This produced some really interesting destinations taking us on a journey around England and Wales. Here are a few extracts to share with you.  Enjoy your trip.

A WELCOME IN SOUTH WALES :

The White Castle is a medieval castle built in the twelfth century, a strong, remote and well preserved moated building. Gwyn ap Gwaethfod. The lord, was blind when the English captured the castle, he fought a dual in a darkened tower and won. Rudolf Hess, when he was a prisoner of war at Maindiff Court, wrote his memoires at the castle. Skenfrith, Grosmont and White Castle are a triangle of fortresses on the Welsh Border.                                                                    Anne Beavan, Monmouthshire

WOODCHESTER PARK :  

Nympsfield, Gloucestershire is a lovely place to visit. The house is not owned by the NT but the parkland is. There were seven lakes that the Americans used during the war to practice with amphibious vehicles. Before it was discovered it was eerie walking down through the woods because the gliders taking off on the hills above would whoosh across followed by a shadow. The house was never finished because the owner turned Catholic and ran out of money. It is now used to train people to be stonemasons and carpenters. My family farmed on the hill above where the windmills are. There are lovely views over the Cam Peak and Longdown across to the Severn Vale.                 Sue Rawlings, Wiltshire

LAKES AND LANES IN DERBYSHIRE : I have a favourite visit on my doorstep here in Bradley, only 3 miles east of Ashbourne off the A517 in Derbyshire. There are some beautiful wooded, winding lanes that lead you through rolling countryside and public footpaths around lakes. There is a Georgian Hall opposite the church and curiously at Moorend the road appears to pass through the middle of the cottages known as The Hole in the Wall.

                                                                               Angela McCluskey, Derbyshire

HIGHCLERE CASTLE and the TOMB of TUTANKAMUN : 

Before Downton Abbey made it famous we were more interested with its association with 5th Earl of Carnarvon who funded and discovered the Tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. They recently found Egyptian antiquities from the expedition in the Castle so started an exhibition. If you ever go to Egypt to the Valley of the Kings you must go to, or find out about, Highclere Castle and its connections first.

                                                                               Margaret Illsley, Berkshire