Favorite National Trust Property?

Colston fish acre. I was about absolutely entranced. The last room you visit is the drawing room. It was so amazing I could have cried. Lots of amazing N T properties. And the volunteers are so knowledgeable.

Here in the north I love Acorn Bank Garden. A modest place when compared with some NT gardens/properties, but really peaceful with a brilliant herb garden and lovely woodland with a beck. Recommended!

Kellie Castle in the East Neuk of Fife. A small C14 castle owned latterly by the sculptor Hew Lorimer. I love it because it was a family home until 1970 when it was purchased by the Scottish NT and has a wonderful homely feel. The gardens are a complete delight and I would urge anyone visiting the area to go there!
Good to hear about Ightham Mote. My family lived nearby when it was in the ownership of an American who then passed it to the English NT. I would love to return there again

kitty We found Calke Abbey dark and depressing too. Someone
above mentioned Stourhead, yes that is an amazing place. Our nearest ones are Packwood House and Baddesley Clinton, very close to each other so you can visit both on the same day. They are great.

I'm lucky to live near Kellie Castle so visit often and enjoy sitting in the walled garden.

Stourhead, Chartwell, Cragside, Erdigg, Sissinghurst, Biddulph Grange, Bodnant, Dunham Massey , and Scotney Castle are all wonderful, but for me it just has to be Rudyard Kipling's house, 'Bateman's'. Everything about it is perfect, it still feels like a family home, and one wouldn't be at all surprised if 'the man himself' walked into the room, it's just lovely.

For grandeur and beauty Fountains Abbey and for lots of homeliness and 'I remember/have one of those' moments I will nominate Mr Straw's House.

There is also a wonderful new playground at Fountains Abbey but don't visit it until near the end of your visit with the GS's as you won't get any further. Take the path past the bird hide from the visitor centre so the kids don't see it too soon !

I loved Snowshill Manor too - my parents only went once, when I was young, but I was fascinated and remember the whole visit so vividly. And another great family favour was Hidcote Manor Gardens.

I also love Snowshill but I think my favourite is Tyntesfield. We have been visiting since the NT acquired the property and all the 'stuff' inside it so we've seen it develop and it is still developing. It has heart and warmth, also really recommend it dressed for Christmas. .

I love the fact that you are positively encouraged to play the piano if there is one at the property - and there's music too!
I've played three or four Devon ones since moving down here. I'd recommend it

Bodiam,a 14th century moated castle in East Sussex - absolutely wonderful for children and pretty good for grown-ups too.

My favorites are Dyffryn Gardens, Dyrham Park and Stourhead

Our 'local' Mount Stewart has the most amazing formal gardens, recently restored house and wonderful wooded grounds with a newly opened natural adventure play area in the woods. It is wonderful for dog walking, although dogs have to be on a lead as it is one of the last havens for beautiful red squirrels. As NT members, we go there often. If you are ever in Northern Ireland, it is worth a visit.

Another vote for Cragside in Northumberland. It really does have something for everyone - an interesting Victorian house built on a Cliffside. The site was specifically chosen so that electricity for the house could be generated by hydro electric power by a man made waterfall, it is then pumped back up (all still working. Add to that beautiful gardens with an atmospheric labyrinth. Wonderful!