#CountryKids Wray Castle, National Trust

My son was asked which National Trust property he would like to be taken to by his aunt and uncle. It was no surprise to me that he chose Wray Castle:

We weren't the only ones who knew that this is the best place to visit with children on a wet, autumn Lakes day and it was very busy with a full car park. Luckily we managed to get in alright. There are plenty of things to occupy children indoors including building blocks in the Peter Rabbit rooms:

We also managed a short table tennis game before checking out the Steam Gondola room:

One of the most popular rooms (and now upstairs) was the castle blocks room. Lots of children building, balancing and having fun with the foam building blocks:

#CountryKids Easter Fun at Sizergh Castle

Today my son and I headed over to Sizergh Castle. We wanted to do the Easter trail around the grounds and even though it was damp we weren't the only ones following the signs:

I think it was the best one we have done there yet and there was plenty to spot and clues to solve including this chap on the pond:

The route took us passed the Stumpery which is looking resplendent with Spring growth:

#CountryKids at Bamburgh Castle

I finally got to join my parents and children in Northumberland and on my first day we drove up the coast to Bamburgh Castle. It is visible from a long distance away and from close up its very impressive:

We wrapped up against the bitter wind and walked up the hill and in through the gateway:

Despite the cold we decided to explore the outside parts of the castle first including the impressive display of cannons on the battlements:

#CountryKids at Tintagel Castle

After our morning at Coombe Mill we headed to the coast to Tintagel Castle legendary birthplace of King Arthur. It has to be one of the most well hidden of English Heritage's portfolio but its worth the hike. However you need not to be afraid of heights and fairly fit to fully appreciate it, I would recommend going on a day when the wind wasn't as strong as we had:

The castle is now just ruins in two parts with the first perched high on the mainland and the second on an island on accessible via a bridge:

#CountryKids at Carew Castle and Tidal Mill

This is the last story from our summer holiday in Pembrokeshire. On the last whole day a few of us decided to head together to Carew Castle and Tidal Mill as there was a special medieval weekend going on. Its another one of Edward I's Marcher Castles and its still impressive even in its ruinous state:

First of all the children did a special  treasure hunt which had them all hurtling up and down the many stair cases:

#CountryKids at Chirk Castle

I never realised that Chirk Castle was only just over 2 hours drive from our home. It is one of the National Trust properties I have wanted to go to for years:

It's a magnificent example of the castles ordered by Edward I to defend against the Welsh.

#CountryKids at Sizergh Castle

With family up for the long weekend who love taking photographs there was only one choice for day one Sizergh Castle. They have just started allowing photography inside the castle as well so it was a good time to make our annual whizz inside (we most often just stay in the garden and grounds.

First up on the child led tour was the sunken garden:

Then we wandered past the wonderful flower beds:

Then it was time for the children to do a barefoot walk from the beehives to the chicken run:

We had time to try making grass trumpets and playing Pooh sticks before heading back towards to the castle:

Before going into the castle the children headed to the barn to try out the medieval dressing up clothes:

Eventually it was time to head to the main entrance for our timed entry into the castle:

They have quizzes to get the children to slow down and actually look at what is in the rooms as you go round but we still seemed to whizz pretty quick past all these lovely things:

We picnicked near the front pond before looking to see what nature had so show us:

Little brother had dipped her!

All in all a perfect Country Kids day!

Easter Family Fun: National Trust Egg Hunt at Sizergh Castle

As a family we have been doing the National Trust Easter Egg Trail for about 4 years firstly at Bodiam Castle and now at Sizergh Castle. I like the fact the trails take you all over the property hunting for clues and the children love the egg at the end! This is one of the earliest Easter's we have done the trail (no chance of the eggs melting like they did in 2011!). We did the trail with my parents, my brother and his wife and my nephew. Having more adults than children meant I had a lot more time to take photographs..

The trail is different every year to try and take you to different bits of the grounds or solve mysteries. This time we started in the courtyard:

Clue 2 took us into the fabulous gardens which are full of useful information boards and most of the trees and plants are labelled:

A combination of garden remodelling and a late Spring meant that the gardens were a lot barer than on previous visits but there were still lots of things to catch the eye such as this mossed covered tree:

Several clues were in the kitchen gardens and it required adult help for my 2 to solve all of them:

The gardens are protected by this fabulous looking scarecrow:

Next we had to search out the beehives and then the resident chickens. This is the cockerel that is in charge of a bevy of exotic looking hens:

With this being Cumbria we had a clue involving Wordsworth and daffodils. This bank is covered in traditional native daffodils which are known as Wordsworth daffodils. My 6 year old reckoned they were so named as Wordsworth wrote a poem about daisies!

The trail ended in the rock garden. Here they had to count Acers and try to see how many frogs, toads, tadpoles and frogspawn they could find. This managed to take up a lot of time as the rock garden has a lot of paths and pools to explore:

So it was a well deserved Easter egg by the time we finished (and they did let us grown ups have a little bit!):

We managed to find a lovely sheltered sunny picnic bench to eat our sandwiches at surrounded by daffodils and wind chimes:

Afterwards there was time to watch the birds at the hide on the edge of the grounds, we saw about 7 species between us all:

We all still had enough energy left to wander around the rest of the grounds to get closer to the main castle:

The boys had plenty of energy left so made the most of the open space to let off steam:

Our visit was rounded off with a genteel game of croquet as they had left out garden games at various points in the grounds. The family won't be competing at a high level just yet but it was a nice end to the trip:

So now we just have to wait until next Easter to do it all again. Who knows what the weather will bring next time...