With autumn fully upon us, October is ideal time to put on walking shoes and wellies for a crispy outdoor adventure at the beautiful National Trust sites in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.
To help visitors of all ages fully embrace all that autumn has to offer – changing nature with its colours, warm jumpers, spiced chai drinks and comfort food – National Trust announced a special, limited seasonal ticket offer.
National Trust has free, single-use passes allowing up to two adults and four children to enter a National Trust place for free, while existing members can bring along friends.
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Seasonal fun at the National Trust properties include nature adventures and Halloween trails to keep children entertained.
The limited ticket offer lasts only until free visit tickets have been distributed or until November 30.
Buckinghamshire
Cliveden
Taplow. SL1 8NS
Tel: 01628 605069
Scarecrow trail
Oct 22 Sat – 30 Sun
Follow the scarecrow trail with each model created by local community groups. Admire their handiwork and draw one of your own before heading to the Info cente to make a miniature scarecrow from a bamboo spoon.
Normal admission, event is free
Hughenden
High Wycombe. HP14 4LA
Tel: 01494 755573
Minibeast Hunt
Tues Oct 25 Oct and Thurs Oct 27
Joni our ranger team in autumn fresh air to get hands-on with wildlife and find some bugs to love.
Normal admission, event is free.
Salt dough leaf making
Wed Oct 26 and Sat Oct 29
Go on a woodland hunt to find a leaf perfect for a print, or make your own with leaf cutters and modelling tools. Colour it autumnal, scent it with spice and take home with you.
Normal admission, free event.
Fantastical fungi trail
Sat Oct 22 – Sun Oct 30 10am-4pm
Explore the hidden world of the fungi kingdom this autumn at Hughenden with our activity trail and eight giant fungi dotted around the grounds of Hughenden to find.
Normal admission, event is free
Stowe
Near Buckingham. MK18 5EQ
Tel: 01280 817156
Harvest weekend
Oct Sat 1 – Sun 2
Harvest stalls, fairground style games and specialist talks from the Garden and Parks team.
Normal admission, event is free
Halloween Wicked Witch trail
Sat Oct 22 – Mon Oct 31 10am-4pm
Follow the paths around Lamport Garden on this spooky exploration. Find the ingredients for a secret Stowe potion, learn some chants and spells and enjoy the magical colours of Stowe in autumn.
Normal admission. Pick up a free trail from the porch, info kiosk or garden entrance.
Waddesdon
Near Aylesbury. HP18 0JH
Tel: 01296 820414
Half term autumn adventures
Sat Oct 22-Sun Oct 30 (closed Mon & Tues) 10am-5pm
Nature-inspired activities and wildlife workshops for children, spooky afternoon teas in the restaurant and beer and pie at the Stables. Small prizes at the Woodland Café for anyone visiting in fancy dress over half term week.
Normal admission
Wildlife workshops
Thurs Oct 27 and Fri Oct 28, 2-3.30pm
Wildlife expert will take you on a guided walk through the woods then make their own bug hotel to take away.
Normal admission, £15 per child, book online.
Berkshire
Basildon Park
Near Reading. RG8 9NR
Tel: 01491 672382
Rangoli
Oct Sat 22
Watch talented rangoli artist Rohit Rajaguru create an intricate artwork live in the ballroom at Basildon Park. A rangoli is a large-scale, temporary design created on a floor from brightly coloured ground rice. It represents the happiness, positivity and liveliness of a household. The artwork is being created on Saturday 22 October and it will stay in place for a week. Children can have a go at creating their own rangoli in the 1950s kitchen at Basildon Park throughout half term.
Normal admission, free event
Half term Festival of Light and Colour
Sat Oct 22 Oct – Sun Oct 30
As the days are dimming, Basildon Park is turning up the colour and light. Walk up the woodland walk surrounded by sparkling fairy lights. In the garden, an autumn colour trail will get kids active and appreciating nature. You’ll be greeted at the house with colourful torans (bright garlands) and the interior glowing with lanterns, diyas, tea lights and coloured projections. The rangoli and children’s rangoli-making will remain in place throughout the week.
Normal admission, free event
The Vyne (in Hampshire)
Near Basingstoke. RG24 9HL
Tel: 01256 883858
Halloween riddle trail (children aged eight and over)
Sat Oct 22 Oct – Sun Oct 30 10am-4pm
Intrigue and conundrums await ages eight and up. Ponder brain-teasing riddles before using the map to find the mysterious answers.
Normal admission. £2 per trail sheet, with chocolate treat
Halloween characters trail (children aged seven and under)
Sat Oct 22 – Sun Oct 30 10am-4pm
From witches and wizards to cats and dogs, children will love exploring the gardens in search of familiar Halloween characters.
Normal admission. £2 per trail sheet, with chocolate treat.
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