Time Out’s National Trust Easter adventure guide: bike-riding

London

Janek: ‘We got there on the Tube!’

One cliché about National Trust properties is that you need a car to go to them – but carless city slickers shouldn’t feel excluded. London boasts its fair share of National Trust locations, including magnificent Osterley Park and House in west London, which can be accessed by the good ol’ Piccadilly Line. That makes it a lot easier to bring your own bikes from home (although remember you can’t take them on at peak hours). You can also hire them there as you traverse its peaceful, trail-filled grounds (if you’re going to do this, double check the opening hours of the cycle hire hub before setting out).

Easter egg hunt at Osterley Park and House runs from April 1-16. Booking is not required, £3 per trail. Entry is free for National Trust members (not including trail). Adult £14 (house and garden) or £8 (garden only, Mon-Tue only), child £7 (house and garden) or £4 (garden only, Mon-Tue only), children under five go free.

Derbyshire

Janek: ‘I liked how it was falling apart’

Billing itself as an ‘un-stately home’, this Peak District property subverts another cliché about National Trust properties by being in a state of managed decline, with little done to restore it other than essential repairs. The baroque-style mansion shows a contrast between decadence and dereliction; its peeling paint and abandoned rooms have a ghostly splendour that kids might enjoy. With acres of parkland to explore, studded with picturesque ponds, ancient oaks, and copious deer – there’s plenty to see and do. The circular Tramway Trail is ideal for cycling adventures, and you can hire your own bike there every weekend, bank holiday, and school holiday until Sunday November 5.

Easter egg hunts at Calke Abbey run from April 1-16. Booking is not required, £3 per trail. Entry is free for National Trust members (not including trail). Adult £11 (house) or £7 (park and gardens), child £5.50 (house) or £3.50 (park and garden), children under five go free. 

Dorset

Janek: ‘The woods were really pretty!’

It’s best to bring your own bike to this huge Dorset family home, with lavish interiors that re-imagine a Venetian palace in rural England. But it’s worth the effort: the Woodland Trail is a truly beautiful little cycle, through idyllic woods full of flowers and animals. With two playgrounds and a lovely children’s trail inside the house itself there’s also plenty to keep the little ones entertained once they’ve dismounted – and that’s before you take all the Easter activities into account. 

Easter adventures at Kingston Lacy run from April 1-16. Booking is not required, £3 per trail. Entry is free for National Trust members (not including trail). Adult £18, child £9, children under five go free. 

West Yorkshire

Janek: ‘The bike trail was just the right length’

There are a couple of woodland bike trails in the parkland surrounding this grand Georgian mansion in West Yorkshire. One of the 1km routes is perfect for beginners and the other is great for those with a little more experience. If you live in the area, it’s hard to imagine a better place to learn to ride, and it’s a perfect activity on a family holiday. Cycling certainly isn’t the only thing for kids to do at Nostell: after a gentle ride, why not head to the play area and get the adrenaline pumping with a go on the 30-metre zipwire? Then, reward yourself with a slice of cake in the café and a browse through the gift shop or secondhand bookshop.

Easter egg hunts at Nostell run from April 1-16. Booking is not required, £3 per trail. Entry is free for National Trust members (not including trail). Adult £12 (house and gardens) or £8 (house or gardens), child £6 (house and gardens) or £4 (house or gardens), children under five go free.

Northern Ireland

Janek: ‘The balance bikes were good for my little brother’

Unless you’ve been taking a very liberal approach to parenting, young children are unlikely to be particularly enthralled by the fact that this fortified Northern Irish country house was a filming location for Winterfell in ‘Game of Thrones’. Rather more innocently, it has a selection of east walking and cycling trails, and offers balance bike hire – perfect for spontaneously adding a little two wheeled fun to your visit.

Easter egg hunt at Castle Ward runs from April 1-17.  Booking is not required, £3 per trail. Entry is free for National Trust members (not including trail). Adult £12, child £6, children under five go free.