NIGEL THOMPSON

Once the home of medieval monks, the atmospheric abbey ruins are the largest monastic ruins in the country It may while be cited the 12th as the century Fountains Mill, built to grind grain for perfect the monastery, example is of an one of the Trust’s oldest buildings. The exquisite English 18th century country house, but water garden, granted World Heritage Site status for children in 1986, the was big the brainchild of John Aislabie who inherited Studley attraction Royal has at to be the the end of the 17th century. Taking inspiration delights from French of the outdoor landscape gardeners, he transformed one of the adventure river Skell’s playground. wild and wooded valleys into the ground-breaking Georgian Set within water wilderness on gardens filled with statues, follies and ponds. Son the Belton William estate, the completed the gardens with the acquisition of Trust’s the Abbey largest ruins outdoor and the creation of “Anne Boleyn’s Seat”. Also play known area as is ‘The activity central Surprise View” - the amazing sight of the Abbey that ruins is guaranteed in the to keep distance is unfailingly breathtaking. all the family entertained, ■ nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey-and-studley-royalwater-garden with rope swings, climbing nets, zip wires, tree houses and towers.

The opulent 17th-century country mansion and its 1,300 acres of parkland with its resident deer was designed to impress. Its collections of silverware, ceramics and the library have proved such a huge draw that last year timed entry to the mansion was introduced.

■ nationaltrust.org.uk/ belton-house

One of the first gardens to be given to the Trust under its Gardens Scheme, Bodnant (Welsh for “dwelling by a stream”) took root in the foothills of Snowdonia in 1874.

Chemist Henry Pochin filled the garden’s 80 acres with plants brought back from all over the globe by renowned explorers. And Bodnant was used as the setting for movie The Secret Garden, which is due for release in April.

The world-class Grade 1 garden is home to four national collections including rhododendrons so rare that they don’t exist elsewhere.

■ nationaltrust.org.uk/bodnantgarden