National Trust attractions easily accessible by rail?

[trainophile]

Considering joining the NT to get out and about a bit more, but would rather travel by train to visit the various attractions.

Would love to know which ones are easily accessible via the rail network, if anyone has any experience of them. By "easily accessible" I mean the attraction is in walking distance of a station that has a fairly regular service.

Thanks for any help.

 

[cjohnson]

Not sure if it counts as the 'rail network', but Phipps Bridge Tramlink stop is right on the boundary of Morden Hall Park.

 

[trainophile]

Thanks. I'll look that one up. Think I'll start a list.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The National Trust handbook for members gives details of the nearest railway stations and those bus services that come near the properties in each property section.

 

[trainophile]

Thanks Paul, that's good to know. Not having joined yet I don't have a copy of the handbook, but it sounds promising.

 

[cjp]

Osterley House & Park = Syon Lane (SWT) or Osterley (Piccadilly tube)
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g186338-d215612-Reviews-Osterley_Park_and_House_National_Trust-London_England.html

 

[6Gman]

Styal station is well sited for Quarry Bank Mill.

Shame about the service!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Beware of those properties that look like to be quite near to a railway station, but have an extensively long approach driveway that seems to go on for ever from the main entrance to the house.

Disley station is not far from the entrance lodge to Lyme Park, but I assure you that the approach driveway to the property is a very long walk indeed.

If you have ever watched the introductory scene in the original film "Rebecca" based on the book by Daphne du Maurier and seen how long the young girl was travelling in the coach on that approach driveway, you will most certainly understand what I mean.

 

[elarchibaldo]

Dunham Park is accesible by train to Altrincham and then the 5 bus from there

 

[SWTCommuter]

Assuming you don't mind walking a mile or two, how about these:

Mottisfont Abbey, 1.5 miles from Mottisfont and Dunbridge
Prior Park, 1 mile from Bath Spa, up quite a steep hill
Bath Assembly Rooms, 0.75 miles from Bath Spa
Lanhydrock, 1.75 miles from Bodmin Parkway
Cotehele, 1.5 mile riverside walk from Calstock
Winchester City Mill, 1 mile from Winchester station

 

[TheEdge]

1.3 miles from Melton to Sutton Hoo. I believe there is a bus service as well.

 

[philjo]

Which part of the country are you interested in visiting?

Powis Castle is easily accessible - about 20 minute walk from Welshpool station. (the gardens are on several levels on the side of the hill so be prepared to climb up the hill again to get out!)

The Theatre in Bury St Edmunds is NT owned.

There are several with a bus link to a nearby station. Some may have dedicated bus services at weekends

We visited Wakehurst Place last year - the bus service calls at the door & runs to either Three Bridges or Haywards Heath (though check the timetable as it is 2 hourly in each direction so we went from Three Bridges but went back via Haywards Heath)

Laycock Abbey - I used the bus service from Chippenham
Anglesey Abbey - buses from Cambridge (though from the city centre not the station)

Corfe Castle - (walkable from the Swanage railway)

Dunster Castle (walkable from the West Somerset railway)

Brownsea Island - 10 minute walk from Poole station to the Quay for the ferry.


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Thanks Paul, that's good to know. Not having joined yet I don't have a copy of the handbook, but it sounds promising.

The details showing how to get to each property should also be on the NT website

 

[reb0118]

Styal station is well sited for Quarry Bank Mill.

Shame about the service!

Beat me to it. Is there not a campaign to improve the service pattern to encourage more visitors to to the NT property. Would help the scroates visit their girlfriends in HMP Styal too.

I think you will also get access to NTS (National Trust for Scotland) properties under a reciprocal agreement. There is a combined fare from any Strathclyde station to Mount Stuart on Bute, (not to confused with Mount Stewart in County Down), which includes train, ferry, bus, & entrance.

I'll dig out my guidebook to see if any properties are close to stations. There are a few in Edinburgh & Glasgow though.

If you like history & the great outdoors then NT or NTS membership will suit you fine.

Cheers.

 

[trainophile]

Gosh, loads of suggestions - many thanks everyone.

Will go anywhere really as not averse to a nice night in a hotel, although places in "day out" reach of Hereford or Southport/Liverpool would avoid having to mess around putting the cat in boarding overnight . (If we go from Southport he'll be in the cattery anyway!).

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

There is Speke Hall in the South Liverpool area.

 

[soil]

Most NT places not accessible by rail, because the ones that are have probably been knocked down for development!

Sheffield Park is a good one though:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sheffield-park-and-garden/
served by

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/

If you don't mind a walk, Clandon has two: Hatchlands (walk across the golf course), and Clandon Park

 

[Class172]

Greyfriars is probably only a 5 minute walk from Worcester Foregate Street.

 

[Tremzinho]

There are a few accessible for the day from Liverpool off the top of my head
Rufford Hall - short walk from Rufford station
Erddig - 40 minute walk rom Wrexham Central
chirk castle - 1/2 hour walk from Chirk station
Wrightwick manor - 20 min bus ride from Wolverhampton
Sunnycroft - short walk from Wellington Station
Speke Hall - shuttle bus from Liverpool South Parkway at weekends in summer
Shugborough - 20 minute bus ride from Stafford

 

[Cliveblackpool]

Aready mentioned - Lanhydrock House
The 1.75 mile walk is along the original carriageway direct from Bodmin Parkway station. Delightful wooded walk following the R. Fowey!

 

[northwichcat]

Dunham Park is accesible by train to Altrincham and then the 5 bus from there

You could also visit the ground of Tatton Park to which one park entrance is a 10 minute walk from Knutsford station. Although, the Mansion and Japanese Gardens would be around a 1 hour walk from the station.

Tatton Park was in the top 10 UK visitor attractions for 2013 and yet it isn't deemed necessary to have connecting bus services from rail stations except when the RHS show is on.

There's also the National Trust Alderley Edge site in that area (but on a different train line.)

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or Southport/Liverpool

With mentioning those two places I'm surprised no-one's mentioned the National Trust Formby site (about 1 mile from Freshfields station) which is between Southport and Liverpool. Although, both Formby and Alderley Edge are free admission unless you arrive by car.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Erddig - 40 minute walk from Wrexham Central

When you eventually reach the entrance to Erddig, how long do you feel that it takes from there to access the house and gardens along that never-ending internal road system ?

 

[NickJ]

can I recommend Sunnycroft house in Wellington (open Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon) - interesting victorian house and old fashioned tea room - 10 minutes walk from Wellington station.

 

[snail]

Lyme Park is close to Disley station, but it's about 1.5 miles to the house and lake.

 

[Max]

Speke Hall - shuttle bus from Liverpool South Parkway at weekends in summer

Even when the shuttle isn't running you can take a bus towards the airport and get off about a mile away from the house. This is what I did and, if my memory serves me correctly, it was a leisurely 15-20 minute walk from the bus stop.

 

[6Gman]

You could also visit the ground of Tatton Park to which one park entrance is a 10 minute walk from Knutsford station. Although, the Mansion and Japanese Gardens would be around a 1 hour walk from the station.

Tatton Park was in the top 10 UK visitor attractions for 2013 and yet it isn't deemed necessary to have connecting bus services from rail stations except when the RHS show is on.

There's also the National Trust Alderley Edge site in that area (but on a different train line.)

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With mentioning those two places I'm surprised no-one's mentioned the National Trust Formby site (about 1 mile from Freshfields station) which is between Southport and Liverpool.

It's also a nice walk from Freshfields to the NT site along Victoria Road. You can admire the older mansions, and shake your head sadly at the footballers' palaces!

 

[Shimbleshanks]

Hever Castle looks to be only a short walk (half mile?) from Hever station.

 

[trainophile]

This is all brilliant, thank you so much. It's looking like it would be well worth paying the "special offer" £69 for a couple for a year. Just got to persuade my resident couch potato now :roll:.

I've walked through the squirrel woods at Formby many years ago as my sister lives there (in Formby, not in the woods ). Also I grew up in Cheshire, and our parents used to take us to Dunham Park or Alderley Edge, but that was a very long time ago and I'd love to re-visit.

 

[merlodlliw]

When you eventually reach the entrance to Erddig, how long do you feel that it takes from there to access the house and gardens along that never-ending internal road system ?

We locals know the short cuts & the back entrance (tradesman) near a pub called the "Square York", say 15 minutes from the Station.
My key interest is the cup & Saucer at Erddig https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=c...fqpCvOb1AXG2oEo&ved=0CFIQsAQ&biw=1600&bih=809 plus
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andy_mcr/488739894/

Bob

The station nearest Erddig is Wrexham Central on the Bidston Line,Wrexham General is about a mile further away on the Shrewsbury/Chester line,although this line runs through the estate at Bersham a mere five minutes walk away from the back door of Erddig if the train stopped.

 

[John Webb]

Treasurer's House in York is a few minutes walk from the station there.
George Stephenson's Birthplace is 0.5ml from Wylam station on the Tyne Valley line.
Rufford Old Hall in Lancashire is 0.5ml from Rufford station.
If you're down south, Bodiam Castle can be accessed (0.25ml) from the station on the Kent and E Sussex railway.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

You did mention Liverpool/Southport as an area and whilst not a National Trust area as such. if you get the train to Hall Road station and take the short walk down Hall Road West to the promenade, the 100 life-sized statues of the Anthony Gormley creation on the beach called "Another Place" can be accessed, but make sure that you look at the Tide Tables before setting off, to ensure that it will be low tide during your visit.