Current Government advice is to self isolate where possible, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend your days stuck indoors. Wide, open spaces are perfectly fine to visit and while many of their properties are closed, the National Trust is, where possible, keeping as many of their gardens and parklands open free of charge.
In a statement on their website, Hilary McGrady, the Trust’s Director-General, said: “The National Trust was founded 125 years ago for the benefit of the entire nation. We want to honour our mission to enable people and nature to thrive. Over the coming weeks, we will do all that we can to keep on providing public benefit through caring for places and giving people access wherever possible. While we will close our indoor areas to help fight the spread of coronavirus, we recognise that people are likely to need access to open space.”
Following the advice from the UK Government, the National Trust will be closing their pay for entry sites from 20th March until further notice, but the gardens and parkland will remain open free of charge, as well as coastal and countryside areas. This means that we can all continue to enjoy wide, open spaces while still following Government advice.
For those of you in Dorset, there are several sites you can explore without breaking isolation. Take a look at some of our suggestions below.
Hod Hill
Gardens at Max Gate
Hambledon Hill
Gardens at Kingston Lacy
Cerne Giant
Ringstead Bay
Studland Bay
Spyway
Pilsdon Pen
Golden Cap
Lambert’s and Coney’s Castle Grounds
Burton Bradstock
Lewesdon Hill
Eggardon Hill