Summer holidays at Croft Castle

A group of children playing noughts and crosses in the Natural Play area

With ancient woodlands, secret gardens and a homely castle, Croft has everything you need for a fun family day out this summer.

Throughout the summer holidays families will be able to pick up a ‘Get, set, go’ card with different activities and stickers. All the activities are nature-based meaning the estate is the perfect spot to try something new, there are three cards to collect in total. Another fun self-led thing to do is to download or print a copy of the National Trust’s ‘50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾’ guide to bring along with you. Here there are fifty activities to try as a family outdoors which can be used over and over again.

Create your own adventure in our mini-castle play area.
The mini-castle play area at Croft
Create your own adventure in our mini-castle play area.

There are two play areas at Croft, the mini-castle play area which is situated just outside the Carpenter’s tea-room and the Natural Play area, just a short walk onto the estate. Both are open daily from Saturday 10 July.

Visitors can simply turn up to Croft Castle, there’s no need to book so whatever the weather, if you’d like to enjoy some fresh air then you can simply pop in. The castle is open daily in the summer holidays too.

Put your balance skills to the test with some Natural Play.
Two girls on a balance rope in the Natural Play area.
Put your balance skills to the test with some Natural Play.

There are several walks which run through the seven-hundred-acre estate, all of different abilities. Families with younger children may wish to explore the newly revived Fishpool Valley where water cascades through the woods from pool-to-pool. Older children may enjoy the challenge of trekking up Croft Ambrey, an Iron-age hill fort to enjoy the wonderful 360˚ views at the top.