Top free places to visit

A group walks along Castlefield Viaduct in Greater Manchester | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

Did you know that many of the places we care for are free to access? From the transformed urban garden at Castlefield Viaduct in Greater Manchester to the little wilderness at Downs Banks in Staffordshire, discover the top free places to visit.

We'll continue to add places to this list where more offers arise, but please check the local place homepages for more information before you visit.

Aberdulais, Neath Port Talbot: The River Dulais charges through a gorge and becomes a cascade at the former tin works at Aberdulais. A water wheel with a diameter of almost 27 feet (8.2m) harnessed its power during the Industrial Revolution and can be seen on site. In wet weather, the waterfall's a powerful spectacle. On calmer days, it offers food and refreshment to a colony of Daubenton bats, dippers, wagtails and herons. There's a free car park nearby.Visit Aberdulais
Castlefield Viaduct, Greater Manchester: The striking Grade II-listed industrial site Castlefield Viaduct has been transformed into a green space, bringing nature into the oldest part of Manchester. Part of the aerial garden has been left untouched to show how vegetation reclaimed the structure. The garden can be explored from Wednesday–Sunday, and the best way to visit is by public transport.Visit Castlefield Viaduct
Chirk Castle Estate, Wrexham: The 480-acre estate at Chirk Castle is free to enter, although please note that the 13th-century castle and its gardens do have an entrance fee. In the estate, many of the oak trees are hundreds of years old and are covered in species of lichens, liverworts and mosses. The estate is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is also home to rare bats. A well-preserved section of Offa’s Dyke connects with the estate. Parking at the castle is free.Visit Chirk Castle Estate

Walkers follow the Ridge Trail on Divis Mountain, County Antrim | © National Trust Images/John Millar

Divis and the Black Mountain, County Antrim: For spectacular views across to Belfast, hike up Divis and the Black Mountain, past heath and blanket bog. It’s a challenging three-mile (4.8km) trek to the summit. The Ridge Trail is a moderate, circular alternative, which is 4.2 miles (6.7 km) long. The Lough Trail, meanwhile, is also circular but an easier track – look out for meadow pipits, stonechats, skylarks and snipes along the way. Cyclists can use the tarmac paths too. There's free parking across two car parks.Visit Divis and the Black Mountain
Downs Banks, Staffordshire: The little wilderness is a blend of heath and woodland, with a brook running alongside and far-reaching views. From the Millennium Viewpoint, you can see across three counties to the ruins of Mow Cop Castle in Staffordshire, the Clee Hills in Shropshire, the plateau of Long Mynd in Shropshire and the Wrekin in Shropshire, a hill formed from an extinct volcano. You might spot a kingfisher down by the brook and young brown trout too. There's free parking nearby but please note there are limited spaces.Visit Downs Banks
Kinver Edge, Staffordshire: The high sandstone ridge of Kinver Edge is home to heathland full of gorse and purple heather. It’s also where you can see the Holy Austin Rock Houses, which are homes that were carved straight into the hillside and lived in until the 1960s. These aren't free to enter but if you continue along the ridge there are dramatic views and the defensive walls of an Iron Age Hill Fort. It’s a great spot for a picnic, plus there are miles of walking trails. There's free lay-by parking nearby.Visit Kinver Edge
Morden Hall Park, London: Morden Hall Park is an oasis of green within urban south London. There are snuff mills, iron bridges that cross the River Wandle and a cast-iron wheel to see on the estate. There's also a play area for children and a boardwalk through wetland. The Rose Garden has heritage varieties and plants can be bought in our only garden centre. There's free parking for 1.5 hours or arrive by public transport.Visit Morden Hall Park

A family on the bridge at Morden Hall Park, London | © National Trust Images/Yvonne Li

Penrose, Cornwall: Loe Pool at Penrose is Cornwall's largest natural lake – a tranquil body of freshwater surrounded by farmland and woodland. The estate has 17 miles of trails to explore on foot or by bike, many of which are dog-friendly. The lake is a popular site for over-wintering birds and it meets Loe Bar, a shingle beach that’s the final resting place of many shipwrecks. There's also a wet woodland at Willow Carr and an 18th century Kitchen Garden. A free public car park is nearby.Visit Penrose
Pin Mill, Suffolk: With peaceful views across the River Orwell, Pin Mill is the setting for two books in the Swallows and Amazons series, written by Arthur Ransome. You can watch boats glide past on a circular walk that starts in Pin Mill woods. You’ll pass a pine plantation, then wildlife-rich heathland before continuing above the Orwell, with views overlooking the river. When you're back beside the river bed, look out for abandoned cargo ships and listen for the call of a curlew. Public parking is available nearby.Visit Pin Mill
Rayleigh Mount, Essex: The land at Rayleigh Mount was shaped by the Sheriff of Essex, who had an early medieval, wooden motte and bailey castle built here. The castle is now long gone but the area remains a haven for wildlife within Rayleigh town centre. Follow the footpaths and discover where the castle moat once was. There are views across the Crouch Valley and to Rayleigh’s Grade II-listed windmill. There’s a train station a short walk away.Visit Rayleigh Mount