Leave Your Cars Behind

Whether you live in a town or city, you're within easy reach of a car-free day out at many National Trust properties, from historic houses to glorious gardens. Make your journey a real adventure with steam trains, ferry crossings and open top buses, and take in the world around you.

One in six National Trust properties offers visitors arriving without a car a discount on their entry fee or a voucher for the tea shop.

There are 116 National Trust properties within two miles of a railway station providing the ideal opportunity for a day out by train and then a walk to a nearby National Trust property.

We've picked the best National Trust properties to visit within easy reach of towns and cities for a car-free day out:

Birmingham Back to Backs is a short walk from Birmingham New Street and route 5 of the National Cycle Network passes the front of the property. There are also plenty of bus routes close to this wonderful example of city centre living through the ages.

Devil's Dyke in West Sussex - located just outside Brighton this wildlife haven of chalk downland offers wonderful views over the Weald, as well as butterflies galore! Make the most of the fantastic hilltop views in an open top bus from Brighton Pier, which runs on Sundays, or the daily 77 bus.

Formby in Liverpool is celebrating 40 years with the National Trust this year. From Liverpool station take the train to Freshfield, then hop on the Cumfy Coach (number 1, 4 or 160) and discover red squirrels, beaches and fantastic walks along the Sefton coast.

Gower Peninsula in Wales - take a bus from Swansea station to the Gower Peninsula, where visitors will find magnificent beaches and iconic scenery, including Rhossili Bay and Worms Head, a spectacular tidal island.

Greenway in Devon - enjoy a cruise on the River Dart from Dartmouth or use the regular sea/river link from Torquay, both will take you to the delightful Greenway Quay at the foot of this 'secret' house and garden, one time home of Agatha Christie.

Malham Tarn in the Yorkshire Dales - easily accessible from Carlisle and Leeds, Malham Tarn is the highest freshwater lake in Europe and the area boasts stunning walks around the rolling Yorkshire hills. There are plenty of buses from Skipton to the Dales, and the Malham bus uses a satellite information system to give guided tours of the countryside. The Malham Tarn bus is sponsored by Skipton Building Society, and visitors can use a Dales Bus Rover ticket.

Morden Hall Park in London - either take the tube on the northern line to Morden or jump on a tram from Wimbledon on the Croydon Tram Link towards New Addington, alighting at the Phipps Bridge stop on the park boundary. Route 22 of the National Cycle Network also passes through the property. Visitors will find wide open spaces, an old snuff mill, local craftsmen, the River Wandle and wonderful birdlife, including dazzling kingfishers.

Mount Stewart House in County Down - from Belfast, take the Ulsterbus 10 (Belfast - Portaferry) which stops at the gates of one of the best gardens in the UK. You'll also be a short distance from the wonderful Strangford Lough with its wealth of wildlife.

Mr Straw's House in Nottinghamshire - this award-winning house is just half a mile from Worksop station, and is easily accessible by train from Nottingham.

Prior Park in Somerset - visitors can travel to Bath Spa on Brunel's Great Western Railway and then take the Number 2 bus from Bath to Combe Down to the rolling hillside garden with magnificent views of Bath and a majestic Palladian bridge.

Some of the finest historic houses, gardens, coast and countryside owned by the National Trust is just a short distance from the National Cycle Network. From Europe's largest stone circle at Avebury in Wiltshire, to the beautiful gardens of Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire. It pays to get on your bike as many properties offer discounts on admission or a cup of tea to those arriving by pedal power.

Jo Burgon, Head of Access and Recreation at the National Trust, says, "Cycling is one of the best ways to get a feel for the sights and sounds of the Great Outdoors. It's also a great way to gently get into shape for the summer. With more than 100 National Trust properties near to the National Cycle Network there s plenty of choice when planning a day out on two wheels."

Here is a pick of the fantastic places to visit close to National Cycle Network routes:

Aberdulais Falls in the Neath Valley in South Wales can be found on NCN route 47. For over 400 years these famous waterfalls on the river Dulais have provided energy to drive the wheels of industry. For further information contact: 01639 636674.

Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire is just over one mile from NCN route 51. Visitors to this Jacobean House with lovely extensive gardens will receive a discount on admission when arriving by bike. For further information contact: 01223 810080.

Avebury in Wiltshire is near to NCN route 4 and 45, for great cycling through the rolling countryside of the Wiltshire Downs. There is a reduced admission price for cyclists to the museum at this world famous prehistoric site. For further information contact: 01672 539250.

Beningbrough Hall in Yorkshire is near to NCN route 65. This 18th century mansion with an interesting collection of paintings from the National Portrait Gallery is well worth a visit and cyclists receive a discount on entry. For further information contact: 01904 472027.

Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire has links to NCN route 6 and offers an extensive network of cycle paths through its parkland and peaceful woods. It also offers bike hire and a cycle orienteering trail. For further information contact: 01909 476592.

Dunham Massey in Cheshire is one mile from NCN route 62. A grand country estate with impressive mansion, gardens and deer park to explore, plus a reduced entry rate for cyclists. For further information contact: 0161 941 1025.

Greys Court in Oxfordshire is situated on the Oxfordshire Cycleway. Get a complimentary cup of tea when you arrive at this intriguing Tudor house with a tranquil walled garden. For further information contact: 01494 755564.

Lanhydrock in Cornwall is next to NCN route 3. It's a fascinating Victorian country house with woods and parkland running down to the river Fowey. There's also a discount on admission for visitors arriving by bike. For further information contact: 01208 265950.

Sizergh Castle and Garden in Cumbria is one and half miles from NCN route 6. A medieval house surrounded by lovely gardens and an estate with dramatic views across the Lake District and Morecambe Bay. Visitors receive a reduced admission when arriving by cycle. For further information contact: 015395 60951.

Sunnycroft in Shropshire is one mile from NCN route 81. A Victorian gentleman's suburban villa with a 'mini-estate' in its grounds. If you arrive by bike you'll get a discount on the entry fee. For further information contact: 01952 242884.

The Vyne in Hampshire is just one mile from NCN route 23. It was a great Tudor 'power house' overlooking a pretty garden and ornamental lake. Visitors arriving by bike get a discount on entry. For further information contact: 01256 883858.

For more information on a wide range of car-free days out at National Trust properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and even more suggestions for the best places to visit by bike, take a look at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carfreedaysout or call 0870 458 4000.

When planning a car-free day out to a National Trust property the best way to find out information about how to get there by public transport is to visit www.transportdirect.co.uk, www.traveline.info or contact 0871 200 2233.

The National Trust handbook and website provide information on how to get to all properties by foot, by bike and by public transport. Their website also links through to the Sustrans website, giving cyclists a map showing local cycle routes around each property.

National Trust are developing a series of simple trail sheets that give ideas for great cycle rides around National Trust countryside, highlighting things to look out for and a map to help you on the way. These can be downloaded from their website, printed out and taken to use on a day out. So far there are five on offer, from an easy ride around Blickling estate in Norfolk, to a more energetic mountain biking route through the Yorkshire Dales at Malham Tarn. Take a look at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cycling.

More than 110 National Trust properties are within 1-mile of the National Cycle Network, including Knightshayes Court in Devon, Scotney Castle Garden in Kent, Powis Garden in Powys, Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire, Orford Ness in Suffolk, Crom Estate in Co. Fermanagh and Wordsworth House in Cumbria. Individual property pages on the Trust website have direct links to the National Cycle Network website detailing local cycle routes. More information is also available at www.sustrans.org.uk.

This year is also the 30th anniversary of Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity behind the 10,000 mile National Cycle Network. Fiona Reynolds, Director General of the National Trust, congratulates Sustrans on reaching this milestone, she says, "We have worked together on a number of projects in the last 30 years - from creating one of the first cycle routes out of Plymouth onto Dartmoor, to joint promotion of the National Cycle Network. We really look forward to developing this relationship, and encouraging more people to get on their bikes to experience and enjoy the British countryside."

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