History, heritage and horticulture await discovery at properties cared for by the National Trust.
1. Nostell Priory near Wakefield
Nostell is one of the great houses of the north of England. It was created not simply as a home, but also to send out an important message about the Winn family who owned it. Nostell’s parkland and garden stretches over more than 300 acres taking in wildflower meadows, lakes and woodland.
2. Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden near Ripon
Nestled within the Skell Valley near Ripon, this landscaped masterpiece was designed by John and William Aislabie in the 18th century. Granted World Heritage Status in 1986, these gardens hold a place on the world stage.
3. Studley Royal Water Garden Temple near Ripon
Follow the gentle banks of the River Skell down from Fountains Abbey to the garden, which has been channelled into canals, cascades and tranquil moon ponds. It was the monks who originally changed the course of the river up by the abbey and the Aislabies continued this work crafting the reservoirs and channels to create a scenic landscape garden.
4. Bridestones, Crosscliff and Blakey Topping near Pickering
Aptly named ‘Brink-stones’ or edge stones in Old Norse, you can follow footpaths to the top to experience the Bridestones first hand. These fascinating rocks are the remains of a sandstone ‘cap’ that was originally much higher Jurassic sedimentary rock deposited some 150 million years ago. The surrounding nature reserve is a high, wild and inspiring blend of open heather, rough pasture, wooded hillsides and stunning summer-flower filled grassy dales. It is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest.
5. Beningbrough Hall, Gallery and Gardens near York
There are more than eight acres of gardens to explore at Beningbrough. Spend hours wandering through the formal gardens, walled kitchen garden and herbaceous borders. Relax among the flowers or maybe compare the size of your vegetables. They include a two acre working walled garden with a large fruit collection, several herbaceous borders, a newly installed and planted pergola and less formal areas managed for wildlife. Each area tends to be at its best at a different time of the year and watching the season change is often a reason to return time after time.
6. Nunnington Hall near Helmsley
With a hive of busy bees, Nunnington Hall’s walled garden is an organic paradise of produce. The warmer months bring roses, alliums and a riot of colour to the herbaceous borders while the orchard comes to life with fruit in the autumn. The Nunnington Hall walled garden sits on the banks of the River Rye. The garden has been managed fully organically since 2002, reviving traditional horticultural methods as well as embracing modern techniques and technology. Organic gardening means that manufactured fertilisers and synthetic chemicals are not used. Rather than eliminating pests and diseases the gardening team aim to maintain a natural balance, only using biological and physical controls when necessary.