Your fantasy dining table is set. Who would your dream dinner guest be? Photo: Basildon Park, Berkshire by Hugh Mothersole

With current UK weather forecasts, some of our sites may close to ensure the safety of staff, volunteers and visitors. Please check our website for local updates before travelling: buff.ly/VrppYrn

Weekends are made for browsing bookshelves (or perhaps curling up with a cuppa and your latest read). Do you have a favourite second-hand bookshop?

This small clifftop station on the Lizard helped change how the world communicates. This January marks 125 years since the opening of the Lizard Wireless Station – a small clifftop station with a truly global legacy. Photo: David Sellman

Did you know that Castle Drogo was the last *official* castle to be built in England? It was built on Dartmoor between 1911 and 1932, making it the most modern castle in England.

We welcome the return of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and the commitment to helping farmers work together at landscape and catchment scale.

How's this for a view? Here's Pen Y Fan, Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) looking sublime after fresh snowfall this week.

Digging for Britain is back on our screens on BBC Two at 9pm tonight! Two @Nationaltrust.org.uk properties feature in this series - Woolsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire (Ep. 5, 4th February) and St Michael's Mount, Cornwall (Ep. 6, 5th February). All episodes are also on BBC iPlayer: bit.ly/4qv9H9o

This place can have a huge impact on nature. Let us tell you why…

Five Dartmoor ponies, a native rare breed, are settling into their new home at Wimpole Estate where they're helping to restore nature and biodiversity by gently grazing thistles and vigorous plants beneath thousands of recently planted trees. Read the full story at buff.ly/Qz4RopL 📷 Mike Selby

On misty winter mornings, Stourhead looks like it's appeared straight out of a fairy-tale. 📷: The Palladian Bridge by Kathryn Lindsay and the Temple of Apollo by Lucy Fenna

With the skull of a horse, baubles for eyes, and a mane of colourful decorations, you won't forget the first time you see Mari Lwyd. Learn more about his unusual but much-loved festive Welsh tradition here: buff.ly/bN3J9VE

When you're trying to hide from all the work you put off in December...

Up for banging some pans, leaving gifts for tree spirits, drinking warm cider and dancing? Join a wassailing event! buff.ly/7X0duWP

Throughout January we'll be reflecting on discoveries made and projects led by National Trust archaeologists and volunteers in 2025. We're starting with a visit to Sheffield Park, where in January 2025, we shared a 3D model of a Type 24 Pillbox that David Fletcher had created through photogrammetry

Snow day! We've seen coverings of snow across the country at places we care for... here's Chirk Castle looking very wintry this morning.

To make up for the fact it's Monday morning, here's Jock VII patrolling Chartwell in the snow. 📷: Claire Vincent

When you realise tomorrow is the first Monday of the year.

With a delicate dusting of snow, Nymans is bringing a touch of festive magic into the new year. 📷: Emma Stratton

Every walk has two stages: “This is so lovely.” “How is this uphill AGAIN?”

New year. Same scone obsession.

Thank you for supporting our Crowdfunder. It is open until 4 January 2026 so there’s still time to make a donation and be in the draw to win a chance to get hands-on at Cerne Abbas: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/cerne-abba...

The morning after the night before... Photo: Tamsin Holmes

As the sun rises on the very last day of 2025, we'd like to say a huge *thank you* for all your support this year. Your visits, memberships and donations help us to look after castles and coastlines, hill monuments and historic houses, and more! Photo: Claydon, Buckinghamshire by John Miller

#DiggingforBritain returns on 7th January with a new 6-part series on BBC Two with @profaliceroberts.bsky.social, and includes two @nationaltrust.org.uk properties: 4th February - Woolsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire 5th February - St Michael's Mount, Cornwall. Tune in to find out more!

The sales have been counted and verified... We can now reveal we served an amazing 2.7 MILLION SCONES over the year. Plus, every single bake and brew you've bought at one of our cafés directly supports our work looking after the places you love. Thank you.

We're delighted to announce that Hilary McGrady, our Director-General, has been awarded a CBE for services to heritage in The King's New Year Honours. Congratulations, Hilary! Photo: National Trust Images / Megan Taylor

It's been a strange year for weather and wildlife in the UK...

It's been a year of weather extremes that has pushed nature to its limits, but there have been some wins along the way. From drought to deluge, find out how the UK’s wildlife was tested in our 2025 review: buff.ly/24LdwL0 Photos: Hanne Siebers, Sarah Davis, Paul Harris, Laurence Perry

Just in case you're wondering, today is Sunday.

When you're visiting family and have to stay in the spare bedroom. Photo: Mr Straw's House, Nottinghamshire

Huge news from Blakeney Point...

PSA. It's Friday today and the bins probably aren't going to be collected.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a... dormouse?

When you hear the lid open on the box of chocolates that have been saved for Christmas. Photo: David Humphries

Us, watching the grey seal live stream on YouTube right now... Things have certainly quietened down over at Blakeney Point after another busy pupping season, but we'll still be keeping the camera live for a while yet. Join us, and let us know what you spot here: buff.ly/OVC00M9

Time for some festive fun… Can you caption this image?

The sun casts a golden glow across the sky for the Festival of Light. We wish all those celebrating Hanukkah peace and joy.

Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year and one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world. From here, the nights will stop drawing in and daylight hours stretch out again. What will you do with your longer days? Video: Timelapse of the sun rising

Christmas tree goals at Hughenden... Photos: Hugh Mothersole

When you're told 'no more chocolates' but it's okay because you've got deep pockets... Painting: Captain Sir Thomas Dutton, circa 1605-1615, artist unknown. From the collection at Sherborne Park Estate in Gloucestershire.

Everyone's getting into the Christmas spirit this year! Photo: Mike Selby, Wimpole Estate

We asked our pals over at @nationaltrust.org.uk to send some festive pictures and alt text, and they absolutely delivered 👏 A great example of how brands should do it, to mark Alt Text Advent, day 19! Image credit: National Trust Images/Robert Morris

✨The most sparkling, feel-good TV is back this evening. ✨ Hidden Treasures of the National Trust returns in time for Christmas, unwrapping the festive stories behind some of the places we look after at this magical time of the year.

Just a cyclamen appreciation post... Photo: Chris Davies, Anglesey Abbey

The roof of the café at Horsey Windpump in Norfolk is being replaced using local reeds from Horsey. The quality of these reeds, which reflects the health of the waterways in the area, means we can expect the thatch to last for 50 to 80 years. Read more at buff.ly/P9V6PLH

When you remember that Christmas just a week away but you've not started shopping yet.

Looking for a podcast recommendation? In the latest episode of our Back When series we meet the people protecting heritage in the face of great challenges. You can how Kingston Lacy in Dorset is connected to an ancient wonder of the world, the city of Petra in Jordan: buff.ly/QSlDpIF

Do you remember this? Back in 2019 *this post* caused quite a stir on social media.

Have you heard the phrase Biodiversity Net Gain, or BNG, before? It's an initiative that makes sure nature isn't just replaced when much-needed houses are built, but measurably improved - and the government has just made an announcement about reforming it as part of a wider statement on planning. 👇