15 free days out with National Trust Cymru this September

On selected dates throughout the month, National Trust Cymru properties will open their doors free of charge, offering a unique opportunity to explore some of Wales' most treasured historic houses, gardens and landscapes. From remarkable stories of Welsh history and culture to beautiful gardens and breathtaking countryside, visitors can enjoy unforgettable days out while learning more about the places that have shaped Wales.

This is all part of Open Doors, an annual festival in celebration of Wales's rich heritage and culture. Organised and funded by Cadw, the annual and ever-popular Wales-wide event will see hundreds of historic sites, iconic buildings, landmarks and unusual premises offer free entry, activities and events to visitors throughout the month of September.

North Wales

Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant, Penmachno | 5 and 6 September, 12pm - 4pm

Nestled in the Wybrnant valley, Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant is the birthplace of Bishop William Morgan, the first person to translate the whole Bible into Welsh, thus ensuring the survival of the language.

To celebrate Open Doors, Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant will be open on both Saturday and Sunday, 5 and 6 September, with talks on its history, garden and cultural significance.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ty-mawr-wybrnant

Plas Newydd House and Garden, Ynys Môn (Anglesey) | 12 and 13 September, 9.30am - 5pm

On the island of Ynys Môn (Anglesey), Plas Newydd is a Grade I-listed house and garden on the banks of the Menai Strait. With the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) as a dramatic backdrop, enjoy the 40 acres of peaceful garden and 129 acres of woodland and parkland.

It will be free to enter on Saturday and Sunday, 12 and 13 September, and there will be extra activities for everyone to enjoy. Unleash your inner artist as you discover art materials around the garden or make the most your visit by picking up an Artist Pack, full of items to inspire you to get creative.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/plas-newydd

Bodnant Garden, Conwy | 12 and 13 September, 9.30am - 5pm

This grade one listed garden in the Eryri (Snowdonia) foothills with historic plant collections and mountain views was established in 1874 by Victorian entrepreneur Henry Pochin. There are Italianate terraces with formal flower beds, ponds and parterres, informal shrub borders, woods, meadows and riverside dells with waterfalls and towering trees.

Enjoy a free visit to this glorious garden on Saturday or Sunday, 12 and 13 September and enjoy late summer colours with vibrant dahlias, rudbekias and heleniums in the Range Borders, the last of the fragrant blooms on the two Rose Terraces. In the riverside Dell you’ll find swathes of blue mophead and lacecap hydrangeas which sweep alongside the river.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bodnant-garden

Penrhyn Castle and Garden, Bangor | 19 and 20 September, 10am - 5pm

Penrhyn Castle’s vast rooms, rich neo-Norman architecture and opulent furnishings are steeped in colonial histories. Set on the Menai Straits, with a backdrop of the Eryri (Snowdonia) summits, Penrhyn Castle commands views to its quarry. It is surrounded by wooded and open parkland and a walled garden.

Visit for free on Saturday and Sunday, 19 and 20 September. The quarrymen from the Slate Museum will be putting on slate slitting demonstrations throughout the weekend, and there will be a baking demonstration in the Victorian Kitchen for everyone to enjoy on the Sunday.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/penrhyn-castle-and-garden

Erddig Hall and Garden, Wrexham | 19 September, 10am - 5pm

Explore a much-loved home, garden and estate, rich with the stories of the family and servants who lived above the River Clywedog. Discover a remarkable collection of servants’ portraits and carefully preserved rooms, a beautifully restored 18th-century garden, all set within a stunning 486-hectare (1,200-acre) landscaped pleasure park.

it’s free to enter on Saturday, 19 September. Enjoy a stroll along the 220-metre-long billowing herbaceous border that wraps around the garden. With espaliered fruit trees, bulbs, shrubs and annuals, September is a great time to visit.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/erddig

Chirk Castle and Garden, Wrexham | 19 September, 10am - 5pm

Chirk Castle is the last Welsh castle from the reign of Edward I still lived in today. Explore its medieval towers and dungeons, alongside elegant 17th and 18th century state rooms. The award-winning gardens feature beautifully clipped yew topiary and herbaceous borders, while the terraces offer sweeping views across the Cheshire and Shropshire plains.

Bring family and friends and enjoy a free visit on Saturday 19 September. Discover the medieval castle, catch the last of the summer roses, and enjoy a walk through the 480-acre estate as the seasons begin to change.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chirk-castle

Plas yn Rhiw and Sarn y Plas, Llŷn Peninsula | 26 and 27 September, 10.30am - 4.30pm

Standing on a hillside overlooking Cardigan Bay, Plas yn Rhiw is a 17th century manor house with the Georgian editions, with ornamental garden and wonderful views.

Set in front of Plas yn Rhiw is Sarn y Plas, once the home of poet R S Thomas and his wife Elsie Elderidge. On Saturday and Sunday, 26 and 27 September, the garden at Plas yn Rhiw and Sarn y Plas will be free to access.

On the 26 and 27 September at 1.30pm there will also be a free guided walk, leaving from Sarn y Plas and finishing at Plas yn Rhiw tearoom, passing by Fron Deg, a traditional Tyddyn or crofters cottage dating back to the 1870s (booking essential).

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/plas-yn-rhiw

Mid Wales

Powis Castle and Garden, Welshpool | 12 and 13 September, 10am - 5pm

Perched high above the Severn Valley, Powis Castle and Garden is home to one of Britain's most celebrated historic gardens and the award-winning Clive Museum housing an internationally significant collection of South Asian artefacts. The Garden's striking 17th century Italianate terraces, dramatic yew topiary, colourful herbaceous borders and peaceful Wilderness woodland create a unique landscape that has been evolving for over 300 years.

Enjoy the late summer splendour of the Garden and explore the Clive Museum for free on Saturday or Sunday, 12 and 13 September (Castle Rooms closed). With seasonal colour throughout the Garden and fascinating collections to discover in the museum, it's a wonderful time of year to visit Powis.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/powis-castle-and-garden

Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion | 12 and 13 September, 10am - 4.30pm

An elegant Georgian villa, designed by architect John Nash in 1790, complete with a walled garden, farmyard lake and wild parkland. Remarkably unaltered for over 200 years.

Enjoy a day out exploring a traditional Welsh estate on Saturday and Sunday, 12 and 13 September, for free. Explore the villa, visit the animals in the farmyard, take a stroll around the redbrick walled garden and take a moment to pause by the ornamental lake.

From 11am – 4pm enjoy a re-enactment display on the front lawn. Step back in time to 1485 where soldiers have set up camp on the way to the Battle of Bosworth. Chat to the archers and knights as they prepare for battle and watch them demonstrate the art of the longbow, sword and Welsh spear and sling.

Please note that entry to Llanerchaeron is free on 12 and 13 September, however, car parking charges still apply, £4 for non-NT members.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/llanerchaeron

Pontbrenmydyr Cottage, Ceredigion | 12 and 13 September, 11am – 2pm

This is one of the last surviving Welsh Cloms, a 17th-century mud constructed cottage. It has been carefully restored with a modern twist, and is now a one-bedroom cottage brimming with character. Its preserved vernacular details include original cow stalls, cobbled stone floors and smoke-blackened oak trusses.

Usually only accessible as a holiday cottage, this historic property will open its doors to visitors as part of Open Doors Wales on Saturday and Sunday, 12 and 13 September, where visitors will have the rare opportunity to explore inside.

https://cadw.gov.wales/open-doors-pontbrenmydyr-national-trust-cottage-aberaeron

South Wales

Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire | 5 and 6 September, 10.30am – 4.30am

Dinefwr is an iconic landmark in Welsh history. At the heart of the estate stands Newton House, a grand family home that was home to the descendants of Lord Rhys, the powerful Prince of the Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth, for more than 300 years. Surrounded by a stunning 18th-century landscaped park and National Nature Reserve, the estate is a haven of flower-rich meadows, ancient woodland and abundant wildlife.

As part of Open Doors, Dinefwr will be free to access on Saturday and Sunday, 5 and 6 September. Throughout the weekend, visitors can take part in the Birding with Branwen community art workshop with artist Ami Marsden and browse a pop-up second-hand bookshop in the Old Kitchen. On Saturday, you can also explore Llandyfeisant Church, meet the Friends of the church, join a guided walk from Dinefwr, discover the stories hidden within its historic fabric during a special How to Read a Building talk, and explore the Deer Park with the Dinefwr Roamers. On Sunday, visitors can meet the Dinefwr Orchardeers for apple picking and pressing in the Dinefwr Heritage Orchard too!

Please note that entry to Dinefwr is free on 5 and 6 September, however, car parking charges still apply, £6 for non-NT members.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dinefwr

Dyffryn Gardens, Cardiff | 13 September, 10am - 5pm

A peaceful oasis on the outskirts of Cardiff, Dyffryn Gardens features garden rooms, sweeping formal lawns, a restored rose garden and a magnificent arboretum. The gardens showcase a variety of styles inspired by landscapes from around the world, from the distinctive Italian influence of the Pompeiian Garden to the lush, rainforest-like planting of the Exotics Garden.

September is a wonderful time to visit Dyffryn’s 55-acre garden, with colourful herbaceous borders and vibrant dahlias. Enjoy a free visit on Sunday, 13 September, and make the most of the café, shop and second-hand bookshop during your day out.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dyffryn-gardens

Tredegar House, Newport | 13 September, 10.30am – 5pm

Tredegar House is one of the architectural wonders of Wales and one of the most significant late 17th-century houses in the whole of the British Isles. Situated within 90 acres of beautiful gardens and parkland in Newport, this delightful red brick house provides an ideal setting for a fantastic day out.

The house and gardens will be free to visit on Sunday 13 September. Discover the story of the Welsh family who called Tredegar House home for more than 500 years and explore its three distinctive gardens: the enchanting Orchard Garden, the Cedar Garden with its impressive 300-year-old cedar tree, and the elegant Orangery Garden.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tredegar-house

Dolaucothi, Carmarthenshire | 19 and 20 September, 10am – 5pm

Discover Dolaucothi, the only known Roman gold mine in Britain, nestled in the beautiful Cothi Valley in Carmarthenshire.

Enjoy free entry on Saturday and Sunday, 19 and 20 September. Explore the mine yard, try your hand at gold panning, and visit the machinery sheds and small museum before venturing underground to explore ancient Roman mine workings on the self-guided Roman Mine Trail.

(Underground guided tours available at an additional cost. Booking essential)

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dolaucothi

Tudor Merchant’s House, Pembrokeshire | 26 September, 11am – 4pm

Step into the world of a successful merchant and his family in 1500, when this fine three-storey house had just been built. Discover the merchant's shop and working kitchen on the ground floor. The first-floor hall is decorated with colourful wall hangings and replica Tudor furniture.

Time travel to Tudor Tenby and discover what life was like in this 15th century merchant's house with free entry on Saturday, 26 September.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tudor-merchants-house