National Trust Cymru share a whole host of events and activities for families this summer
Explore vast Welsh castles, get stuck in with Summer of Play activities, or let off steam in natural play areas with National Trust Cymru this summer.
With fun-filled activities and exciting events, there are plenty of great family days out to be had in Wales this summer. What’s more, Starling Bank are sponsoring the conservation charity’s Summer of Play offer, meaning some places have new and exciting activities.
At Chirk Castle in north Wales, families can expect a giant straw bale castle where children can navigate their way around and build their own forts. While Dyffryn Gardens in south Wales will be turned into a garden of music where children can star in their one musical with costumes, instruments and games.
North Wales
Chirk Castle and Garden, Wrexham
Chirk Castle’s new summer experience awaits with a Medieval twist. Get ready to jump, climb, run and skip through bales, because this year the centrepiece of Chirk Castle’s Summer of Play is a huge straw bale castle. Within the straw fortress lies four unique play zones where you can discover different ways to play, be active, engage your senses and have fun.
Get close to nature as you build dens and try your balance along an obstacle course, then use your imagination to transport yourself back to Medieval Chirk through costume and roleplay. Let your creativity flow and take a moment to relax in the sensory turret, before trying your hand at building your very own fortress in the construction turret. On selected weekends, there will also be archery and fencing sessions (check the website for dates).
No visit would be complete without an exploration of the Medieval castle itself, with stunning gardens, preserved dungeons and state rooms fit for a king.
Don’t forget to stop by the play area near the kiosk next to Home Farm where you’ll find an agility trail, climbing web and spinners.
Erddig, Wrexham
Get active at Erddig this summer and put the whole family to the test with competitive games on the lawn. Whether it’s weaving wheelbarrows on the West Front, teaming up in relay, or racing around the Timber Yard on tricycles, there’s something to keep all ages occupied.
On selected days there will also be art workshops, including making and decorating your very own origami doll house or peg doll. The much loved and award-winning storyteller Jake Evans also returns this summer with three magical sessions of storytelling that will keep little ones gripped to their seats (check the website for dates). There is also the chance to sow your own seeds on selected Sundays using our head gardener’s favourite wildflower seed mix. Take your pot home with you, replant it and watch it come into bloom. On selected Fridays take inspiration from our stunning garden here at Erddig to create an art masterpiece on the garden lawn.
To blow off some steam, head into the Wolf’s Den, a natural play area that spans nearly two acres of wild play space with den building, rope swings, balancing beams and a host of other natural play equipment built entirely from resources found on the 1,200-acre estate.
Plas Newydd House and Garden, Anglesey
There’s plenty to get stuck into at Plas Newydd this summer. Get the family together and complete all the activity stations throughout the garden. Have a go at flying a kite, play giant Jenga and other garden games. Families can also go head-to-head in a game of frisbee golf, a firm favourite with visitors, and little ones will love exploring the treehouse.
The Adventure Playground in Dairy Woods is the perfect place to let off some steam at Plas Newydd. Nestled in the woods you’ll find a big climbing frame with a slide, climbing wall, tunnels and bridges, but you’ll need to complete the obstacle course to get to it. Try balancing on beams, swinging on ropes and hop along the stepping stones. Surrounded by picnic benches, it’s the perfect place to stop for some lunch.
Plas Newydd is a great place to spot red squirrels, so bring your binoculars and scour the treetops to see if you can spot one. During the Summer months they can be spotted throughout the woodlands, particularly in Church Bank Wood and along the edge of the Menai Strait.
Join us for the Festival of Archaeology between the 15 and 20 of July to learn all about Plas Newydd’s historic landscape. On the 15 and 16 we will have sandpit archaeology, where children can be young archaeologists for the day along with spotter guides and information about the historic features in the garden. Between the 17 and 20 July we will also be demonstrating a geophysical survey to discover what lies beneath the lawns.
Penrhyn Castle and Garden, Bangor
Penrhyn Castle provides the perfect place to kick back and relax on a summer’s day. Discover the farmlands that used to exist where the castle now stands and enjoy a whole host of games and activities. Feed the pig, get your competitive spirit out in our egg and spoon race or relax on the haybales and enjoy a summer of fun at Penrhyn Castle.
There’s also two play areas to explore, the natural woodland play area can be found through a secret archway in the car park with balance beams down by the Cwt Ogwen hide, while the Adventure Playground can be found nestled amongst the woods near the Walled Garden with climbing ropes in Rook Wood.
Bodnant Garden, Conwy
When the days are hot and humid, enjoy a cool walk amongst wildflowers and woodland at Bodnant Garden. Listen out for the birds singing as you go on a family adventure through the Old Park Meadow, down through the shaded Yew Dell and towards the Willow Maze and picnic area at the Far End.
Walk back alongside the river, stopping off at the picturesque Waterfall Bridge for a family photo. If you’re lucky, a sudden flash of blue may mean you’ve seen one of the shy kingfishers with their young brood. Enjoy an ice cream from The Dell Kiosk, before making your way to the formal Terraces, where beautiful roses and herbaceous borders are just waiting to delight with their scent and colour.
Plas yn Rhiw, Llŷn Peninsula
Reconnect with nature as you take on the pollinator trail, find out more about the importance of our pollinators and some of the incredible facts about our bees, butterflies and other bugs!
Little ones can become nature detectives and use our seasonal ‘Nature spotter pack’ to discover some of the amazing plants and animals we have. Explore the garden, woodland and meadow, taking a very close look using the hand lens or binoculars to get a different perspective on what lives around us.
Mid Wales
Powis Castle and Garden, Welshpool
Throughout the summer holidays families and friends can compete in traditional sports and games on the Great Lawn at Powis Castle. From hurdles and badminton to volleyball, football and croquet there’s hours of fun to be had.
Celebrate the launch of this year’s Festival of Archaeology with a FREE fun-filled family day of exploration and creativity at Powis Castle and Garden on 15 July. Discover more about this amazing site through a live archaeological excavation, plus tours and activities exploring the history and legends of the area, from Medieval to the Restoration. Have a go at living history activities as well as hobby horse racing, storytelling and more.
Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion
Take part in the Summer of Play at Llanerchaeron this summer. Go on a woodland walk, whiz around the trails on balance bikes, play games on the lawn and see how many ’50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ activities you can tick off. Children will also love the water and sand pit, so make sure you pack an extra pair of clothes!
Get competitive with family and friends over a game of Ping Pong in the house or every Wednesday you can join Forest School for woodland activities.
No visit is complete without visit the farm with its Llanwenog sheep, pigs and Welsh cobs, and exploring the Geler Jones collection.
South Wales
Tredegar House, Newport
There’s plenty to do at Tredegar House this summer. Try a spot of croquet and badminton in the gardens on Thursdays and Saturdays, or borrow cricket bats, frisbees and more, to make the most of those lazy, warm afternoons in the parkland throughout the summer holidays.
Take part in some Loose Parts play, engage in Nature Play and entertain with some Performance Play. In partnership with Dyffryn Community Link, there will also be some free National Play Day sessions.
Or go on your own adventure and pick up an explorer pack kitted out with binoculars, compass, magnifying glass, and more to allow you to get closer to nature. There’s also plenty of ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ activities to do along the way.
Dyffryn Gardens, Cardiff
Dyffryn will be filled with music and play this summer. Inspired by the Cory family’s avid love of music, Dyffryn Gardens will be turned into a garden of music. Children will be able to explore musical sound outdoors, play unusual percussion instruments and musical games as well as dress-up and star in their own musical in the Theatre Garden. There will also be fun family games and designated quiet areas where you can simply listen to the music of nature.
Visit this garden of music to play musical games and instruments, dress-up and star in your own musical, and enjoy lots of family garden games.
There are two Log Stack play areas at Dyffryn too, one outside the pay barrier near the Welcome Centre and a larger one in the Arboretum. These wild play areas have plenty of space for youngsters to run, jump, explore and play. Balance along enormous trees which were felled as part of the arboretum revival plan, jump from log to log along the stepping stones and have a picnic on hand carved picnic stumps.
Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire
Come rain or shine, Dinefwr has something for everyone this summer! At the front of the house you’ll find games on the lawn and a beautiful new addition for this year will be a tennis court, where families can go head-to-head. If the Welsh weather prevails, head to the house for wet weather activities to keep the whole family entertained.
One of the many highlights of visiting Dinefwr is seeing the White Park Cattle who have returned to graze the front fields with their calves. To get a closer look at these legendary animals, there are Tractor Tours on Wednesday 16 August.
Explore the parkland at our own pace, look out for deer, ancient oak trees and a secret fairy village along the way. There’s also plenty of ’50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ activities.
Dolaucothi, Carmarthenshire
Visit the Mine Yard and have a go at searching for gold in our new, accessible gold panning area and rill. Grab a pan and search for gold, you never know what you may find! There’s also ample of space, rich in nature and wildlife to explore with 25km of footpaths through the estate, perfect for a summer walk.
Make it a summer to remember by exploring the only known Roman goldmine in Britain. You can also choose from three different guided underground tours (booking essential). The Roman tour takes you into a floodlit Roman mine (dogs welcome), the Level Tour is suitable for those with more limited mobility, and the Mining Through The Ages Tour takes you into a dark, Victorian working. Children must be taller than 1 metre and cannot be carried.
Join in with Festival of Archaeology events on selected days from 16-30 July to learn about the past, present, and future of archaeology at Dolaucothi. University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, will be on site to answer your questions and tell you more about the site, and there will be a whole host of activities for young archaeologists too.
Colby Woodland Garden, Pembrokeshire
Colby Woodland Garden is perfect for exploring nature this summer. Go on a bug safari and guided walk, join an art workshop, or simply enjoy a self-led trail through the woodlands. Every Wednesday from 26 July to 30 August, you can also take part in archery sessions.
Discover the sky gazing glade at the top of the woods or have fun building a den under the trees. Enjoy jumping on the giant stepping-stones or explore the flora and fauna. Don’t forget to pick up a “50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ leaflet from the visitor welcome centre and see how many you can tick off.
The wildflower meadow with its network of streams and ponds is a popular spot with all sorts of species including birds, toads and even the occasional otter, so pack a picnic and a blanket and perch in the meadows and see what wildlife you can spot.
Stackpole, Pembrokeshire
Enjoy a Summer of Play every Wednesday from 26 July to 30 August with archery sessions at Stackpole Court. On 27 July and 4 August, you can also visit Stackpole at dusk for a spectacular guided ranger walk to discover the rare resident lesser and greater horseshoe bats (booking essential).
Throughout the summer holidays you can enjoy the network of footpaths throughout the estate, leading down to Barafundle Bay, Stackpole Quay, Bosherston lily ponds and Broad Haven South beach. Try out the new orienteering trail in Lodge Park woods, you can grab a map from the Visitor Reception.
Most offers begin on 22 July unless otherwise stated. Normal admission applies (National Trust members for free). For more information, or to plan your visit, head to; www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/family-friendly
