Lyme Park

For a great day out, why not visit Lyme Park on the edge of the Peak District National Park? Fantastic views across the Cheshire Plain, vast areas of moorland, intimate gardens, Lyme's own herd of red and fallow deer, and a superb Italianate mansion guarantee you won't be stuck for something to do! Pick up our new Welcome CD at the park entrance - and learn about Lyme as you drive up the mile long drive to the house! In Cheshire's Year of Gardens, visit the newly planted Rose Garden, now in full bloom right into the autumn. Discover the lives of estate workers over the last century in a new exhibition 'Working Lives at Lyme'; In the restaurant enjoy Lyme's special traditional roasts of locally sourced pork alongside estate venison and traditional puddings and cakes - including  Chocolate and Beetroot cake; or enjoy freshly made sandwiches and snacks in the Timber Yard coffee shop.

Food glorious food.....

Enjoy a scrummy autumn pudding absolutely free between 1 - 31 October 2008 when you spend over £5.75 on a main course at lunchtime. Simply collect a voucher at a National Trust restaurant or tea room during September and redeem in October. You can also download a voucher at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ . Bring the family and enjoy tasty temptations during British Food Fortnight (20 Sept - 5 Oct) when we'll be celebrating delicious locally sourced and produced food at a National Trust restaurant or tea-room near you!  Start your day with a Great British Breakfast at Quarry Bank Mill - including cured bacon, locally-made sausage, English tomato and a free range egg.   At Dunham Massey why not try the new Beef in Stamford Beer with sliced potatoes, or Open Field Mushroom Pie with two English Cheeses, and at Little Moreton Hall dip into a fruity Pear Crumble.

For information on events visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/thingstodo

Dunham Massey Hall, Garden & Park

Tel 0161 941 1025, Infoline 0161 928 4351

Location: 3 miles south of Altrincham off A56, jcn 19 of M6; jcn 7 of M56

Opening:

Open 8 Mar - 2 Nov daily 12 - 5pm (house closed Thurs & Fri). Park, restaurant and shop open daily . Open Good Fri & BH Mons

NT Members Free Entry. House & Garden combined ticket: Adult £7.50,  Child £3.75; Garden only : Adult £5, Child £2.50. Estate admission: free to NT members, otherwise £4 per car.

This peaceful country estate is a great favourite with families.  Stroll through the deer park and you may meet some of Dunham's herd of 250 fallow deer.  The deer are well used to visitors and can often be seen grazing or sleeping, sometimes at very close range.  Paved avenues lead through the park, passing ponds which are home to a variety of ducks, geese and other birds.  A picnic lawn and a restaurant with dedicated family area, all add up to make this a perfect spot for a family day out.

The house, set up to display the height of Edwardian luxury, offers optional guided tours on most afternoons during the season (March - October).  The gardens are elegantly planted and contain curiosities such as the Well-House and a Victorian Bark-House.  Outside in the park, you can see the working saw-mill powered by its ancient waterwheel.

Little Moreton Hall

Tel:  01260 272018

E-mail:

Location: From M6 jcn 17 & 18 follow A34 southbound (signed Newcastle) from Congleton.

Opening

Open weekends from 1 - 16 March and  8 Nov - 21 Dec 11.30 - 4pm; 19 Mar - 2 Nov, Weds - Sun, 11.30 - 5pm. Open BH Mons.

Straight out of the nursery rhyme, Little Moreton Hall is the archetypal Tudor "crooked house".  Its wavy floors, patterned glass and elaborately carved timbering will capture the imagination of young and old alike. 

Crowned by its spectacular Long Gallery, this famous moated manor house has hardly altered in 500 years.  Its magnificent wall paintings and a historic knot garden help to bring the Tudor era, in which the house was built, vividly to life. A "must see" for anyone studying the Tudors (National curriculum Key Stage 2), during the season (March - October) there is also a children's quiz trail,  regular events and daily guided tours, which help make this a wonderful historical experience for the whole family.

Lyme Park

Info line: 01663 766492

Tel: 01663 762023

E:

Entrance is off the A6, 6.5 miles SE of Stockport, 17 miles NW of Buxton.

Opening:

Open weekends 1 - 9 March, and daily from : 15 March - 2 November, 11 - 5pm.

The garden is also open weekends 8 Nov - 21 Dec 12 - 3pm

Restaurant : As mansion, 11 - 5

Shop: 23 March - 30 October, daily 11 - 5, then weekends 4 Nov - 16 Dec, 12 noon - 4

A coffee shop is available - please ring for details.

Admission* 
NT Members Free entry.
House & Garden: Adult £7/Child £3.50/Family £17.50;
House only: Adult £5.20/Child £2.50; Garden only : Adult £3.80/Child £2.20;
The Cage: Adult: £1/Child 90p; Park: cars only £4.60 - refunded on purchase of house and garden adult ticket.
*Includes a voluntary 10% donation which will be put towards the restoration and upkeep of this property. Visitors can however, choose to pay the standard admission prices which are displayed at the property and at http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/

Set on the edge of the Peak District with magnificent views across the Cheshire Plain, Lyme Park is one of the most dramatic properties Cheshire has to offer with its magnificent mansion, gracious gardens, medieval deer park and miles of moorland.

In 1995 Lyme Park featured as the setting for Pemberley in the BBC's adaptation of Pride and Prejudice which starred Colin Firth. However Lyme isn't just about ‘Regency and Romance' -  there's plenty more on offer for all the family.  Walk the trails in the park, keeping your eyes peeled for the Red Deer and other abundant wildlife.  Visit the Cage, an 18^th-century hunting tower with dramatic views across the moors.  Tour the lavishly decorated house during the season (March - October) with the help of one of the children's tracker packs.  Explore the 17 acre gardens, complete with the reflection lake and ravine garden, or just take time out in the children's play area.  With 2 shops, a restaurant and a coffee shop as well, there's lots to keep families busy at Lyme Park!

Quarry Bank Mill

Entrance is 1.5 miles North of Wilmslow off B5166, 2.5 miles from M56 jcn 5, 10 miles south of Manchester, 2 miles from Manchester airport.

Opening:

Open daily from 1 March - 31 Oct, 11am - 5pm and Weds - Sun 1 Nov - 31 Jan 09 11am - 4pm. Estate open all year. Restaurant and Apprentice House as Mill.

Admission: NT Members free Mill & Apprentice House: Adult £9/Child £4.70/Family £20 (2 adults + 3 children)Mill only: Adult £6.50/Child £3.70/Family £17Estate: £3

Quarry Bank Mill and Styal estate provide an exciting window onto the past at one of Britain's greatest industrial heritage sites.  The complete working mill, run by Europe's most powerful working waterwheel, still produces cotton fabric .Hands-on exhibits and demonstrations by costumed interpreters take you through the Industrial Revolution, showing how traditional spinning and weaving were transformed by the ingenuity of early engineers.  Children's trails are available in holiday periods.

At the Apprentice House, you can discover what life was like for the children who worked at the Mill by exploring their dormitories, kitchen, schoolroom and the garden filled with fruit, herbs and vegetables.

All this is set in idyllic wooded countryside with riverside walks, a picnic meadow and children's play area.  Essential for anyone studying the Victorians (National Curriculum Key Stage 2), a visit to Quarry Bank Mill is a fascinating experience for all ages.

All images © National Trust