Five top hidden gem attractions in the UK according to experts from Venetian palaces to hidden gold mines

The Irish Sun

2 days ago

THE National Trusts boasts many hidden gems across the UK - including the UK's only Roman Gold Mine and a house with 'playful and mysterious' curiosities.
With so many sites in it's collection, National Trust properties offer the perfect day-out this
summer
.
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The National Trust has many different hidden gems
Credit: Alamy
And now, the
charity
has revealed some of it's top hidden gems.
Dolaucothi,
Carmarthenshire
in Wales
Dolaucothi, located in Carmarthenshire in Wales, is the UK's only known Roman Gold Mine.
Head of visitor programming, Tom Freshwater, said: "Hidden in these wooded hillsides is evidence of Roman gold
mining
,
dating
back over 2,000 years.
"On pre-booked guided tours, expert guides will unveil the secrets of Roman mining and take you underground into the mine itself, ending with the chance to try the gold panning experience."
Read more on hidden gems
Mining continued at Dolaucothi into the 20th century, ending in 1938.
Dolaucothi is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and visitors will need to prebook
The tours start from the 1930s mine yard where visitors will see buildings and mining machinery dating from that time.
Orford Ness, Suffolk
Orford Ness, Suffolk is one of the most dynamic landforms on the UK coastline and the largest vegetated shingle spit in Europe.
Most read in News Travel
"A large proportion of the world's rare coastal vegetated shingle is found here, which together with the
In 1915 the arrival of the Royal Flying Corps ushered in a 70-year period of secret military experimentation, mostly working on aerial warfare.
Kids Country House
Between 1935 and 1937, the first experimental work on radar was conducted on the Ness and from 1953, tests on Britain's atomic bombs.
"The best thing about this place is the strangeness of the landscape: the juxtaposition of wild remoteness and fascinating but disturbing
history
," Tom added.
Visitors can only get to Orford Ness via the National Trust ferry Octavia. There is no access on foot or by vehicle via Slaughden.
There is a charge for
Smallhythe, Kent
Originally built in the early 16th-century, Smallhythe used to be a thriving shipbuilding port.
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Smallhythe Place is actress Ellen Terry's 16th-century home
Credit: Alamy
It was later purchased by the Victorian actress Ellen Terry in 1899 and ten decades later transformed by her daughter into a museum which now displays a theatrical collection reflecting Ellen's career and life.
Also at the destination is a 17th century thatched Barn Theatre, which hosts a programme of productions throughout the year.
Tom said: "[There is an] outdoor theatre programme and last chance to see the Beetlewing dress on display in the Dressing Lady Macbeth
In the garden, visitors can find a traditional
The garden also boasts a 55-metre-long rose pergola, with 52 roses of nine varieties, that flower from May to July.
There is a
Kingston Lacy, Dorset
The Bankes family bought Corfe Castle in 1635 but after it was destroyed in the English Civil War, Sir Ralph Bankes decided to relocate 20 miles north and build this handsome mansion house.
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kingston Lacy boasts paintings by Velázquez, Titian and Rubens
Credit: Alamy
Between 1835 and 1841 the building was transformed by William Bankes, who employed Charles Barry, architect of the Houses of Parliament, to create something similar to a Venetian palace.
The building boasts paintings by Velázquez, Titian and Rubens.
"It also includes the largest private display of Egyptian relics in the UK, including the nine-metre Philae obelisk in the grounds," Tom revealed.
"The Spanish Room has walls of gilded leather, too"
In 1841, to avoid prosecution for a homosexual act, William John Bankes fled England and lived the rest of his life in exile.
Tom concluded: "He may well have returned in disguise before his death in 1855 to see the home he loved one final time."
Snowshill Manor & Garden, Gloucestershire
A personal favourite of Tom's is Snowshill Manor & Garden, Gloucestershire, even though picking on top spot "is so hard to choose".
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Snowshill is a charming 16th-century manor house built of Cotswold stone
Credit: Alamy
Tom shared: "A truly unique place is Snowshill Manor - once visited, never forgotten.
"I particularly love the hidden panels and mechanisms that are built into the house which makes it playful and mysterious."
Outside, Snowshill is a charming 16th-century manor house built of Cotswold stone and set above a picturesque valley.
Inside is a collection of mind-boggling variety gathered from around the world by Charles Paget Wade.
Javanese and Balinese theatre masks adorn walls, while Penny-farthing bicycles hang from the rafters.
Wade – architect, artist-craftsman, collector, poet and (crucially) heir to a fortune – bought the manor in 1919.
He built his collection while living in fairly spartan style in a small cottage in the garden.
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Many of the hidden gems have places to eat and gardens
Credit: Alamy
By the time he died in 1951, he had collected over 22,000 hand-made objects, including tiny toys, Samurai armour, musical instruments and fine clocks.
"It's an eccentric collection, but one unified by Wade's love," Tom concluded.
There is an 'Arts and Crafts' garden, which is an extension of the house and
features
a number of outdoor rooms full of doorways, hidden vistas and curiosities.
In addition, there is Wolf's Cove - a model harbour based on a typical
The destination also has a café with indoor and outdoor seating, a shop that sells souvenirs and
homeware
and a second-hand bookshop.
The National Trust also recently revealed its
Plus,
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Orford Ness is home to the largest vegetated shingle spit in Europe
Credit: Alamy