Five National Trust properties within an hour of Portsmouth - ideal for a sunny weekend
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On a warm summer’s weekend, there are few more quintessentially English leisure pursuits than heading to a National Trust property, walking round the stately home, enjoying the gardens, and having an ice cream or cup of tea in the cafe. Here are a few to try.
We don’t have many stately homes right on our doorstep, but here are five National Trust properties within an hour of Portsmouth. All are well worth a visit.
Hinton Ampner
The closest property to Portsmouth, but one to which you really need to drive to as public transport will take a long time. Hinton Ampner is a hidden gem, in the South Downs a few miles to the Portsmouth side of Winchester - head up the A3 to Petersfield and then take the A272 towards Winchester, or go west along the M27 to junction 10, go up the Meon Valley on the A32 and turn left at Loomies bikers’ cafe.
The house, which is predominantly Victorian, is on the site of an old Tudor mansion, was given to the National Trust by Ralph Dutton, the last surviving family member.
Downstairs you can see sitting rooms and a beautifully laid-out dining room, while upstairs there are bedrooms preserved from the 1960s, but very much in the Victorian style. There are spotters’ trails for children around the house, and often activities in the grounds, which include ornamental gardens - ideal for hide and seek games - a 13th century church, and a fish pond. There are also plenty of walks that start from the grounds.
Mottisfont Abbey
Mottisfont Abbey is one of the jewels of the National Trust. A few miles outside Romsey, it has beautiful grounds, which are famous for their roses. While traditionally this week or thereabouts would be peak season, a warming climate has seen the flowers bloom early and they are at their best from late May. However, there’s still plenty to see and the walk along the gurling River Test is a joy, as is a picnic in the grounds.
The house is interesting and always worth a visit but - at least to this observer - is at its most impressive when decorated for Christmas. Fun fact: James Bond author Ian Fleming was a regular visitor and may have picked up the name James Bond from a Mottisfont gardener... although other explanations are available.
Petworth House
Petworth the village surrounds Petworth House and its huge grounds. In the heart of the West Sussex countryside, if you like browsing rather expensive antique shops then this is the destination for you, as they are an enjoyable adjunct to the grand manor house.
The house, with has a 700-acre deer park, is huge. The carved room - which has walls entirely adorned with wood carvings - is jawdropping when you examine it in detail, while the North Gallery has a contemporaneous replica of one of the first globes that were ever made, complete with pictures of sea monsters. The other big attraction to the house is the kitchen block in the servants’ quarters, which are preserved as they were in Victoria times. There’s a larder, a still room, a scullery... a time machine, indeed.
Uppark
Uppark, just to the east of Petersfield, has had some irregular opening hours in recent years, so definitely check before turning up - at present the house is only open on Sundays and Mondays. Another South Downs property, it also boasts a house with wonderful views, and lovely walks in and around the grounds, and from a child’s point of view the tunnels that go past a bat cave are a certain hit.
Uppark does have a fascinating 18th century dolls’ house, but that is out on loan at the moment. However, the grand Victorian rooms and, like Petworth, the servants’ quarters make it well worth a visit.
The National Trust also owns hundreds of holiday homes across the UK. For ideas on booking a break, have a look here.
Winchester Mill
Not a stately home, the ancient water mill sits on the Itchen in the middle of Winchester. Right now the mill race - the water channel diverted from the river to power the mill - is closed as the mill wheel is being replaced, but there’s still the otter cameras, a bookshop a cafe and activities. It’s free to enter.