Working holidays

Looking for a different sort of holiday? Experience life as a ranger, a farmer or gardener with a National Trust working holiday.

A volunteer working on the heathland at Dunwich Heath and Beach, Suffolk

Working holidays cancellations

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and government guidance on social distancing, we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel all remaining working holidays for 2020.

We’re now in the process of getting in touch with all affected working holidays participants to cancel their bookings and provide them with a full refund.

We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our working holidays leaders and participants, and we’re sorry for any disappointment that this news causes.

Essential information

Read our essential information on our working holidays cancellations including why we're making this difficult decision and what to do if your holiday has been affected.

Find out more

Working Holidays have been part of the National Trust for over 50 years. In that time participants have helped us to look after some of the most incredible places in England and Wales.

We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our working holidays leaders and participants, who make such a difference for the benefit of nature and so that more people can enjoy the beautiful places we care for.

We’re now in the process of reviewing the future of our working holidays and hope to provide an update on this later in the year.

Celebrating 50 years of working holidays

Volunteers on a Working Holiday at Poltesco, The Lizard, Cornwall, resting whilst looking over the bay — Poltesco, The Lizard, Cornwall

150 holidays and counting

Working holidays leader, Bob Mclaurin did his first working holiday in 1993. 24 years later and he's now taken part in over 150 holidays.

Read Bob's story

Volunteers repair a canal towpath on a National Trust working holiday — Participants on a working holiday

Pathways and waterways: my holiday diary

Ever wondered what it’s like to take part in a working holiday? Read volunteer leader Riaz's diary of his first working holiday experience.

Read Riaz's diary

National Trust working holiday volunteers on a beach holdiay

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Video

A working holiday on the Devon Coast

Find out what a group of participants got up to when they went on a working holiday on the Devon Coast.