Slightly different extended bank holiday outings for me. I thought about walking out on Dartmoor or the coast, the weather was certainly forecast to be good enough. But I chose instead to head to a couple of National Trust places, make use of my membership and have a couple of simple days out and a cream tea or two. First up was Tyntesfield, not far from Bristol, so a fair drive for me to get there. Its a Gothic Revival House and casts a striking figure against the soft parkland landscape. It was a place you see the sign for as I head up and down the M5, normally on route to and from the Lake District. As with lots of NT properties the walks aren’t far, but this one does do a good job of looping around the house so you get to see from all sides and the interior of the house is lovely. The second walk was at Cotehele, just inside Cornwall and one I’ve visited quite a few times now. The house looked lovely and the walk down to the quay and back up through the woods was a good one and enough to have earned an ice cream. The rest of the weekend was mainly pottering, decorating or just relaxing really and nothing like what I thought I’d get up to with 4 days off. Still they were lovely places to visit.
The map of Tyntesfield, basically it was the blue route for me, with the extra loop down to the bottom right following those orange dotsHeading down towards the houseThe back of the house is the first bit you see coming this way. The chapel is the obvious larger part on the left hereThe driveway into the front doorTyntesfieldCentral staircase inside the main house. We had a good look around inside however lots of the rooms were very dark as the curtains were drawn and the rooms dimly lit to protect the decoration and artifacts inside. As I only had my phone it struggled to take any decent shots
The chapel
Walking the lane down towards the walled garden area and second cafeThe impressive frontage of TyntesfieldAll paths leads to TyntesfieldAcross the fields to the area holding Bristol airport, which is up on the hill over thereAfter a cloudy but warm day at Tyntesfield, this was the azure blue skies of Cornwall a few days later. It was very warm here.They had set out a picnic area and games for those wishing to bring food for the Jubilee, this wild meadow was full of insectsA Brimstone, I thinkThe back of CoteheleHeading down now towards the quay area, another cafe/ice cream place at the bottomThe River TamarA chapel as you walk the riverside path back up towards CoteheleA fabulous view of the viaduct at Calstock, the River Tamar heading under the structure. I have been on a few booze cruises up the Tamar from Plymouth before, stopping and turning at Calstock, a pint in each pub and then back on the boat to head back to Plymouth. Lots of funThe house is behind me here as look down over the rhododendrons to Calstock viaduct.
Been a while since I did the NT properties. We used to have membership when the kids were younger. There was always a good play area for the kids and a decent cafe as well as the property itself. They aren’t interested any more and we prefer a days walking now given the chance
treksandtors 
Lovely places. I like visiting NT properties although it is a bit harder now that we have a dog as most of their properties are not dog friendly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Been a while since I did the NT properties. We used to have membership when the kids were younger. There was always a good play area for the kids and a decent cafe as well as the property itself. They aren’t interested any more and we prefer a days walking now given the chance
LikeLiked by 1 person