A perfect day out with the National Trust in Dorset.
This summer the National Trust are encouraging families to play together, be active and get creative outside with a whole host of activities and games. Each National Trust place offers something different, so why not plan a few days out during the summer holidays? From outdoor theatre performances to bushcraft workshops, there are loads of special events to enjoy at National Trust places in Dorset this summer.
Corfe Castle
Explore a thousand years of history at this famous Dorset castle. From 20 July to 1 September (10am-5.30pm), discover Summer Games across six play zones to get your legs and minds racing, all free with normal admission. Try to hit the bullseye in the Archery Zone or use the mini slingshots to fire beanbags onto the target boards. Visit the Obstacle Zone for stepping stones and balance beams or the Music Zone to make some noise. For something calmer, get your thinking caps on in the garden games area or join a weekend storytelling session.
Click here to find out more about all the things to do at Corfe Castle.
Kingston Lacy
Prepare for a festival of fun amid the sprawling acres of this family home. You’ll find dancing, puppetry, activities and adventures galore in the Festival Field, set out every day 20 July to 1 September, 9.30am-4pm. There’ll be storybooks to read, a bouncy fruits racetrack, a rainbow tickle tunnel and plenty of play equipment to entertain everyone from the littlest babies to the oldest great grandparents. Each week there’ll be different activities – learn to write your name in hieroglyphs, blow some bubbles or make a flower windmill. Enjoy storytelling, morning dance parties and nature discovery. Most activities free with normal admission, see website for details.
Click here to find out more about all the things to do at Kingston Lacy.
If you want to contact us please email Corfe Castle & Kingston Lacy.
Follow us on Facebook @NTCorfeCastle & @KingstonLacyNT and on Instagram @ntcorfecastle & @ntkingstonlacy to keep up with the latest news.
Most activities are FREE of charge but normal admission rates apply.
Date: 26 July – 31 August 2024 Time: 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm
Seasonal Family Bushcraft Workshops – From wood carving, fire lighting skills, animal tracking to foraging and den building. Age 7+ £10 per child
Date: 21 July – 8 September 2024 Time: 10am-3pm
Crafts – Changing weekly pirate themed crafts on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Activities – Design or colour a piece of treasure to add to our Castle treasure chest or make your very own paper Polly parrot!
Treasure Hunt – Follow the indoor trail clues to help us find it.
Included in general admission.
Theatre Thursdays
8 August 5.30pm – Jemima Puddle Duck – more info here.
15 August 7pm – The Secret Diary of Henry VIII – more info here.
29 August 7pm – As you Like It – more info here.
Date: Daily throughout Summer Holidays Time: 10am-4.30pm
Smugglers and Sandcastles: A Seaside Adventure! Our exciting trail and activities will uncover tales of daring smugglers and bring to life the traditions of the seaside in days gone by. Dressing up is encouraged!
Included in the museum entrance ticket.
Date: 23 July 2024 Time: 2.30-4pm
Festival Of Archaeology Activity Afternoon – more info here.
Date: 29 July 2024 Time: 10am- 2pm
‘Sensational Sea Creatures’ Clay Workshop & Museum Entry £20 – more info here.
Date: 13 August 2024 Time: 10am-2pm
Make A Flapping Seagull Puppet Workshop & Museum Entry £20- more info here.
DATE: 10 August 2024 Time: 2 & 6.30pm
Peter Pan Open Air Theatre Performance – more info here.
Date: 24 July – 28 August 2024
Charity Kids Sunflower Hunt – Search for our giant Sunflowers hidden around the Garden Centre to earn a biscuit from the Coffee Shop!
For a small donation to our charity of the year, pick up a form from the tills then collect a coloured sticker from each giant Sunflower.
Date: 20 July – 3 September 2024 Time: 10am – 3.30pm
Our Summer Trail is all about Animals of the River Stour. This is a great way to learn some fun facts about different species that use the river as their home.
No need to book. £3 per trail plus prize.
Date: 27 July – 1 September 2024
Victorian Summer
Passport Activities (£1)
Craft Station
Dress up as a Victorian
House & Garden Trail
Put on your own Puppet Show
Puzzle station
Read a book at the story station
Garden Games
Date: 22 July – 1 September 2024 Time: 9.30am-5pm Daily.
Ingenious Inventions – The Tank Museum brings the story of tanks and their crews to life with interactive exhibitions, 300 tanks, kids activities (plus tours and trails), daily tracked vehicle rides and Tanks in Action Displays (Monday-Thursday from 1pm) and even opportunities to participate in the live display.
20 July – 1 September 2024
Squishmallows spot the difference – find all 7 differences and enter to win.
1 August – 1 September 2024
Squishmallows Treasure Hunt – find the 6 letters and win a price.
3 August 2024 11am-3pm
Summer Saturday – Join us for Face Painting, Balloon Modelling & Crafts.
5 August 10am-12pm
Kids Crafting Session – Come and make a friendship bracelet in the cafe for free – No booking needed.
Here is a list of Summer Trails outside of the BCP area:
Dinosaurs in Space Trail – £4 per map – The Walled Garden Morton
Treasure Trail – 20 July – 4 August – £2.50 per map – Kingston Maurward Animal Park & gardens
Brambly Hedge Trail – Abbotsbury Swannery (Free with £1 Entry)
Children’s Nature Trail – 29 July – 1 September – Sherbourne Castle & Gardens
Dragon & Fairy Trail – 5 July – 1 September – Mintern House
Meadow Discover Trail – 19 July – 5 September – Durlston Country Park
Olympic Trail – 20 July – 7 September – FREE – Thorncombe Woods
Olympic Summer Trail – 27 July – 7 September – Shire Hall Museum
BCP Areas:
Open from July 2024 – 9am-5pm
Christchurch – Sopley Farm, BH23 7AZ.
Free entry, only pay what you pick.
Open from 27 July – 8-6pm
Wimborne – North Farm, Horton Road, BH21 7HL.
Brand new sunflower field in Wimborne.
Free entry, only pay what you pick (cash only). Dogs on lead welcome.
Surrounding Areas:
Open from 22 August 2024
Fordingbridge – Bickton Manor Farm, SP6 2HA.
Picking Patch – PYO, escape room, arts & crafts, barrel train, graffiti area, games area and a puzzle maize maze.
Various prices for activities please check their FB page.
Open from 25 July – 23 August 2024 – 9.30am-5.30pm
Bridport – Purcombe Farm, Whitchurch Canonicorum, DT6 6RL.
Sunflower Saunter at Coppet Hill – A kilometre of pathways through the West Dorset sunflower field.
£5 for adults – Under 16’s go free. Dogs on lead welcome.
Open from 3 August 2024 (Wednesday-Sundays) – 10am-4pm
Blandford – Littleton Drove, Blandford Saint Mary, DT11 9AE
Sunflowers at Blandford – 1 acre sunflower trail and pick your own sunflowers.
Free entry, just pay what you pick. Dog friendly.
Open from 10 August 2025
Blandford Forum – Gorcombe Farm, DT11 9AG
Check out the sunflower field and meet the 3 Pygmy goats.
Free entry, only pay what you pick.
Open from 9 – 28 August 2024 – 11am-4pm
Dorchester – Maiden Castle Farm, DT2 9PR
Dorset Sunflower Trail has a main & a shorter accessible trail, story time, a charity run plus sundowner sessions.
£5 per person – Under 5’s are free.
There are plenty of trails to discover and explore at Moors Valley Country Park and Forest.
Play Trail – You can wriggle through giant snakes in the ‘Snake Pit’, attempt the ‘Crocodile Crossing’ and balance on the fallen forest of ‘Timber’.
Trail Length – 1 mile.
Accessibility – Suitable for pushchairs.
Music Trail – Discover our lakeside Music Trail. At each station you’ll find a musical or percussion instrument, each beautifully tuned to produce a soft ambient sound.
Accessible for all ages and abilities.
Tree Top Trail – Halfway along the Play Trail, there is the option to divert onto the Tree Top Trail. The wooden walkway takes you up amongst the trees and allows you to get a real bird’s eye view of the Forest.
Trail Height & Length – 5 metre high and 200 metre long
Accessibility – Not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs however, there is a connecting path from start to finish.
Zog Trail – Get ready to join Zog on his latest adventure to collect golden stars as your little dragons learn how they help care for the forest and how the forests can care for them.
Download the Zog: A forest adventure app before visiting Moors Valley. Point the brand new app at special markers along the trail and watch Zog come to life. Optional: Head to the Visitor Centre to grab your Zog activity pack for £4.
Trail Length – 1.8km / 1 mile – The trail starts at the Walking and Cycling Totem Pole.
Accessibility – Mostly level gravel surface, suitable for pushchairs
Age – This trail is aimed at families with children aged 3-9, but can be enjoyed by all
Gruffalo Sculptures – Are you brave enough to come face-to-face with the Gruffalo? Find the lifesize sculptures of Gruffalo and his friends in the forest picnic area! Can find them all?
Date: 24 July – 2 September Time: 10am-4pm
Family Activity Trail – Walking with the Elementals
Faery’s, Gnomes, Elves, Pixies & Mermaid Doors & Houses will be along the trail, you might even catch a glimpse of a Dragon door when walking round!
£6 per trail sheet & prize to be collected from ‘Rock & Rose’ (near the Education Centre).
31 July 10am-3pm – Community Wildlife Adventure Day! – more info here.
29th July onwards
Join us for our Festivals themed trail in the Minster.
30th July onwards on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings between 10.30am-1pm
Fun in the Forest Garden
30th July – 21st August every Wednesday 1-3pm
Cream Teas, Games and Crafts in the Minster
10th August 1-am-12pm
Garden Games, Crafts and Ice cream on the Green outside the Minster.
More events to follow.
