CAMpRA and the National Trust
166 replies
young thomas replied on 19/11/2021 15:22
Posted on 19/11/2021 12:33 by DavidKlyneWe have never joined the NT. Previously that was because the company we worked for had Corporate Membership so all we did was to fill in a form and hand it in when we arrived for free entry. A few years ago that ended but we were not persuaded to join as we don't visit enough properties each year to justify membership. We are still fortunate that we can claim back half the cost of any visit from our ex employees so we are probably in a more fortunate position than most.
The only problem with the charging mentioned for the CL in this thread is if you stay two nights it becomes very expensive. On the other hand if you have relatively short journey and can do the Gardens in an afternoon, stay overnight and leave the next morning it is not bad value.
David
Posted on 19/11/2021 15:22
David, if it's a relatively short journey, we would arrive, visit, and go home without the bother (and expense) of an NT CL.
I realise you like to park up and use public transport, however the NT do provide enormous car parks with generally easy access and calling in on the way to (and perhaps from) a site might give you more 'variety' than just the bus and Shanks' Pony, especially at 'half price'....👍
this is how (along with our bikes within 15 miles or so of site) we see many of the NT properties not 'on our patch'...usually a nice place to lunch, too.
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Takethedogalong replied on 19/11/2021 17:23
Posted on 19/11/2021 17:23
That’s how we tour BB. Day one is just as much a “doing day” as any other. We set off, visit somewhere nice, then arrive teatime ish at our chosen site. Most EH, CADW, Historic Scotland, NT and HHA properties have huge car parks (the NT even have dedicated MH parking in some) so it’s just so easy to set off, do a visit, then get to Site later in day. We do reverse on way home.
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SeasideBill replied on 19/11/2021 18:34
Posted on 19/11/2021 18:34
Views on NT obviously vary. Some see membership as a transaction, a subscription in return for the opportunity to visit various attractions and enjoy other benefits e.g. free car parking. Others, myself included, see it as a contribution to the preservation of our heritage and protection from commercialism that would see huge swathes of the countryside and coast placed off-limits and our great stately homes and estates turned into ‘resorts’ and golf courses. Partnerships that benefit that mission are fine by me and I have a choice whether to pay or not.
Cornersteady replied on 19/11/2021 18:46
Posted on 19/11/2021 18:46
I for one view NT (and EH) the subscription as excellent value for money and always have done especially when the children were young. It was a 'cheap' family day out and we easily got the cost on the subscription 'back' many times over through out the year by visiting as many as we could get in.
And also like SB I also saw it as a contribution to keep these places going for everyone to see and worth doing.
brue replied on 19/11/2021 18:53
Posted on 19/11/2021 18:53
Stourhead is much more than a garden, the estate is large and even contains an iron age hillfort, Alfred's Tower and Stourhead House itself and the history of the Hoares, a famous banking dynasty.. So a two night stay would probably do it justice. The CL was updated and moved in recent years, away from the back of the restaurant area with noisy delivery vehicles to a quieter spot on the edge of the car park.
Because we're local, half an hour or so away. We can spend an enjoyable couple of hours there on a visit. Sometimes we have a meal at the Spread Eagle Inn, where you can stay or in one of the estate cottages. We can also get food from the farm shop which is privately run. It's a big enterprise there, one of NTs flagship sites. Very soon the Christmas Light show will start, this will cost visitors an extra £20 to walk around during the evenings with food and entertainment too. The house also gets decorated for Christmas. A lot of volunteers needed not just employees.
I still think it's an expensive CL stay but many will get their money's worth.
Takethedogalong replied on 19/11/2021 18:56
Posted on 19/11/2021 18:34 by SeasideBillViews on NT obviously vary. Some see membership as a transaction, a subscription in return for the opportunity to visit various attractions and enjoy other benefits e.g. free car parking. Others, myself included, see it as a contribution to the preservation of our heritage and protection from commercialism that would see huge swathes of the countryside and coast placed off-limits and our great stately homes and estates turned into ‘resorts’ and golf courses. Partnerships that benefit that mission are fine by me and I have a choice whether to pay or not.
Posted on 19/11/2021 18:56
I tend to agree Bill, but just reading about some of the plans for the future is a bit worrying, seems a definite moving away from the preservation and interpretation of some of the properties is likely. I suspect things are sadly going to get more commercial in some ways. They have lost a huge swathe of the staff who curated and specialised in a lot of their property (small “p”) in terms of things like paintings, sculptures, textiles etc..... Speaking to friends who are volunteers for NT, there’s a lot of upheaval going on.
nelliethehooker replied on 19/11/2021 19:48
Posted on 19/11/2021 18:46 by CornersteadyI for one view NT (and EH) the subscription as excellent value for money and always have done especially when the children were young. It was a 'cheap' family day out and we easily got the cost on the subscription 'back' many times over through out the year by visiting as many as we could get in.
And also like SB I also saw it as a contribution to keep these places going for everyone to see and worth doing.
Posted on 19/11/2021 19:48
Us too. We make full use of our membership, and that of EH and HHA, to visit both their properties and their car parks. This year we've visited 20 properties, combined, and numerous CPs too. We would certainly not consider using their CLs at the proposed prices but will continue with our membership.
young thomas replied on 19/11/2021 20:33
Posted on 19/11/2021 20:33
I don't think this is an either or debate....
most think NT is good value and the membership is more than an admission charge. We do, too.
however, most think that the NT CLs are blooming expensive for NT members who don't receive a discount for already having 'contributed'. We do, too.
SeasideBill replied on 19/11/2021 20:42
Posted on 19/11/2021 20:33 by young thomasI don't think this is an either or debate....
most think NT is good value and the membership is more than an admission charge. We do, too.
however, most think that the NT CLs are blooming expensive for NT members who don't receive a discount for already having 'contributed'. We do, too.
Posted on 19/11/2021 20:42
Yes, but they haven’t ‘contributed’ to the creation and maintenance of dedicated facilities for campers - that’s not what the NT is about, It therefore seems reasonable that people should pay for extras if they want them rather than expect other important aspects to be diluted to cater for them specifically and their minority needs.
young thomas replied on 19/11/2021 20:48
Posted on 19/11/2021 20:42 by SeasideBillYes, but they haven’t ‘contributed’ to the creation and maintenance of dedicated facilities for campers - that’s not what the NT is about, It therefore seems reasonable that people should pay for extras if they want them rather than expect other important aspects to be diluted to cater for them specifically and their minority needs.
Posted on 19/11/2021 20:48
Does this mean you think an NT CL should cost an NT member and his kids/dogs £50? Whereas an non member gets inclusive entry?...and every other comparable facility is about £15-£22?
certainly not a huge investment on the NT's part, especially where Stourhead is concerned....a few converted, gravel covered, extra wide car park spaces with a tiny little horse rail around them...