Win an exclusive beaver wetland tour on Exmoor

Beaver swimming in the beaver enclosure at Holnicote Estate in Somerset — Beaver swimming at Holnicote Estate, Somerset | © National Trust/Nick Upton

Enter our competition for a chance to win an exclusive ranger-led tour of our Exmoor beaver enclosure, plus a four-night stay in a National Trust cottage to celebrate Disney and Pixar’s new animated beaver adventure, "Hoppers".

We’ve teamed up with Disney and Pixar’s film "Hoppers", in cinemas 6 March, to encourage children to explore and connect with nature.

To celebrate the release of the new film, one lucky winner (and four guests) will meet our rangers during May half-term and stay in a National Trust holiday cottage in the ancient village of Dunster, in Somerset.

The prize includes a rare chance to visit our first beaver enclosure to discover the positive changes they’ve made for wildlife and water quality since they arrived there in 2020. You might get lucky and spot the beaver families at work, or the other wildlife that has moved in since they arrived, like water voles, kingfishers and otters.

You’ll also spend four nights at nearby Dunster Keeper’s House, a historic gem of a holiday cottage next to Dunster Castle, nestled in between the foothills of Exmoor and the Somerset coast.

The competition closes on 22 March 2026. Full terms and conditions apply and can be read below.

The prizes

The lucky winner of this exclusive competition will win:

A four-night stay at National Trust holiday home, Dunster Keeper’s House in Dunster, Somerset, from Monday 25 to Friday 29 May 2026 inclusive. The cottage is in the grounds of Dunster Castle, just a short drive from the Holnicote Estate and sleeps up to five people.
An exclusive guided tour of the beaver enclosure on the Holnicate estate with a ranger for up to five people on the evening of Wednesday 27 May 2026.
A Disney and Pixar's "Hoppers" prize bundle.
A copy of children's book "Out and About: Animal Spotter."
A bundle of outdoor-themed items from the National Trust online shop.
A £50 National Trust gift card to use on our online store, at any National Trust shop or café.

Five runners-up will each receive a copy of "Out and About: Animal Spotter."

The first prize is available on the given dates only and travel costs to the holiday cottage and experience are not included. Under 18's must be accompanied.

How to enter

To enter this competition, you need to answer the following question:

What do beavers build to slow down water?

For your chance to win, send us your answer using our online competition entry form. You must enter on or before 11.59pm on Sunday 22 March 2026.

You must be available to attend the experience from Monday 25 to Friday 29 May 2026, including the ranger-led beaver wetlands experience on Wednesday 27 May 2026.

Enter the competition

Terms and conditions

All information made available to entrants as part of the process of entering the competition forms part of these terms and conditions.

Submit your entry using the online form on or before 11.59pm on Sunday 22 March 2026 – the ‘Closing Date’. You’ll need to provide your answer to the question, full name, postcode and email address. Please refer to the ‘How to enter’ section above for the question.

There’s a limit of one entry per person. Any person who enters more than once will be disqualified.

Entrants must be resident in the UK.

Entrants under the age of 18 must have permission from their parent or guardian and be accompanied by an adult if they win the first prize. The parent or guardian agrees to the terms and conditions on their behalf.

Employees of the National Trust, the Walt Disney Company and each of their respective parent, affiliates, and subsidiaries and anyone connected to the competition may not enter.

One winner and five runners-up will be drawn at random from the entries with the correct answer. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to contact the winner and runners-up personally within five business days after the Closing Date, via the email address used to submit the competition entry.

The first prize is a package and cannot be accepted in part only.

The winner is required to accept the prize by responding to the National Trust’s email within five business days.

If the winner doesn’t accept the prize within five business days, we reserve the right to offer the prize to the next eligible entrant drawn from the correct entries that were received by the competition Closing Date.

The first prize is described below. It’s available on the dates and at the times given and isn’t available on any other dates or at any other times.

Travel to the location of the first prize, the National Trust holiday cottage Dunster Keeper’s House in Somerset isn’t included and the winner will need to make their own travel arrangements.

We won’t be responsible for any transport or accommodation costs incurred in the acceptance or fulfilment of the prize.

The first prize doesn’t include any extras.

The runners-up prizes are described below.

No cash alternative will be made. Prizes are non-transferable.

We must either publish or make available information that indicates that a valid award took place. Ordinarily this will be the surname and county of major prize-winners and, if applicable, their winning entries. If you object to your information being published or made available on request or wish to reduce the amount of information to be published or made available, please email us at takepart@nationaltrust.org.uk. In such circumstances, we must still provide the information and winning entry to the Advertising Standards Authority if challenged.

Subject to the first prize-winner’s consent, we‘d aim to use the winner’s details and photograph in post-event publicity on our own National Trust channels, including the website and magazine.

Responsibility can’t be taken for entries lost, delayed, mislaid or corrupted.

Events may occur that may render the competition itself or the awarding of the prizes impossible due to reasons beyond our control, and accordingly we may vary or amend the promotion. We’ll do everything we reasonably can to ensure that winners receive prizes of at least equal value.

Personal data supplied during the course of this competition will be processed as set out in our privacy policy.

These terms and conditions shall be governed by English law, and the parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

The Walt Disney Company, Pixar and each of their respective parent, affiliates, and subsidiaries are not responsible for the promotion, administration or execution of the competition or its prizes

By entering the competition, you’re agreeing to these terms and conditions.
A four-night stay at National Trust holiday cottage, Dunster Keeper’s House (ref 003059), from Monday 25 May to Friday 29 May 2026 inclusive. Dunster Keeper’s House overlooks Dunster Castle, just a 15-minute drive from the Holnicote estate. It’s self-catering and sleeps five (across three bedrooms). Further details are below.

An exclusive private tour of the beaver enclosure and wetlands on the Holnicote Estate with a ranger on Wednesday 27 May 2026.

Some Disney and Pixar's "Hoppers" themed merchandise.

A selection of products from the National Trust shop’s outdoor range, including binoculars, ROKA rucksack and a picnic blanket.

A copy of children’s book, "Out and About: Animal Spotter."

A National Trust Gift Card to the value of £50, see gift card terms and conditions.
Check in at Dunster Keeper’s House is from 4pm on Monday 25 May and check out is before 10am on Friday 29 May 2026.

Dunster Keeper’s House sleeps five people in three bedrooms. The winner may bring up to four guests with them. The number of guests stated must not be exceeded.

Our standard terms and conditions of a holiday booking apply.

Accessibility at Dunster Keeper’s House Cottage includes:

Internal steps and winding steps up to first floor.

All three bedrooms are on the first floor.

Ground floor bathroom and shower room.

Find out more about accessibility at Dunster Keeper’s House National Trust Cottages Access Statement or for further accessibility questions please email: holiday.enquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk or call us on 0344 800 2070.
The winner can bring up to four guests with them to the beaver created wetlands and enclosure experience with the National Trust Ranger.

Dogs are not allowed.

The experience will take place at 6.30pm on Wednesday 27 May 2026 and will last approximately 2.5 hours. A detailed agenda and exact timings will be confirmed to the winner in advance.

Travel from Dunster Keeper’s House Cottage to the Holnicote Estate isn’t included and you’ll need to make your own travel arrangements.

Attendees should be dressed appropriately to be outdoors in all weathers including waterproof clothing, long trousers, socks, wellies, hats and sun cream.

There is a short walk along a path to the enclosure from the Holnicote estate office. Within the enclosure there are no pathways, the ground is uneven, and conditions are very muddy, Wellington boots and waterproofs are advised.

Please contact holnicote@nationaltrust.org.uk if you have specific access needs to discuss.

A beaver sitting upright next to water inside an enclosure

Our guide to beavers

Beavers were once an important part of the natural environment. Find out some fascinating facts about how they are nature's ecosystem engineers and the benefits they can bring to wildlife and water quality.

Find out more