The National Trust are treating kids to a crackin’ time over Easter weekend by running Cadbury Easter Egg Trails and family activities at 246 of their properties. New for 2013 are the Easter Monday egg and spoon races at more than 120 venues. At least 10,000 people are expected to take part . To find out more about the trails, running from March 29 to April 1, and the races visit www.eastereggtrail.com
Here’s a selection of the National Trust’s best events:
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire: Cadbury Easter Egg Trail, 31 March – 1 April, 11am-4pm. Take part in an egg hunt at Fountains this Easter, have your face painted, join in with games and collect a chocolate ‘Egghead’ at the end.
Stowe, Buckinghamshire: Cadbury Easter Egg Trails – ‘Easter eggstravaganza’, 31 March – 1 April, 10am-4pm. Crack the clues around the New Inn and gardens at Stowe to claim your Easter egg prize. On the trail, discover the adventures of Greek and Roman gods and heroes, as well as the grand tours of the family who used to live at Stowe in the Georgian times.
Lanhydrock, Cornwall: Cadbury Easter Egg Trail, 29 March – 14 April, 10am-4pm. Find all of the clues in the garden at Lanhydrock over the holidays and win an Easter-themed prize.
Stourhead, Wiltshire: Cadbury Easter Egg Trail, 23-28 March and 2-7 April, 11am-4pm. Join in with springtime family fun at Stourhead and take part in their trail, giant games, face-painting and of course…eating chocolate. (Face painting on Easter Sunday and Monday only).
Polesden Lacey, Surrey: Cadbury Easter Egg Trail, 29 March – 1 April, 11am-4pm. The trail is back at Polesden featuring lots of activities for children including face painting, games and storytelling.
Castle Drogo, Devon: Cadbury Easter Egg Trail, 29 March – 1 April, 11am-4pm. Follow the trail around the garden and grounds at Castle Drogo and collect your Easter egg prize.
Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire: Cadbury Easter Egg Trail, 29 March – 1 April, 11am-3:30pm. Explore the quiz trail at Clumber Park this Easter. Follow the clues, solve the puzzles and win a tasty prize.
Hardy Country, Dorset: Cadbury Easter Egg Trail, 29 March – 1 April, 11am-5pm. Go and explore writer Thomas Hardy’s birthplace over the Easter weekend and take part in the fun Easter egg trails and puzzles to win a chocolate prize.
Dinefwr Park and Castle, Carmarthenshire: Cadbury Easter Egg Trail – ‘Eggs & Birds’, 29 March – 1 April, 12-4pm. Children and grown-ups can join Dinefwr this Easter holiday to discover the wonder of bird-watching. Learn to use binoculars and I.D. sheets and try the ‘Eggs & Birds’ trail over the Easter weekend to win an egg.
Quarry Bank Mill and Styal Estate, Cheshire: Cadbury Easter Egg Trail, 29 March – 1 April, 12-4pm. Hunt for clues around Quarry Bank Mill over Easter weekend to earn an egg, plus take part in games and activities on the Mill Meadow.
Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk for a full list of trails.