There’s no need to spend a fortune on Mother’s Day, just spend some quality time with your mum. The National Trust has come up with a selection of special places where you can visit on Sunday March 10 – from a 1930s beauty parlour to gardens with strolling musicians and horse and carriage rides.
Basildon Park, Berkshire: Basildon Park is an impressive Georgian mansion, surrounded by glorious parkland, which was lovingly rescued from ruin by Lord and Lady Iliffe in the mid 1950s. The house you see today is a re-creation and restoration of the 18th-century mansion. They restored the elegant interior and scoured the country salvaging 18th-century architectural fixtures and fittings. Mums will love the cream teas and the nostalgia of the 1950s kitchen. For outdoor mums, enjoy the lawn games, the hazel hideout or a walk on one of the trails through the 400 acres of historic parkland.
Mothers’ Day crafts, 11am-4pm: Visit Basildon Park this Mother’s day and let the children join in with “Pottering About’ and make their mums a special plate personalised with their handprint. Normal admission charges apply; item charge will vary, prices from £10. No need to book. For more information, please call 0118 984 3040.
Mothers’ Day tea, 3-4:30pm: Invite mum for a delicious afternoon tea which includes a glass of sparkling wine, a selection of homemade sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and some of Basildon’s delicious cake. £25 per person. Booking essential on 0844 249 1895.
Blickling Estate, Norfolk: Blickling Hall (above) is a quirky-looking building and has a sumptuous collection of Dutch gables and turrets, striking brick chimneys and huge yew hedges. Embark on a voyage of discovery and follow four centuries of history, from the Boleyn family to the RAF and Second World War. Learn what life was like as a servant and hear the voices of the people who kept Blickling in ship-shape. For outdoor mums, the gardens at Blickling look beautiful in spring. Discover the secret garden with the sundial or find the hidden pyramid, a tomb built for one of Blickling’s owners. Spot local wildlife, including woodpeckers, herons and owls and really make a day of it and hire a bike.
Mothers’ Day tea, 3pm-4.30pm: Gather the family and come to Blickling Estate for a delicious afternoon tea served in the beautiful surroundings of Lord Lothian’s Study. £17.95 per person. Booking essential, call 0844 249 1895 (booking fee applies)
Brownsea Island, Dorset: Take the ferry across to this adventure island in Poole Harbour, famous for being an unspoilt, natural haven with a colourful history. Brownsea was the perfect haunt for smugglers, who used to hide their booty of silks and spices in the castle there. From towering trees and shell shores, to the smugglers’ tales and scenes right out of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five novels, the whole family will feel like they are on quest of discovery. The island is one of the last places to have red squirrels as well as many different kinds of seabirds, which can be spotted on the lagoon from the hideaway. There are many walks, some suitable for even the youngest would-be smuggler, and the island is car free so every inch of it can be explored without mum having to worry on her special day.
Say thank you on Mothers’ Day, 10am-4pm: Visit the events marquee and join in with children’s crafts, before heading to the Villano cafe and treating mum to a delicious cream tea. Normal admission charges apply; there are no additional event charges. Booking not required. For more information, call 01202 707744.
Make a weekend of it: Stay on the island in Agent’s House, a beautiful waterside house just 3m from the water’s edge. Sleeping six and overlooking the lagoon with stunning sea views it’s perfect for family get-togethers.
Castle Ward, Co. Down: Castle Ward demesne with its panoramic views over Strangford Lough is the National Trust’s best kept secret. With miles of walking and cycling trails, Castle Ward will take you on a journey of discovery through the 820 acre demesne.
Mother’s Day spring stroll and musical melodies Walks: 11am-12.15pm and 3pm-4.15pm. Music: 1pm-3.30pm. Enjoy a stroll around Castle Ward led by a knowledgeable guide through the exotic Victorian sunken garden and around this stunning demesne. Then relax in the stableyard to the sounds of Vivaldi and other classical works. Normal admission charges to the gardens apply. Booking not required.
Afternoon tea in Lord Bangor’s sitting room, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm: Treat mum and friends to a delightful cream tea in Lord Bangor’s private quarters within Castle Ward mansion and then enjoy a guided tour. Adult £9. plus normal admission charges to the grounds. Booking essential, call 028 4488 1204
Nostell Priory and Parkland, West Yorkshire: Nostell Priory has been the home of the Winn family for more than 300 years, making it a perfect place for a family day out on Mothers’ Day. Explore 300 acres of parkland with a range of walks, beautiful gardens, a newly planted orchard and an adventure playground to keep the kids entertained. Inside the house, see a collection of Chippendale furniture made especially for Nostell, as well as paintings by Brueghel, Hogarth and Kauffmann. The restored butler’s pantry is also now open and children can look out for the mouse in the 18th-century doll’s house. To round off the day, visit the new stables area, with its new shop and plant sales area as well as the courtyard café for seasonal treats.
Plas Newydd, Anglesey: The stunning ivy-clad house has it all: breathtaking views stretch across the Menai Strait to Snowdonia on the mainland; the military museum contains exhibits from the battle of Waterloo in 1815, and many paintings by the world-famous Rex Whistler hang here, including his renowned largest painting. Mums will lovely the spring gardens, especially the catkin gardens, and the treehouse, newly built to remember Lady Amelia’s 1960s treehouse, will keep the children entertained. The charming tea room cooks up tasty treats.
Sizergh Castle & Garden, Cumbria: Still lived in by the Strickland family, Sizergh has many tales to tell and certainly feels lived in, with centuries-old portraits and fine furniture sitting alongside modern family photographs. Outside, explore the rock garden and then head out across the estate on a walk with fabulous views to the Lakeland fells and Morecambe Bay. For adventurous mums, try looking for geocaches on the estate or the whole family can have a go at den building in the wooded knoll.
Tyntesfield, Somerset: Lived in by four generations of the Gibbs family, this beautiful Victorian estate still has a family feel and is just a stone’s throw away from Bristol. Spiralling turrets and pinnacles adorn the roof, ornate stone carvings and church-like windows complete the Gothic look, giving the feel of a mysterious, fairytale mansion full of family treasures. Families can find the ‘discovery tables’ and handle real objects from the Tyntesfield collection or rummage through family explorer boxes and learn more about life at Tyntesfield. Outside, terraced lawns give way to spacious parkland filled with hundreds of trees collected by the family, and a beautiful walled kitchen garden beyond. Pick up a copy of the play trail leaflet and follow in the footsteps of the estate’s children – discovering the dens in the plantation wood
Music for mum, 9-10 March, 11.30am-3.30pm: Tyntesfield will be host to strolling musicians in the formal gardens for Mothering Sunday weekend. Bring the family and a picnic or just sit and enjoy the music together. Normal admission charges to the gardens. Booking not required. For more information, call 01275 461 900.
Make a weekend of it: Stay at the heart of Tyntesfield in the former Chaplain’s House, built in the 1840s it’s crammed with original features and Victorian touches. Perfect for larger families there’s an interconnecting door between the House and the Lodge next door allowing up to eleven people to stay.
Upton House and Gardens, Warwickshire: Surrounded by internationally important art and porcelain collections, hear and discover more about family life and soak up the atmosphere of the 1930s. Pick up family activity packs and enjoy dressing up and the play spaces this Mothers’ Day. The stunning gardens – being returned to their 1930s heyday – have a sweeping lawn that gives way to a series of terraces and herbaceous borders leading to a kitchen garden, tranquil water garden and spring bulb displays.
Don’t miss: 1930s beauty parlour, 9-10 March, 1pm – 4pm: Take mum to Upton this Mother’s day, for special 1930s beauty, fashion, make-up, hair tips and demonstrations. Join the crafts table and create mum a gift she can wear on her days out to Upton. Normal admission charges. Booking not required. For more information, call 01295 670266.
Make a weekend of it: Keep things strictly in the jazz-age at 1 Home Farm Drive, with art deco features throughout this spacious cottage is the perfect getaway for a vintage loving mum and her family, sleeps five.
Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey: Bursting with colour and life, Winkworth is perfect for a Mothers’ day walk. Spring is one of the best times to visit this beautiful hillside arboretum, with early signs of magnolias and azaleas, not to mention more than 1,000 different types of shrubs and trees. For peace and tranquillity, visit the beautiful lake and boathouse, with stunning views and lots of wildlife-spotting opportunities. After all that fresh air and exercise, treat mum to the wholesome range of home-baked food in the tea-room, including delicious cakes.
Mothering Sunday at Winkworth, 10am-5.30pm: Visit Winkworth and treat Mum to a delightful horse and carriage ride or stroll through the arboretum and see early spring flowers. The tea room will then be open for light lunches and afternoon teas. Normal admission charges apply; mothers get in free to the arboretum when accompanied by their children. Carriage rides will be available from mid day. Booking not required. For more information, call 01483 208936.
Make a weekend of it: Emley Farmhouse has is a large Grade II listed building in an idyllic rural setting, perfect for those looking for a spacious getaway in a traditional house.
For more information on National Trust events, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events
Image: John Millar
