A winter visit experience at National Trust Mottisfont for family fun - Bubbablue and me
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Mottisfont – an outdoor National Trust visit

With National Trust membership, I always feel like we should make the most of it whenever we’re away. So on our February break in the New Forest, we stopped at Mottisfont on the way home.

N wasn’t impressed at doing another National Trust visit, but given I’d taken him to Peppa Pig World he owed me!  Once he knew there would be lunch boxes and water involved, he was happy.  He even told me to get out my camera to take photos of all the pretty snowdrops.

A winter visit experience at National Trust Mottisfont for family fun - Bubbablue and me

We arrived early, the first ones through the doors, and had an hour to walk round the grounds before the house opened.  I didn’t know what there would be to really see in the winter months garden wise, but I needn’t have worried. First on the agenda was pooh sticks over the bridges, and laughing at ducks trying to avoid going under the archways against the river flow.  Mottisfont was built near the historical font (hence the name), which is still there to see.  Or it would be if you managed to find it – we somehow kept missing it with N leading the way down random paths.

stone work at Mottisfont
snowdrops at mottisfont
Stream and snowdrops at Mottisfont

Mottisfont has a beautiful winter garden with plenty of colour in it to enjoy and explore. N enjoyed the different stepping ‘stones’ and walkways. He was also keen to order me around, telling me which direction I could go in.

colourful plants in winter garden at MOttsfont
purple flowers
dead flowers at Mottisfont
stepping stones in mottisfont winter garden
stepping stones
bench in Mottisfont winter garden
hellebore at Mottisfont

Our next stop was to hug the huge tree.  Essential for any child, and N was positive his arms reached a quarter of the way round!

hugging treest at mottisfont

The walled gardens weren’t much when we went.  Although I don’t know if we saw it all because it was really empty and N dragged me out again pretty quickly.  It would be nice to return in June when the famous rose displays are in bloom.

The weather was a little dreary and threatening rain, so we headed to The Stables for a break.  The Stables is a lovely area of courtyard tables, an indoor café, and open stables where you can find out about the wildlife at Mottisfont.  There was also a riding block which N hopped on happily, along with various pieces of tack to play with.

horse sculpture
riding horses at mottisfont

The café itself serves basic meals, snacks and drinks.  The usual National Trust fayre, along with the lengthy wait despite it being quiet.  After refreshments N allowed me some time to look around the back of the house, and underneath in the old priory cellerium roomwhich is still as it was all those years ago.  I think they always feel a bit earthy and spooky, but thankfully N didn’t moan that it was scary.

cellarium propry at Mottisfont

N also spotted some building blocks for children to build up the abbey and house.  He loved getting creative with this trying to make it as accurate as possible, and was pleased to see on our later return that it hadn’t been broken up.

playing architects at Mottisfont

I was disappointed in the house itself.  The downstairs was interesting with the rooms we could go in, set up as though in use.  This is the type of thing we enjoy about National Trust properties, bringing the history to life.   We were also able to look into the room where the staff were cleaning books which was really interesting. But upstairs it was taken over as an art gallery, with an exhibition celebrating Rex Whistler.  Now I’m not a big art follower, so I have to admit I’ve never heard of Rex Whistler, and apart from the amazing murals in the house itself, I wasn’t that excited by the sketches and smaller artwork.  Although it was busy, so obviously a lot of people are interested.

There was a picture trail for children, which N started out enthusiastically, including watching a bit of the video about Whistler’s paintings and stays at Mottisfont.  I’m not sure if the house is usually as a normal display of the house and furniture or whether exhibitions are the norm, but luckily for us there was plenty else to look at.

We ate in the café in the house, which was a reasonable space. N had been moaning he was hungry for hours (despite having had a cooked breakfast in the hotel), so an early lunch did help us beat the queues.  It was sandwich and lunchboxes all round as usual, quickly demolished so we could get on our way home.

vront of Mottisfont
Mottisfont back of house

N wanted to check out the playground before we left, although the natural playground was way too boggy for trainers.  If you’re at Mottisfont with children and want to play, then do think about wellies unless it’s been dry for a while.  There’s also a water play area so in the summer it would be great to go for a picnic and day out in the grounds.

natural playground at Mottisfont

As we turned to walk back along the river, the heavens opened, and we rushed back to the car.  I feel for the people just arriving because that rain wasn’t stopping any time soon.

Mottisfont is a beautiful place to visit.  For me it’s more about the grounds – there was so much we didn’t get to explore and I’m sure May-June time would be glorious with all the roses in bloom.

Have you ever been to Mottisfont?  Are you a National Trust aficionado?

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11 Comments

  1. This looks lovely so I will have to try and fit this NT into a road trip sometime soon, we have friends in Salisbury and Winchester so looks like the perfect place to meet. #CountryKids

  2. Sounds like you managed to time your visit well given the torrential downpour at the end! I do love the photo of N hugging the tree and the snowdrops are so pretty. I haven’t been to Mottisfont for years – your post makes me think I should try and visit it again next time we are in the area. #countrykids

  3. We love Mottisfont, but wellies are required in the bog play area all year round!! #countrykidsfun

  4. Lovely photos. Same here, we really ought to make use of our membership too. We only actually get to use it more when we’re away or when we have visitors coming down here in Cornwall. This looks like one of those must-visit places on the National Trust list. Love the outdoors! #countrykids

  5. We’ve not been to Mottisont but I’d be happy to as I love NT sites. I find every tie I mention visiting an NT site my kids groan and then have the most wonderful time there. it is too funny. Mich x #CountryKids

  6. Mottisfont is so lovely – I’ve only been in high summer so I remember blazing sunshine and the scent of lavender. The snowdrops are pretty. And I think they often have exhibition there, we went for a Charlie and Lola one previously. #countrykids

  7. I’ve seen posts from Mottisfont a few times and it does look beautiful. I must say you managed to find plenty of colour in the garden despite it being February. I can only imagine it is stunning in May June time. Like you I am not really much of an appreciator of art so I feel your disappointment at the upstairs rooms being turned into a gallery. I do like that you always arrive at places early and miss the rush even at busy times of year, such a sensible move. Your snowdrop photos are beautiful, I’m missing the snowdrops now, we have wild garlic coming up where they were.

    Thank you for sharing your visit on #CountryKids

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