Whether it’s toning up and getting fit, having more 'me time', doing your bit for the environment, widening your circle of friends, or even finding 'the special One', National Trust working holidays are the perfect way to make life a little bit more interesting!

Working Holidays range from two to seven days and cost from £90 a week including food and hostel-type accommodation. Or for those who prefer their home comforts, you can opt for a 'Premium holiday', which offers more luxurious accommodation, often in twin-bedded rooms with en suite facilities, such as Craflwyn, a restored Victorian Gentleman's residence in Snowdonia or a holiday centre on the wonderful Stackpole estate, Pembrokeshire.

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An exciting programme of working holidays is on offer again this year...here is a taste of the holidays for 2009:

Anglesey
Work alongside Trust wardens on the Anglesey coastal path, constructing and maintaining this special path: 2 - 9 May or 5 - 12 September.

Carmarthenshire
Cwmdu and Aberdaunant - Revamp the gardens of the shop and inn at Cwmdu, and help keep gorse under control on Aberdeunant farm’s sunny slopes: 15 – 22 August.

Dolaucothi - Come for toil and fun at Britain’s only Roman gold mine! Your aim will be to clear vegetation to reveal some of the Roman gold-mining features in the landscape: 19 – 26 September.

Ragwen Point - High above a picturesque and secluded pebble beach, a sea of gorse and invasive scrub is encroaching on the natural vegetation of heather and grasses. Come and help us cut it enough to allow the mountain ponies to do their job of conservation grazing. Enjoy a week of gorse cleaning, some path maintenance and litter picking on the beach: 25 July – 1 August.

Conwy
Ysbyty Estate – Learn the art of dry stone walling with experienced staff and a walling instructor. The work site will be on one of the 51 farms on the Ysbyty Estate. Short breaks:  16 – 19 April;  18 – 21 May, 14 – 17 September or 15 – 18 October. Weekly: 20 – 27 June; 25 July – 1 August; or 15 – 22 August.

Gwynedd
Carneddau and Glyderau – This spectacular area includes ten of Snowdonia’s 3,000 foot peaks. Given the terrain, projects here suit people who enjoy fell or mountain working. Join the footpath workers and wardens to build and repair the stone footpaths that cross this mountainous property 6 – 13 June; 27 June – 4 July; or 25 July – 1 August.

Glan Faenol – a fantastic opportunity to work alongside our dedicated wardens on improving wildlife habitats, woodland management and improving access to this special woodland/park property on the banks of the Menai Straits. You will also have the opportunity to go on guided walks. 4 July - 11 July, 12 - 19 September.

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West Snowdonia and Llyn
staying at Craflwyn Basecamp and at Craflwyn Hall www.craflwyn.org:

A real mixture of conservation tasks available – a choice of 13 holidays with everything from clearing invasive species from the woodland and heathland of Snowdonia, maintaining footpaths, clearing beaches, caring for ornamental gardens, bracken clearing to planting trees and even digital photography. Includes family holidays.

Ganllwyd – part of the 1,800 hectare Meirionydd property. Join us for a physically challenging week repairing and rebuilding the walls on the Egryn Estate. Our experience wardens will be on hand to guide you through techniques. 10 – 17 October.

Hafod y Llan – a new farm-based holiday. You’ll spend a day with the farm’s ecologist monitoring the flora and fauna on the farm. Other tasks may include footpath work, ditch clearance, thistle-pulling and painting the railings at the start of the Watkin Path which goes to the summit of Snowdon. Also includes a talk from the farm manager, the ecologist, and, depending on the work loads, a sheep dog or shearing demonstration 16 – 23 May.

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Pembrokeshire
Colby Woodland Garden – work alongside the garden team, clearing undergrowth, restoring old footpaths, and rebuilding log steps and path edgings. 25 April – 2 May; 13 – 20 June; or 5 – 12 September.

Mathry - Enjoy two days of walking the Pembrokeshire Coast Path as you tackle various tasks such as path construction and maintenance, way-marking, and installing gates. 6 – 13 June or 19 – 26 September.

Stackpole Estate – the National Trust has acquired a huge holiday centre on the wonderful Stackpole estate which we hope to transform into a fantastic holiday base. If you can wield a paintbrush, a roller, a spade, a sledgehammer or a sewing machine, you could help us give the centre a makeover treatment! 1 – 7 March.

There are plenty of action-packed conservation holidays too – helping to re-build and construct bridges, repairing a stone culvert and stone walling. 18 – 25 April; 12 – 19 September.

There’s even an opportunity to take your family along to help clean beaches and paths during half term 28 – 31 May.

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Powys
Brecon Beacons – learn new techniques in clearing footpaths, controlling erosion, scrub/invasive species clearance, stone walling and clearing out water breaks. For dates go to our working holidays search.

Wrexham
Help the countryside team at Erddig make kissing gates and restore footpaths, improve access to the estate and much more. There’s even a chance to clean the ancient motte and bailey of vegetation to ensure the area doesn’t get overgrown. A fantastic opportunity to learn more about an historical aspect of the Erddig Estate! For dates go to our working holidays search.

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Family working holidays in Wales:

Take your family on an exciting expedition – an active, educational holiday guaranteed! Family working holidays provide excellent opportunities for two adults and up to three children between 8 and 16 years old to play an active part in our work. Knowledgeable staff will be on hand to guide you and help you spot rare creatures or plants. You will live with three other families in comfortable hostel-style accommodation – a great way to make new friends!

Craflwyn Hall, Snowdonia: 6 – 9 April and 24 – 27 August: Explore the spectacular Snowdonia National Park whilst helping to improve this part of the world. Learn about the area’s history, myths and legends as well as its wildlife. An active, educational holiday is guaranteed – you’ll even learn how to light a fire Ray Mears style.

Stackpole Centre, Pembrokeshire: 28 – 31 May: This is a great way for the family to spend the half term break together on the coast of Pembrokeshire. Get stuck in with conservation work on the beaches and in the wood. As well as building homes for wildlife you will have the chance to make the odd sandcastle.