Wonderful if you can find it…read more This property is deep in heart of Devon and it took some doing to get there. Since it was originally constructed as a monastery in 1278, it is in a secluded location. There are many winding roads and narrow lanes en route. But every child spends time learning about the explorers and both of my boys were particularly fascinated by Sir Francis Drake. So when choosing which National Trust homes to visit, the Drake family home seemed like a perfect fit. It turned out to be my favorite. A large part of my (and particularly my son's) enjoyment was due to the educational aspect. Not just some dry lecture, they had a young guy on site in period costume discussing weapons. In particular archery and some of the great military campaigns against the French. Really cool stuff. Inside Buckland Abbey, there is also wonderful information about Sir Francis Drake. Videos about his voyage around the world and his victory over the Spanish Armada. He grew up nearby, then purchased the abbey once he became one of England's most successful explorers and a favorite of the queen. There is a lovely Elizabethan Garden and the barn is used for special events and exhibitions. On the upper floor, there are also outfits that the kids can try on to visualize another time and place. Like many National Trust sites, there is an on-site cafe. We skipped it in favor of seeking out a local tavern and that was a bit of a mistake. This location is truly remote and it was a challenge finding other local options. When we visited London, we saw a replica of Drake's ship, The Golden Hind, moored along the Thames. I only wish my boys were writing their reports on Drake this coming term.

This artificial ruin was built in 1747 and it replaced an obelisk which had stood there before. It…read morewas built using medieval stones which were salvaged from the churches of St George and St Lawrence in Stonehouse. An artist in the 1800s wrote that the Earl of Edgcumbe had his workers build one folly, blew it up, didn't like how it looked so had it rebuilt and blown up again. This time he was satisfied with the result!! It's possible to climb to the top to appreciate the views of Drake's Island, Plymouth Sound, Breakwater and Embryo Point. I used to go over to Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park quite often and have climbed the folly two or three times. That part of the park is free to ramble around (you need to pay to enter the House and Earl's Garden).

Came here in the late afternoon for a quick visit. Since we're members entrance was free. Our…read moreEnglish Bulldog was welcome on the site as well. The site is very nice and green. Very quiet when we've visited with only a handful of visitors. Surprising. Because even though not the biggest, it is a very interesting and beautiful castle. The big 13th-century round tower was built by Richard, Earl of Cornwall. You can climb up to the top to enjoy the views of the beautiful valley. The castle also served as prison and was also used as the base for the Cornish Royalist defence of the county. A very pleasant visit. Nice history, great surroundings. A small souvenir shop at the entrance as well. We enjoyed it. We parked our car at the nearby Westgate Street Multi-Storey Car Park and Coach Park. Only a few steps away.

This is a is a Norman motte and bailey earthwork castle on a high mound overlooking the town. It…read morewas once the administrative headquarters for the Earls of Cornwall who owned many estates throughout the region. It is thought that a castle was on this spot as early as 1067. In the 12th century a stone keep was constructed and then in the 13th century Richard of Cornwall held the earldom and made many alterations to the castle. After his death his son moved the administration to Lostwithiel which resulted in the castle's gradual decline in importance. It later became a prison for a time. Worth a visit if you are in the area, especially to see the views from the top. There is a nearby castle shop as well for souvenirs.

I've been here a few times and it really is a lovely place to visit. I have watched it expand over…read morethe years as adjoining fields have been ploughed up and new gardens created.There are now eight acres to explore with many different types of walled gardens, from a wild flower meadow to a 'South African Garden'. There are garden tours as well on Thursdays in summer, besides various exhibitions and other events taking place throughout the year. The tea room is in the vicarage and they specialise in traditional Devonshire teas with scones, cream and jam. There are meals available too with some vegetarian choices.

Peace and tranquillity - the most magnificent acers. Truly a hidden gem. The Tea House is a must…read more A warm welcome with a pot of tea and scrumptious, delicious home made cakes.

This famous landmark has been clambered over by countless children through the years (I was one of…read morethem). In fact it is said that all those little feet have smoothed the surface of the rock, but I don't know how likely this is. My husband says that his geology teacher told him that it was the remains of an asteroid which collided with the earth but other sources have said that it's a piece of magnessium limestone which pushed up through the ground millions of years ago. Who is right? The old road next to it became an aerodrome during the Second World War and the top of the rock was blasted off to make more room for the planes taking off and landing. I have never seen a photo of it before this time. Anyway, somewhere to stop if you're in the area (it's close to the main Plymouth-Yelverton road), especially if you have children who like to climb - and there is usually an ice cream van nearby too!

One of the most unusual buildings owned by the National Trust, this 16 sided property is a…read moretestament to English eccentricity! Built by two spinsters on their return from their grand tour in the 18th Century this building is bound to inspire and intrigue. The guides here are amongst the best that the NT has to offer and they will guide you through the myraid of tiny rooms with enthusiasm in buckets! The highlight of the tour is the shell room in the top of the property. This, for reasons of preservation, now has to be viewed through CCTV but you are able to control the camera and zoom in on anything that takes your fancy. The tea-room in the basement of the property is well worth a visit and the food of excellent quality. This is a small property and so groups can only be accommodated by arrangement. Bags must also be left in lockers at the start of the tour as the rooms are too small and fragile.

A bizarre building close to Exmouth that is well worth a visit! It's actually quite hard to…read moredescribe without going into huge detail. It is basically a quite bonkers designed house, packed full of a variety of rooms, which in turn are packed full of all kinds of bits and bobs. There is even a room that has the walls covered in shells (although you have to look at this through a video link) There are highly knowledgeable staff in almost all of the rooms willing to tell you in detail about the various parts of the building. The tea-shop in the basement is worth trying out - the soup we had was great. It's also worth pointing out that it gives you shelter from the elements if the weather is bad - once we stepped outside the wind almost blew us into the sea!

Unfortunately we hadn't the full experience and think this is kind of sad and could have been…read moreavoided. I'm just a bit claustrophobic and the tour was presented in a way (of course after paying the fee), in the film, the height of the dummy walls in the anteroom, I thought I could manage walking through. Noone tells you that you are standing bent (the walls at the beginning of the tour aren't as high as in the anteroom and I'm only 165cm), and therefore closed in from all sides, in that line of people while listening to the tour guide in the front of the line. It would have been no problem for me to walk there, but not to stand there bent for minutes not knowing how long this would take. This was too much, so 50 metres maybe in the Underground Passages. The stylish vestibule could use some additional information.

A brilliant tourist attraction! You can easily walk past the entrance which is on a busy shopping…read morestreet in between two shops, however its well worth a visit. The passages strecth underneath the city and give a great insight into Exeter's history. This was a real highlight of my recent trip to Exeter!

A wonderful, but slightly strenuous, walk for 2-3 hours. I advise starting from just beyond the…read morecastle which then gets your legs warmed up as you reach the waterfall. Sit there for a while and take in its magnificence. You should be now ready for the more difficult part of the walk but enjoy all there is around you. Some parts can be challenging for we oldies but well worth the effort. This takes you to the Devils Cauldron. A walk uphill afterwards to the delightful tea rooms for the obligatory drink. No, not obligatory, you will need it. The National trust has spent time and money making this, I feel, one of their better places to visit. Natural beauty at its best.

A few hundred years ago an outlaw family called the Gubbins were active here. Robbery, kidnapping…read moreand assault were their calling cards. Walk through here and you can imagine how they evaded capture for a long time. Nowadays their role has been usurped by the National Trust, only it's all legal. It's a beautiful gorge, not big but the sudden deepenings and plunges makes it cute and fun, but the charges are exorbitant just for a walk. The Gubbins clan must be looking down in awe from their new venture in the heavens.