepared wild-food samples.
Near Stourhead
Stourhead is a historic estate in Wiltshire featuring a Grade I listed Neo-Palladian house, an acclaimed 18th-century English landscape garden with classical temples, an artificial lake, and significant art collections, managed by the National Trust.
Outdoor Live Music: The Hunting Horns of Le Lion d'Angers
23 Oct
The Hunting Horns of Le Lion d'Angers perform traditional French hunting-horn music, including classical fanfares and contemporary compositions, on Green Court at Dunster Castle.
Near Dunster Butter Cross
The Butter Cross in Dunster is a historic 15th-century market cross, a Grade II* listed building and scheduled ancient monument, managed by English Heritage and the National Trust, offering visitors a glimpse into medieval market traditions in Somerset.
Doggy Drop In - Family Session with the RSPCA
28 Oct
A family-friendly drop-in session at Fyne Court where visitors can meet the RSPCA outreach team, learn about dog welfare and local walks, and enjoy craft activities. Visitors are welcome to bring their dogs, which must be kept on leads.
Near Fyne Court
Fyne Court is a National Trust nature reserve and visitor centre in Somerset, featuring historic estate grounds with woodland, ponds, meadows, and remnants of a 19th-century country house. Visitors can explore outdoor natural habitats as well as indoor visitor facilities including a café and shop.
Mummers' play at Dyrham Park
3 Jan
Holt Morris performs a traditional English mummers' play at Dyrham Park, featuring a comic battle between St George and the Dark Knight, musical interludes and appearances by traditional characters.
Near Dyrham Park
Dyrham Park is a 17th century stately home with a fine baroque house, extensive ancient parkland, and beautifully maintained gardens featuring formal borders and a wildflower orchard. Visitors can explore the house's history and art collections, enjoy walking trails through the parkland, relax in the tea-room and café, and take part in family-friendly activities including a playground and guided walks.
Wellbeing walks
8 Oct, 13 Oct…
These gentle, volunteer-led wellbeing walks at Stourhead cover 1.5–2 miles and take about two hours. Walkers can enjoy the surroundings, meet others and connect with nature.
October half-term crafts
22 Oct–1 Nov
Visitors can take part in drop-in, volunteer-led autumn craft activities in the Stableyard during October half-term.
3 miles from Alfred's Tower
Alfred's Tower is a 49-meter high folly tower located in Somerset, England, commemorating King Alfred the Great and historic events from the 9th century. It features a viewing platform accessible by spiral staircase and offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The tower is part of the National Trust and stands on the historic Stourhead Estate.
The Nutcracker at Prior Park
28–29 Nov, 5–6 Dec…
Visitors can follow a trail through the lower garden at Prior Park, where scenes from The Nutcracker are brought to life around the lakes and Palladian bridge. The event is presented as a festive experience for children and adults.
Near Bath Skyline
Bath Skyline offers extensive outdoor walking trails including a 6-mile circular walk with scenic views, an Iron Age hillfort, natural play areas, and diverse wildlife in limestone meadows and woodlands, all accessible free of charge.
Family Trail: Motte & Bailey Investigate the Case of the Cursed Castle
17 Oct–1 Nov
A Halloween-themed family trail at Dunster Castle, where participants follow clues and complete challenges to solve the mystery of the cursed castle servants. The trail includes a prize for solving the mystery.
Near Dunster Castle
Dunster Castle is a historic motte and bailey castle and 17th-century manor house in Somerset, featuring medieval gates, Victorian Gothic remodeling, and extensive gardens including a National Plant Collection. It offers both indoor and outdoor experiences as a National Trust property.
Christmas choirs and music groups at Dyrham Park
21–22 Nov, 28–29 Nov…
Local choirs and music groups perform Christmas music in St Peter’s church at Dyrham Park on selected weekends in the run-up to Christmas.
Exhibition: Journeys - Asafo flags from the Karun Thakar collection at Dyrham Park
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
An exhibition at Dyrham Park presents Asafo flags from Karun Thakar’s collection, exploring textile craftsmanship, West African traditions and the global connections and colonial histories reflected in the house.
3 miles from Hamswell House
Hamswell House is a historic 16th-century house offering exclusive marquee weddings surrounded by 50 acres of gardens and private land with panoramic valley views, featuring wheelchair access and outdoor as well as indoor spaces.
Chapel concert: The Harlequin Singers
6 Dec
The Bristol-based Harlequin Singers perform a festive matinee concert in Tyntesfield’s chapel, as part of a series of chapel concerts.
Near Tyntesfield
Tyntesfield is a richly detailed Victorian Gothic Revival country house and estate near Wraxall, North Somerset, England. A Grade I listed building, it offers visitors grand interiors, extensive gardens, a historic chapel, and a working farm visitor centre with activities for children. Owned and managed by the National Trust, it hosts tours of the house and grounds, a café, and various heritage exhibits.
A Nutcracker Christmas at Stourhead: The Mouse King’s mischievous mice
28 Nov 2026–3 Jan 2027
A Nutcracker-inspired Christmas trail around Stourhead’s lake, where families can search for nine escaped mice, identify the treats they have taken and solve a secret code.
Drawn to Trees: Tree Zodiac exhibition
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
An outdoor exhibition of thirteen etchings by Luke Adam Hawker, inspired by an ancient Celtic zodiac that associates each lunar month with a tree or plant. Visitors can view the artworks and reflect on their stories and connections to the natural world.
3 miles from Bradley House
Bradley House is a traditional estate and family home of the Dukes of Somerset for over 300 years, featuring a stone house and ancient church in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, open to visitors by appointment only.
October half term at Prior Park
24 Oct–1 Nov
Children can search for creepy sights dotted around the lower garden at Prior Park and play lawn games, including a marble run.
2 miles from American Museum & Gardens
The American Museum & Gardens in Bath features expansive, historic Grade II-listed gardens with themed areas including the New American Garden and Mount Vernon Garden, offering visitors scenic outdoor experiences, children's play, refreshments, and ecological gardening focus.
Remarkable Rangers: Ranger Danger (October Half Term)
27 Oct
Children can join the Ranger team in the Cricket Pitch woods to learn woodcraft and practise making a fire without matches, then toast marshmallows.
Walks & Talks tours
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Join a volunteer-led walk along the historic route taken by the Hoare family and their guests, and hear about the history of Stourhead and its landscape garden. Tours last approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.
Lantern Lecture: People of Colour in Bath from the Georgian period to the Ethiopian Royal family
9 Oct
Dr Tim Manningmore gives a talk exploring the history of People of Colour in Bath, from the Georgian period to the Ethiopian Royal family’s move to Fairfield House.
An exhibition: The World in Bath - Georgian People of Colour at Bath Central Library
7–10 Oct, 12–17 Oct…
An exhibition at Bath Central Library exploring the lives and histories of people of colour who lived, worked and visited Georgian Bath. Visitors can view portraits and objects connected with people uncovered through the exhibition’s research.
Christmas unwrapped at Dyrham Park
20 Nov–23 Dec, 26 Dec 2026–3 Jan 2027
A festive seasonal celebration at Dyrham Park featuring Christmas displays inspired by the historic house and its collections, alongside a garden poetry trail, a children’s trail, choir performances and craft workshops. A wassail is scheduled for 2 January.
2 miles from Solsbury Hill
Little Solsbury Hill is an Iron Age hillfort located in Somerset, offering panoramic views over Bath and the Avon River. The site features archaeological remains including stone ramparts and medieval field systems, situated within the scenic Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and managed by the National Trust.
Autumn Book Fair
17 Oct (next Saturday)
Fyne Court’s Autumn Book Fair offers a selection of second-hand books and information about National Trust volunteering. Families can also take part in free paper crafts, including making bookmarks and paper pumpkins.
2 miles from Halswell Park
Halswell Park is a Grade I-listed Elizabethan and Baroque house set within historic 18th-century parkland with temples and lakes. Visitors can explore restored state rooms and join behind-the-scenes tours of the full restoration project. The site offers both indoor exploration of the house and outdoor enjoyment of the gardens and water features, with refreshments available on the roof overlooking scenic views.
Indoor Theatre: 'A Christmas Carol', one-man performance by Toby Burchell
15 Dec
A candlelit one-man performance of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, presented by Behind the Door Productions in Dunster Castle’s Inner Hall. The production tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his encounters with the ghosts of Christmas.
Near Dunster Working Watermill
Dunster Working Watermill is a restored 18th century watermill in Dunster, Somerset, featuring working overshot wheels to grind organic flour, set within the grounds of Dunster Castle. Visitors can explore the historic mill machinery indoors and enjoy the surrounding outdoor area including the castle grounds and a cafe.
Christmas Market at Lytes Cary Manor
14–15 Nov
A Christmas market featuring products made by neighbouring artists, held in the historic barns and courtyard areas at Lytes Cary Manor. Visitors can browse the stalls for gifts.
Near Lytes Cary
Lytes Cary is a Grade I listed historic manor house in Somerset dating from the 14th century, featuring a chapel, Great Hall with period furnishings, and extensive Arts and Crafts style gardens listed as Grade II. The National Trust owns the property and offers public access to the older parts of the house and the distinctive gardens set in themed 'rooms' with hedges, ponds, and an orchard.
Wassail celebration at Dyrham Park
2 Jan
A wassail celebration to bless Dyrham Park’s pear trees for a good harvest in 2026. Visitors can make wassail sticks, hear traditional music and join a procession around the garden.
3 miles from Sir Bevil Grenville's Monument
Sir Bevil Grenville's Monument is an 18th-century historic monument located on Lansdown Hill near Bath, commemorating the Royalist commander Sir Bevil Grenville, who was mortally wounded in the 1643 Battle of Lansdowne during the English Civil War. The outdoor monument stands 25 feet tall, featuring inscriptions and heraldic symbols, and is a protected Grade II* listed and scheduled ancient monument.
Chapel concerts: The Fitzhardinge Consort
19 Dec
The Fitzhardinge Consort performs Christmas songs from across the ages in a concert at Tyntesfield’s chapel, featuring audience favourites and less familiar pieces.
Autumn harvest display
24 Oct–15 Nov
An annual autumn display in Tyntesfield’s Orangery features pumpkins, squashes and gourds grown in the Kitchen Garden.
Near Noah's Ark Zoo Farm
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm in Wraxall, Somerset is a 100-acre zoo and working farm featuring the largest elephant facility in northern Europe, a diverse collection of animals including African and Asian species, extensive outdoor exhibits, indoor play and educational areas, a long hedge maze, and active conservation programmes. It offers food services and family-friendly activities in a mixed indoor and outdoor setting.
Nature tots at Old Lodge
13 Oct, 20 Oct
A nature-themed session for pre-school children at Old Lodge, with activities that usually include a song, story, craft and game.
Watercolour Christmas card workshop
6 Nov
A beginner-friendly workshop led by artist Gemma Lane, where attendees learn experimental watercolour techniques and create Christmas cards. Materials, a hot drink and a mince pie are included.
Christmas wreath-making workshops
26–27 Nov, 3–6 Dec
Participants make a Christmas wreath using festive foliage gathered from the Tyntesfield estate, with guidance from local florists. The workshop is suitable for beginners and includes materials, hot drinks and mince pies.
Halloween trail: Horace the Hunky Punk’s Very Gothic Gathering
24 Oct–1 Nov
Follow Horace the Hunky Punk around Tyntesfield’s estate on a Halloween trail, completing activities to help prepare for his Gothic Gathering and earn a prize.
3 miles from Cadbury Camp
Cadbury Camp is an Iron Age hill fort located in Somerset, England, featuring ancient earthworks and ditches on a natural ridge. It is historically significant and managed by the National Trust with ongoing conservation efforts to preserve its natural and archaeological features.
Discover a Hidden Masterpiece: The Gilt Leather Hangings at Dunster Castle
7 Oct–1 Nov, 7–8 Nov…
Explore Dunster Castle’s refreshed display of seventeenth-century gilt leather hangings depicting Antony and Cleopatra. The display presents new research and examines the hangings’ craftsmanship and place in art and culture.
Near Gallox Bridge
Gallox Bridge is a 15th century narrow stone packhorse bridge in Dunster, Somerset, crossing the River Avill. It is a Grade I listed building and scheduled monument, managed by English Heritage, and notable for its historic architecture and rural setting near Dunster Castle.
Christmas trail: Festive Friends
19 Dec 2026–3 Jan 2027
This festive family trail at Tyntesfield takes visitors around the estate to play games and complete challenges featuring Christmas characters, with a prize at the end.
3 miles from Leigh Woods National Nature Reserve
Leigh Woods is a 2 km² national nature reserve near Bristol, featuring ancient woodland, rare plant species, and historic sites like the Stokeleigh Camp hillfort. It offers outdoor activities including walking, rock climbing, and mountain biking in a protected natural environment.
Toddler Tuesdays
6 Oct, 13 Oct…
Toddler Tuesdays is a term-time session for under-fives and their carers, with nature play, stories, crafts and gentle walks.
2 miles from Hestercombe Gardens
Hestercombe is a restored garden estate featuring three centuries of garden design with lakes, temples, woodlands, and a house with a contemporary art gallery and bookshop. It offers both outdoor garden exploration and indoor cultural experiences.
Christmas bauble workshop
6 Nov
Participants paint and decorate a ceramic Christmas bauble using acrylic paints, with materials and step-by-step guidance provided. The workshop is suitable for adults and accompanied children aged 12 and over.
Behind-the-Ropes Tours (weekends)
10–11 Oct, 17–18 Oct…
A volunteer-guided tour takes visitors beyond the usual visitor ropes at Dunster Castle, exploring repurposed rooms, hidden areas and their history. The tour lasts about an hour.
3 miles from Cleeve Abbey
Cleeve Abbey is a medieval Cistercian monastery in Somerset featuring some of the best-preserved monastic buildings in England, including cloisters, a refectory with a wooden vaulted ceiling, medieval tiled floors, and historic wall paintings, open to public visits under English Heritage.
Drawn to Trees: tree trail
7 Oct–31 Dec (another 83 days)
Explore an outdoor trail through Stourhead’s landscape garden, featuring 17 trees and the myths, folklore and reflections associated with them across different cultures and centuries.
Autumn sensory garden trail
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
An autumn sensory trail in the garden at Dyrham Park, inviting visitors to explore seasonal sights, sounds and smells, including the Japanese maple and katsura tree.
First light photography
23 Oct, 27 Oct…
An early-morning photography session at Stourhead, giving amateur photographers access to the garden to capture its autumn colours and golden-hour light.
Dark Skies Festival - Night Hike
20 Oct, 23 Oct…
Join a guided night hike through the Doone Valley and Exmoor landscape, stopping at spots suited to stargazing. The walk takes place after dark.
Near Lorna Doone Valley
Lorna Doone Valley in Devon is a scenic outdoor destination famous for its connection to the novel Lorna Doone. Visitors can enjoy extensive walks, a family-friendly wild play area, wildlife spotting, and amenities like a tea-room and gallery. The site also offers camping and glamping in a tranquil dark sky reserve setting.
Stowey Surrounds | Walks Programme
8 Oct
A guided walk through the countryside around Nether Stowey, exploring the woodland, valleys and landscapes that inspired Samuel Taylor Coleridge. A walk leader accompanies attendees on the route.
Near Coleridge Cottage
Coleridge Cottage is a 17th century historic cottage in Nether Stowey, Somerset, where poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge lived and wrote some of his famous works. Now a National Trust writer's home museum, it features period rooms, a garden with wildflowers, and serves as the starting point for the Coleridge Way walking trail.
House of Discovery Exhibition at Dyffryn Gardens
7–10 Oct, 14–17 Oct…
An exhibition in the Morning Room of Dyffryn House explores the house’s history and the conservation and restoration work being carried out there.
Near Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood Burial Chamber is a Neolithic dolmen located in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, notable for its massive stone capstone and historical significance as a communal burial site dating back to around 4000 BC. Visitors can explore the outdoor stone structure and nearby stone avenues associated with ancient burial practices.
Dark skies festival - Fireside story telling
27 Oct
A children's storytelling session at Lorna Doone Valley, where attendees gather around a fire to hear stories under the stars as part of the Dark Skies Festival.
3 miles from Watersmeet
Watersmeet House is a National Trust property in Devon featuring a historic fishing lodge with a tea room and shop, nestled at a river gorge confluence and serving as a gateway to extensive woodland and riverside walks. The site includes a notable area of ancient oak woodland designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Autumn Animal Safari
23 Oct–1 Nov
Explore the gardens and grounds of Montacute House during an autumn activity, searching for animal paintings hidden around the site.
Near Montacute House
Montacute House is a late Elizabethan mansion in Somerset, England, known for its exceptional Renaissance architecture and the longest surviving Long Gallery in England. The venue offers both indoor experiences in its historic rooms and exhibitions, and outdoor experiences with its Grade I listed gardens and extensive parkland. It hosts historical portraits in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery and has served as a filming location for films and TV dramas.
Tyntesfield book club (sorry, group full)
13 Oct, 10 Nov
A monthly book club at Tyntesfield where members discuss books chosen by the group. The two-hour meetings are led by Bookshop volunteers and include a break for refreshments.
3 miles from Leigh Woods
Leigh Woods is a National Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest near Bristol, offering diverse broadleaf woodland with veteran trees, walking and cycling trails, and scenic views over the Avon Gorge and Bristol city. It's a wildlife-rich outdoor attraction suitable for families.
Behind-the-Ropes Tours
5 Oct, 12 Oct…
Visitors take a guided tour beyond the usual visitor route at Dunster Castle, exploring repurposed spaces and learning about their history and the castle’s inner workings.
Chapel concerts: Cheddar Male Choir
5 Dec
Cheddar Male Choir performs a matinee concert in Tyntesfield’s historic chapel, with a repertoire spanning traditional and spiritual music, show tunes and modern classics.
Dunster Experience Days - A Day with the Collections and House Manager
17 Nov
Spend a day at Dunster Castle with the Collections and House Manager, including an introductory talk, a bespoke tour with access to normally closed areas, lunch and a hands-on conservation workshop.
Guided parkland walks
8–9 Oct, 12–16 Oct…
A volunteer guide leads a walk through Dyrham Park’s 270 acres of parkland, sharing information about the deer herd, the site’s history and archaeology, and how the parkland is managed.
Wild Woodwork: Drop-in wood crafting workshops (October Half Term)
26–30 Oct
Artist Zac Newham leads drop-in woodcrafting sessions in which attendees use estate timber and tools to make a piece of natural art inspired by local wild creatures.
Apple Grafting Workshop
15 Feb, 17–18 Feb
A practical apple-grafting workshop at the Watermill Tearoom, led by David Ramsay. Participants learn about grafting, practise the techniques and take home a grafted apple tree.
Silent walking disco at Prior Park
11 Oct, 24 Oct
An early-morning silent walking disco at Prior Park, with attendees invited to sing, dance and walk around the lakes and across the Palladian bridge.
2 miles from Bath Assembly Rooms
The Bath Assembly Rooms is a Grade I listed Georgian building in Bath, England, featuring the largest Georgian ballroom in the city, decorated with fine art and chandeliers. It historically served as the social hub for balls and concerts and is now a National Trust visitor attraction used for exhibitions, concerts, and filming.
Monthly Markets at Lytes Cary Manor
10–11 Oct (this weekend)
A market showcasing creative products made by local artists, held in the historic barns and courtyard at Lytes Cary Manor.
Hidden water walk
15 Oct (next Thursday)
Join a guided walk at Dyrham Park to discover its natural springs, hidden water chambers and historic water features, including an underground well and stone structure by the lake.
Autumn trail: Become a nature detective at Dyrham Park with 'There's No Deer Around Here'
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Families can follow an outdoor nature trail around Dyrham Park, using a booklet inspired by the children's picture book to look for clues and signs of wildlife.
Calan Gaeaf at Dyffryn Gardens
23 Oct–1 Nov
A family trail through the gardens celebrating Calan Gaeaf and Welsh fairy folklore. Visitors can look for fairy doors and other mythical features, and take part in games and storytelling.
Near Dyffryn Gardens
Dyffryn Gardens is a National Trust-managed historic Edwardian botanical garden and arboretum in Wales featuring extensive themed outdoor gardens, a grand Edwardian manor house open for tours, and a variety of plant collections and sculptures. The gardens combine formal and themed outdoor garden rooms with impressive lawn and water features, and visitors can explore both the natural and architectural heritage of the site.
Romantic Women Tour
8 Oct, 15 Oct…
A volunteer-led tour through the rooms of Coleridge Cottage explores the women who influenced Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s life and writing, including Sara Fricker and Dorothy Wordsworth.
3 miles from Fairfield
Fairfield is a medieval and Elizabethan country house lived in by the Acland Hood family for 800 years, offering guided tours of its historic rooms and access to gardens. Visitors can explore indoor historic rooms on scheduled guided tours and enjoy outdoor gardens, with free parking and pet-friendly policies.
Autumn games in the Stableyard
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Visitors can enjoy spooky autumn activities in the Stableyard, including broomstick races, games and challenges for all ages, alongside the Marvellous Moths trail.
Pop Up Shop hosted by National Trust
7–22 Oct (another 13 days)
Local nature photographer Ben Pullitz displays wildlife and landscape photographs in a pop-up shop at Lytes Cary Manor.
Nether Stowey Village Walk | Walks Programme
11 Oct, 18 Oct…
A beginner guided walk around Nether Stowey explores the village associated with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, including his former home, St Mary’s Church and Castle Mount.
Family reindeer making
13 Dec, 20 Dec
An adult and child work together to assemble a wooden festive reindeer kit, with help from an experienced tutor. The workshop takes place in small groups, with four one-hour sessions available each day.
Marvellous moths trail
3 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Follow a garden trail at Stourhead to discover moth species, collect clues and build a fact file about these often-misunderstood insects.
Merry and Bright, Knightshayes
28 Nov–23 Dec, 27 Dec 2026–2 Jan 2027
Merry and Bright at Knightshayes features colourful Christmas decorations inside the house, a festive trail with family games in the gardens, and seasonal lights illuminating the house, pool garden and trees after dark.
Near Knightshayes Court
Knightshayes Court is a Victorian country house near Tiverton, Devon, known for its architecture by William Burges and extensive historic gardens. The Grade I listed house and Grade II* listed gardens offer a blend of indoor heritage and outdoor landscape experiences, including rare features like a stické court and a golfing memorabilia exhibition.
Christmas Wreath Workshop
6 Dec
Participants learn wreath-making from a professional and create a Christmas wreath, with materials, mulled wine and festive treats provided. The workshop takes place at the Memorial Hall in the Spread Eagle Courtyard at Stourhead.
Chapel concerts: SHE Choir
13 Dec
SHE Choir performs original arrangements of pop, rock, indie, R&B and other music in a festive concert at Tyntesfield’s chapel.
Connection Café
6 Nov, 4 Dec
Connection Café is a gathering for local people in Bath to enjoy tea, coffee and a snack, meet others, and take part in an interactive activity inspired by the Bath Assembly Rooms.
2 miles from Bathampton Meadows
Bathampton Meadows is a National Trust green corridor linking the city of Bath to countryside, featuring wildflower grasslands, wildlife, walking and cycling paths along the River Avon flood plain.
Storytime with Father Christmas
12–13 Dec, 19–23 Dec
Children can meet Father Christmas in his grotto, hear a story and receive an early Christmas gift. Festive games in the Stableyard and crafting activities in the elves’ workshop are also available.
Attic Tours (Weekdays)
6–7 Oct, 13–14 Oct…
A guided tour of Dunster Castle’s attics explores hidden rooms and corridors and the lives of the servants who once lived there. The tour involves climbing a spiral staircase.
Meet Father Christmas at Dunster Castle
12–13 Dec, 19–22 Dec
Children can meet Father Christmas inside Dunster Castle, share their Christmas wishes and receive a gift. Each child needs a ticket, with accompanying adults admitted at no additional event charge.
Spirit of Autumn
17 Oct–8 Nov
A family autumn trail through the garden at Knightshayes explores how plants and animals prepare for winter. Visitors can take part in hands-on activities about wildlife behaviours such as storing food, migrating and hibernating.
Near Knightshayes
Knightshayes is a National Trust estate in Devon with a distinctive Gothic Revival house, extensive formal and woodland gardens, and large parkland. Visitors can enjoy exploring the house interior, walking gardens with over 1200 plant species, a restored Victorian kitchen garden, and woodland adventure play. Facilities include a café and shop, and the venue is dog friendly and wheelchair accessible.
Lytes Scary Halloween Trail
24 Oct–1 Nov
Follow a Halloween trail around Lytes Cary Manor, solving a riddle and collecting a trail sheet, pencil and prize. The trail takes around one to one and a half hours to complete.
Christmas at Stourhead
27 Nov 2026–3 Jan 2027
A Christmas light trail at Stourhead features illuminated installations, seasonal sounds and food and drink stalls. Visitors follow the outdoor route through the grounds, with Father Christmas also mentioned along the way.
Victorian Kitchen Tours (weekdays)
8–9 Oct, 15–16 Oct…
A guided tour takes visitors through Dunster Castle’s Victorian kitchen and larders, exploring the work and stories of the cooks, maids and other staff who kept the castle running.
Wider estate walks
27 Mar, 24 Apr…
Join a guided walk along lesser-known routes on Stourhead’s wider estate, with seasonal scenery and information about the landscape’s archaeology and history.
Village walk
14 Oct (next Wednesday)
Join a guided walk through Dyrham village as it was in 1704, and learn about its links to the estate and the lives of its villagers.
Poetry Reading in the Garden Room
7 Oct, 14 Oct…
Michael Bloom reads excerpts from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poems in the Garden Room at Coleridge Cottage, exploring the stories and landscapes that inspired his work.
Victorian Kitchen Tours (weekends)
10 Oct, 17 Oct…
A guided tour takes visitors through Dunster Castle’s Victorian kitchen and larders, with stories about the cooks, maids and other staff who worked there.
Exmoor Dark Skies: Stargazing Evening
21 Oct
An evening of stargazing activities hosted by the Space Detectives astronomy group, with telescopic observations, laser-guided star mapping and constellation storytelling. Wet-weather alternatives include VR headsets and a mobile planetarium.
Dark skies festival - Astrophotography in the Doone Valley
17 Oct (next Saturday)
Join photographer Mark Johnson for an outdoor astrophotography session in the Doone Valley, learning to photograph the night sky and landscape. Participants should bring a camera and tripod; no previous experience is required.
Christmas Wreath Making Workshop
26 Nov, 28 Nov
Participants can follow a wreath-making demonstration by Forest Catkins and create a Christmas decoration to take home. The workshop includes a festive bake and a hot drink.
Royal Geographical Society: Earth Photo 2026
3 Oct–29 Nov (another 51 days)
An outdoor exhibition of shortlisted contemporary environmental photography and film from Earth Photo 2026. The works explore nature, people, places and the effects of climate change.
Attic Tours (Weekends)
11 Oct, 18 Oct…
A guided tour of Dunster Castle’s attics explores hidden rooms and corridors and the daily lives of the servants who lived there.
Pick your own pumpkin
24 Oct–2 Nov
Visitors can explore the pumpkins and autumn colour in Knightshayes’ Walled Kitchen Garden, choose a pumpkin to take home, and have it weighed. The event also invites visitors to enjoy the surrounding grounds in their autumn colours.
2 miles from Tiverton Castle
Tiverton Castle is a historic motte and bailey castle in Devon, offering visitors a peaceful private house experience with a fine collection of Civil War arms and armour, medieval features, and beautiful gardens. It is open to the public seasonally with tailored tours and holiday accommodations available.
Gilded Treasures Exhibition: 50 Years of the National Trust at Dunster Castle
5 Oct–2 Nov (another 24 days)
An exhibition marking 50 years of the National Trust at Dunster Castle, featuring golden objects from the castle’s collection, including its rare gilt leather hangings. Visitors can also learn about the castle’s gift to the Trust and view a film presenting a virtual gallery of the hangings.