National trust - access by bus or train

A while ago we discussed the issue of the NT adding more parking at one of its sites - it was somewhere up north, maybe Happy Valley or Last Tango in Halifax territory, perhaps with Sean Bean looking moody somewhere, it wasn't the twee Last of the Summer Wine flying bathtub variety. The NT were using the old "we're only making making existing seasonal parking permanent" dodge. 

Of all the people who should be encouraging access other than by car, the NT really stands out.  But they are not the only ones - this could apply to operators of a range of public facilities and workplaces. The only ones I can think of that consistently get this right are main hospitals, where buses often traverse the site. 

I’m picking on the NT a bit here - overall, I’m a fan e.g. the exhibition at Kingston Lacey a few years ago about the persecution and execution over the centuries of homosexuals in this country was challenging, unexpected, informative and excellent - and if it roasted some gammon along the way, that’s so much the better. 

So, Prime Minister one of the many reasons your pro-driver public stance makes poor political sense is that you can never ever do enough for drivers for them to declare themselves happy and wholeheartedly support you.  I would not want a back catalogue of anti-climate policies hanging over me. 

Where there is public transport access to NT properties, it is invariably inferior to that afforded to drivers - it will be further away from the site, requiring a walk along uncertain footpaths and/or a road or the driveway infested with the cars the same attraction is generating.  Or there is no viable route, except for the long-distance walker. Where there is non-car access available, this is mainly by accident or coincidence. 

The NT’s guidance (or lack of it), which I have quoted from on some cases, for individual locations sadly reflects the absence of any coherent policy in this area.  There are usually extensive driving directions, plus signage, marshalling but often only vague references to things like Traveline websites are given online and no help on the ground.  There is no requirement to pre-book parking, just the possible hoop of (non NT members) having to pay to park. Obviously, Sundays are a weak link in most instances for public transport users.  Drivers get to park on site 7/7 fair weather and foul and there is often a shuttle buggy as well.

There are several cases where the NT, rather than devote its energies to providing still more parking spaces, could be providing family friendly trails from nearby towns and villages - some of their sites are tantalisingly close to such centres.  Examples would be The Vyne, Blickling Hall, Knightshayes.  This needs doing urgently to help support local bus services.  They could also offer the services of the on-site buggy to bring people up the property’s driveway on request.

Examples 

South west

Cotehele - accessible along a pleasant but uppity 1.5 mile footpath from Calstock. Trains ever 2 hours. 8 buses a day (not Sundays) to either Gunnislake (train) or Tavistock 

Lanhydrock 

A 1 3/4 mile pleasant walk from Bodmin Parkway station through the grounds. Again, drivers get onsite parking 600 yards away and with a shuttle bus available. 

Killerton 

A half mile walk (car park is 280 yards) from the main road; 3 buses an hour to Tiverton or Exeter (every 2 hours on a Sunday)

Trelissick garden

Options by boat from Falmouth and 5 buses a day to / from Truro (not Sunday) 

Saltram 

4 buses a day (not Sunday) and a 0.7 mile walk along the main drive. 

Parking is 50 yards says the website.  A 1 mile walk brings in a greater range of buses. 

Really surprising, given how close to the city this place is. 

Website: “Service from city centre will drop off within one mile (A detailed document with directions to Saltram is available on request by calling 01752333500)”

Castle Drogo 

Website: “Take the Dartline Coaches Bus 173 leaving from Exeter bus station (passing Exeter Central train station), available Monday to Saturday. The bus drops off at the bottom of Castle Drogo's drive which is a 800 yard walk uphill to the Visitor Centre.”

Parking 400 yards 

4 buses a day.

Coleton Fishacre 

Website “Restricted services from Paignton (Stagecoach 120 bus route) or Brixham (Stagecoach 18A bus route) to Kingswear: alight ¾ mile south-west of Hillhead, 1½ miles walk to entrance along the country lane (steep and narrow in places). Please check with Stagecoach for current timetables.”

Both bus services are hourly, but run at practically the same times. Not Sunday.  Impossible. 

“Mobility parking adjacent to Visitor Reception, overflow parking on busy days approximately 300 yards.”

Arlington Court 

2 buses a day, and a half-mile walk. Impossible. 

Dyrham Park 

Impossible by public transport. 

Stourhead 

Best bet is to alight at Zeals and it’s a 2 mile walk. 7 buses a day to Gillingham or Salisbury.  All but impossible. 

Knightshayes

Website: “Dartline 398, Tiverton to Dulverton, alight Bolham, ¾ mile walk. Otherwise Tiverton Parkway train station; Exeter to Tiverton (passing close Exeter Central train station), alight Tiverton 1¾ miles.”  

5 buses / day not Sunday. Impossible. NT could do more to promote local walking access. 

Tyntesfield 

Website “Please visit https://www.firstbus.co.uk/ for the latest information and bus times. Bus number X6/X7 (Bristol ⇄ Clevedon) stops at the main entrance to Tyntesfield. Please be aware that bus number X9 (Bristol ⇄ Nailsea) stops at the bottom gate, which is locked and not accessible.”

Hourly service - half mile walk up the drive from the main road.

Basildon Park 

Website: “You may be able to get the Going Foward Bus to Basildon Park on selected days. For more details visit the Going Foward Buses website: www.goingforwardbuses.com” 

One bus, on a Tuesday.  Impossible. So close to Pangbourne and Streatley. 

South east 

The Vyne 

Frequent buses to Sherborne St John from Basingstoke and a walk to the grounds of about 1.5 miles.  

All but impossible. 

Kingston Lacey 

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 5 buses (last departure 13:34) 

Or try the back way from Sturminster Marshall - hourly from Poole (4 buses on Sunday) - 2 mile walk 

NT could do more to promote local walking access from Wimborne. 

Mottisfont Abbey

“Mottisfont & Dunbridge station is just over a mile away on foot, across fields and [along] some country roads.” Hourly trains. 

Hinton Ampner 

6 buses / day (3 on Sunday) and as always you are dropped on the main road passing the property and must walk up the drive, while drivers park on-site. 

Uppark

Visit Uppark House & Garden by bus using the Route 54 service. From Monday to Saturday, Stagecoach will do the driving as you enjoy the beautiful views of the South Downs from your window. Open the timetable here: https://bustimes.org/services/54-chichester-petersfield - 5 buses a day, not Sundays 

Petworth 

Hourly bus from Worthing (4 buses on Sunday) plus a dial a ride if you can figure out how to use it.  It drops off in the market square, but the return bus is a short walk out of the central area.

Corfe Castle 

Like Petworth, the entrance to this is sited in the village and drivers and bus users might be on a par distance-wise if it weren’t for the siting of the stops, which for Corfe is by the visitor centre or down the road ( not all of it pavemented) Can’t have buses stopping and holding up the traffic, can we? 

Good choice of buses to several destinations in summer. 

Lacock Abbey 

Half-hourly service from Chippenham, Melksham or Trowbridge - drops off in the centre of the village. 

Avebury 

Two buses an hour to Swindon or to Marlborough.

East of England 

Blickling Hall

1.5 mile walk from Aylsham - it would be pretty simple to provide a dedicated walking or cycling trail.

Felbrigg Hall 

Website: By train - Stations at Cromer or Roughton Road, both 2½ miles away. 

Impossible 

Sheringham Park 

Seven buses a day from outside the main entrance. The frequent no 44 passes along the main A148 past the site, but does not appear to stop. 

Anglesey Abbey 

By bus

The Stephenson's No 11 service between Cambridge and Newmarket passes Anglesey Abbey. The service runs hourly Monday to Saturday. Alight at the crossroads in Lode. Please ask a member of the team if you wish to see a timetable. 

Another instance where you are dropped on the main road near the property and have to walk in, while drivers are parked on-site. 

Oxburgh 

Website By bus

You can get to Oxburgh Estate on the Swaffham flexibus+ which travels to/from Swaffham and villages in West Norfolk and Breckland. This service is available 7am - 7pm, Monday to Saturday and can be booked to pick you up at a time to suit you