Somerset

Home to a walled White Garden, Rose and Iris Garden and Lily Garden which were influenced by Gertrude Jekyll, with playing fountains, vibrant colours and intoxicating scents.

Dramatically sited on a wooded hill, Dunster Castle is a place of dramatic vistas and subtropical gardens near Minehead in Exmoor. The terraced garden displays varieties of Mediterranean and subtropical plants leading to the tranquil riverside wooded garden below.

An intimate medieval manor house with a beautiful Arts and Crafts garden of 'rooms' containing a magical collection of topiary and herbaceous borders. Tranquil walks on the estate take you along the River Cary.

A beautiful and intimate 18th-century landscape garden in Bath, undergoing a major restoration on its historic dams. Set in a sweeping valley above Bath, it's a place of magnificent views and lawns to relax on, with one of only four Palladian bridges in the world.

One of the few Elizabethan houses in England to have retained its setting within a compartmented garden, Montacute is complete with herbaceous borders, a magnificent fountain, orchard and parkland.

Extensive garden and parkland, just a stone's throw from Bristol. Flower filled terraces, an empty lake, woodland, champion trees and the kitchen garden balance faded beauty and function with an abundance of nature.

Part of the Holnicote Estate, Bossington is a peaceful coastal hamlet on the edge of the Bristol Channel with distinctive thatched cottages. From here you can wander down to the pebble beach, where there's plenty of coastal wildlife to spot and far-reaching views to Wales and along the Exmoor coastline.

Toward Weston-Super-Mare you'll find Brean Down, a natural pier jutting out into the Bristol Channel. The beach lies at the foot of the Down, and you can Venture to the top of the Down and take the exhilarating 1.5 mile walk along Somerset’s greatest natural pier.

The stunning stretch of coastline around Sand Point and Middle Hope sits north Brean Down. It's one of the most beautiful parts of North Somerset, with a natural pier into the Bristol Channel and views across Sand Bay.

Discover the Holnicote Estate, a varied landscape of moorland, woods, farms and coast, which makes up 12,000 acres of Exmoor National Park. This contrasting landscape has everything from wild, rugged moorland and shingle beaches to ancient woodland and charming thatched villages.

Fyne Court is a hidden gem in the heart of the Quantock Hills. You can explore this wild garden and surrounding countryside, discovering pieces of its history hiding in the undergrowth. The estate was the home of the Crosse family who lived here until the house was destroyed by fire in 1894.

Discover the heights of Somerset's famous Cheddar Gorge. At almost 400 feet deep and three miles long, this is England’s largest gorge, and with its weathered crags and pinnacles, one of our most spectacular natural sights.

Somerset has some wonderful gardens bursting with colour and scent and the perfect place to relax on a summer's day. We've reopened these places in line with Government guidelines.

Great view points to discover, archaeology to wonder at, wildlife to spot and wild flowers in abundance make walking in Somerset a delight.

Summer memories should always include a summer picnic in a perfect picnic spot - here are just a few suggestions of the best places to picnic in Somerset.

Meadows across the South West are alive with wildflowers, providing vital habitats for nature. Find out about the work we're doing to care for and improve these special places.

While the ‘#urbanjungle’ hashtag has become ubiquitous with social media, there’s one special place in Devon that started embracing this trend over 100 years before Instagram. Overbeck’s has been home to plants from all corners of the globe since the 19th century. So, how do the garden team care for these unusual plants, and could they lend some tips to help you care for your own house plants and exotics?

Connecting with nature can bring a sense of continuity and calm. Whether it be on a walk, from your window or in your garden, here are some tips for looking out for nature.

Looking for some inspiration for your next walk? Here's the nine most popular National Trust walks in the South West at the moment. Please follow social distancing measures, and don't forget to check the property home pages before you set out for your walk, for up to date opening details and see if you need to book.

We’re doing everything we can to make space for nature in the countryside, thanks to your support. Find out about the projects that are taking place in the South West to create space for nature.

Take inspiration from one of the grand houses in the South West, and create a National Trust gingerbread house.

Honey tea bread, a recipe from Kingston Lacy, is perfect with a generous spread of butter and a steaming pot of tea.

Stephanie Couch from 'A Cornish Mum' shares her recipe for the perfect chocolate chip shortbread. These are her go to at Christmas time with a hot chocolate, but work perfectly year-round.

How did you sleep last night? Did you have a nice quiet room to yourself? A comfy mattress? Such luxurious solitude we take for granted. Martin Papworth, National Trust archaeologist, takes a look at our houses where we glimpse an older, more communal lifestyle.

Learn something new about Cornish mining with our top ten surprising facts.