What Lyd Did

Home of William Wordsworth, the chocolate box village of Grasmere is still hugely popular with tourists today, and it's easy to see why. It's quaint, picturesque, and has a host of local hotspots to explore and enjoy. I've listed my top five, but the village also has independent art and craft shops, a bookshop, and tonnes of tearooms and eateries to enjoy.

Whether you make a dedicated trip, or visit on your way to Keswick or Ambleside, Grasmere truly is a gem of the English Lakes that mustn't be missed.

Allan Bank

One of my absolute favourite National Trust places, Allan Bank is the best place to make the most of the beautiful views. On a sunny day there's nothing better than enjoying tea and biscuits in the garden, but whatever the weather you are invited to curl up with a book, get creative in their dedicated craft room, or join in scheduled art activities.

The Storyteller's Garden

Taffy Thomas MBE may just have the best job in the world. From the garden across the road from Sarah Nelson's, he tells tales to any children lucky enough to listen. The garden is closed in January, February, and March, but from Easter onwards you can find seasonal family events being held.

Sarah Nelson's Gingerbread

Completely different to the Christmas treat, Sarah started cooking up this spicy treat way back in 1854 and the tiny cottage-turned-shop still has plenty of people queuing up to enjoy their rum butter, mint cake, and classic gingerbread. A chewy base with a crumbly top, it's definitely a local delicacy you have to try for yourself.

Wordsworth's Daffodil Garden

You can find the Wordsworth family graves in a plot in the graveyard, but personally I find the Daffodil Garden a much cheerier way to celebrate the poet and, in early Spring, see the flowers he loved so much while reading lines of his work that are carved into the paving of the garden. It's a really beautiful, peaceful little place.

Dove Cottage and The Wordsworth Museum

Take a trip back in time as you visit Wordsworth's own cottage, and see the rooms where he wrote his famous poetry and his sister Dorothy penned her Grasmere journal.

I've been a member of the National Trust for 5 years now (I've got the car stickers to prove it) and the memberships pay themselves off pretty quickly. They cover parking and entry fees to Trust locations, so in just a few visits I find myself actually saving money, but if you really want your membership card to work hard, follow my tips for making the most of it.

a valley between two hills in the lake district, with 'how to make the most of your National Trust membership' written over the photo in black text

Visit paths and woodlands as well as properties

The National Trust is synonymous with manicured gardens and historic stately homes, but they also own, manage, and protect natural landscapes like Brimham Rocks, Cuckmere Valley, and Tarn Hows, where you can explore the best of our beautiful British countryside.

By having a National Trust membership, you're helping to fund the conservation of these sites, so make the most of them by taking along a picnic and spending time spotting the British plants and wildlife.

Plan trips with National Trust places in mind

As the name suggests, National Trust properties are widespread, so to tick lots off your list it's a good idea to stay a night or two in a location close to a few of them.

When I stayed in The Lakes I knew Fell Foot and Wray Castle were close, and since I had my membership card they were a great, inexpensive way to spend a few hours, and I'd like to plan a break to Llandudno to enjoy another trip to Erdigg and Bodnnant Garden.

Go along to organised events and activities

Bat watching, craft workshops, even yoga and mindfulness, there's always something happening at National Trust properties that will leave you with new memories, souvenirs, or more knowledge about your favourite places.

Allan Bank in Grasmere is an especially good property to enjoy these activities, with a dedicated craft room for you to create at your own pace alongside planned workshops where you can try your hand at felting, embroidery, and more.

Visit in every season

Nature paints the landscape with new colours and textures every season, so where better to enjoy them than National Trust properties, woods, and gardens? One of my favourite places for this is Dunham Massey, Cheshire.

In Spring and Summer I love seeing both the wildflowers and the beautiful gardens, in early Autumn the deer are out in droves, and the whole place is perfectly picturesque under a blanket of Winter snow- plus it's a great excuse to warm up with treats in the restaurant.

Which National Trust property is your favourite?

Like many people, the sight of sunshine has me reaching for the fake tan. I'm a huge advocate for getting my colour from a bottle, as your skin is actually damaged as soon as your skin changes colour from the sun, whether it's brown or red, so it's always best to protect your skin from those harmful UV rays and fake your tan instead. You won't get awkward strap marks that way either!

Preparing to tan

The first step in my tanning routine is to thoroughly exfoliate, especially areas like my ankles, elbows, and knees, which are usually drier. By far my favourite method of exfoliation is a pair of scrubby loofah gloves, I find them to be really thorough. If you find that the tops of your arms get that lovely pimply feeling, these will be your best friends!

Next I moisturise, adding either an extra layer or a thicker one to the aforementioned scaly bits. Once that has fully soaked in (and I mean fully- don't go jumping the gun and getting patchy now) I proceed with my tan. The formula I use depends on the look I'm after and how much time I have. I do prefer to use tans that sink into the skin and develop rather than instant tans that can transfer onto your clothes or sofa, or sweat off during their wear.

a pair of pink sunglasses, a purple fake tanning mitt, and a bronze tube of gradual tan on a white background

Choosing a fake tan
This section contains gifted items*

If I want a darker colour I grab my trusty St Moriz medium mousse. I've used this stuff for years now because I like that the mousse is dark to give you a guide colour, it has a green pigment in it to give you a nice olive undertone, it soaks in pretty fast, and it's super cheap, too. I just shake it up, pump a big old handful onto a tanning mitt, and apply it in strokes rather than rubbing it in. Then I stand with my arms held out while it dries, and hop into bed to let it develop.

In the morning I wake up looking like a ~~bronze goddess~~ mahogany wardrobe, and on more than one occasion my mum has greeted me with "what on Earth have you done to yourself?!". Charming. However, this is just the top layer of tan, and after hopping in the shower it will wash away, leaving a lighter, even colour on your skin, which you can build up by applying another coat in the evening.

My preferred method is a gradual tan. I do find that there is more risk of streaking since they take longer to soak in and don't have a guide colour, but the moisturising base nourishes my skin to add to the healthy glow, and the tan wears off in a nicer way.

I still follow the exfoliate and moisturise steps, but then rub the tan in with my hands rather than using a mitt, and make sure to wash them well straight after. At the moment I'm using the Sunkissed natural gradual tan* which is 95% natural, cruelty free, and smells like a salted caramel coconut dream. Even with the fragrance and rich moisturiser, it hasn't broken me out on my face, which is always a worry when I try new formulas!

I was sent the light-medium shade which is very subtle, so I'd recommend it to my super pale pals or tanning newbies, but they also offer a medium-dark option if you'd prefer a deeper colour.

After tanning

If I have made a mistake and ended up with patches, or worse, the dreaded Tan Hands, I reach for a good old tube of Colgate. It sounds strange, but toothpaste works a treat to scrub away excess tan!

Whichever formula I choose, I usually shave the day after applying it. Many people recommend people shaving between exfoliating and moisturising so you take off any tan as you shave, but my leg hair grows like bamboo so I'd rather take that risk and have smooth legs on the day I'm showing them off.

When I do go out with my new golden skin on show, I make sure to add a layer of SPF, firstly because skin needs sun protection whatever its colour, and secondly because I don't want to get a natural tan and be all different shades at once. My absolute favourite one is Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration, which soaks in fast and feels like any other moisturiser, so there's no excuse to skip this step.

Are there any fake tan tricks I have missed?

Long time readers of the blog will know my battle with blemishes, and how I'm always looking for the answer to my acne scarring. While I know that laser treatment is ultimately the answer, there are things I can do at home to make my skin healthier and happier. My latest love is the Magnitone XOXO cleansing brush, which I was sent in exchange for honest review.

A mint green, rounded triangular device. One point has small raised lines, one has larger lines, and the other has lots of small silicone bristles.

The brush has been made to be totally user friendly. The silicone casing is fully waterproof, easy to clean, and doesn't hold moisture or bacteria like traditional nylon bristles. Both the shape and the silicone make it very easy to hold, even when wet, and the compact size makes it easy to travel with. Unlike similar devices, it's also rechargeable, with a 2 hour charge lasting one month.

There are 3 areas on the brush: bristles for oily skin, small lines for dry or sensitive, and wide lines for massage, so you can choose which works best for you or mix it up depending on your skin's behaviour. All the functions are powered by 8000 micro-sonic vibrations per minute, which can be sped up or slowed down at the click of a button on the device.

To use my Magnitone XOXO, I remove my makeup, apply my favourite Superdrug cleanser, then step in the shower and let the device slowly glide over my face, no need for scrubbing. In my problem areas I chose the bristles, the small lines everywhere else, then finish with a massage all over, focusing on the jawline for lymphatic drainage.

A photograph of me in my grey tiled bathroom wearing a mint dressing gown and white hair turban, holding the magnitone on my face

In all honestly I was a little doubtful before my first use that just a few lines of silicone could really make my face as smooth as an exfoliating scrub, but the sonic pulsations worked their magic and I stepped out of the shower with skin that felt soft, refreshed, yet not at all tight like some scrubs can leave it.

After a few weeks of using the Magnitone XOXO once every other day, I can safely say I'm converted. Using it has almost become a step in my self care routine because it's such a relaxing sensation, and even my family members have noticed the effect it has had on my skin. It's not as puffy, my scarring seems smoother and less angry, and I've found myself using less foundation and concealer.

The only flaw I can find with the design is that the chunky, rounded shape just can't reach the corners of my nose and the pores right beside it, which are trouble areas for me. It would be handy if the device tapered or the bristles continued over the side to make it that bit more precise. Aside from that, my complexion and I are happy bunnies!

My What's Up series is widening its horizons! This time we're stepping out of England and putting the spotlight on Erddig, a National Trust house in Wrexham, North Wales.

My first visit was on a Spring day and I was blown away by the beauty of the place. We arrived at opening time when it was quieter and we had plenty of time to explore the lovely handmade brick outbuildings which house the old blacksmith's workshop, timber yard, and penny farthings and carriages. The stables even still house donkeys which you may be lucky enough to see and stroke!

Erddig Hall

Stepping into Erddig, I immediately felt a difference to most National Trust houses. While it is still large, grand, and full of the history, artwork, and furniture I've come to expect from such estates, there was still a homely, comfortable atmosphere. It felt like a happy home.

Although some rooms have their curtains drawn to protect the fabrics from fading in sunlight, others are bathed in natural light, and even the servants' corridor, lined with photos and handwritten stories of them, has views out over the fields.

There are still children's toys in the rooms, the chapel ceiling is painted with a prayer asking God to protect all who set foot on the estate, and the volunteers told us that the family of the house was vegetarian, which was very different for the time.

a large rectangular pond lined with trees and hedges, with a large, red brick country house at the far end. The picture is taken on a sunny day, the grass is green and the sky is clear and blue.

Erddig Gardens

I don't think there are words to describe the beauty of Erddig's gardens, but I'll certainly give it a try! The back of the house has steps leading into a walkway flanked with beds of yellow and purple flowers, and in front of that lies a huge, rectangular pond, with a walkway around it full of mint, apple trees snaking up the walls, and cherry trees in bloom.

The pond itself is home to geese, which were nesting on the banks, and friendly carp, which popped up to the surface hoping for snacks as we passed, while the walkway leads off into yet more areas to explore. A forest school for little ones to go wild, a picnic area, beehives, Victorian glasshouses, and a walled garden full of flowers.

All around the garden there are seating areas that are perfect for taking time to reflect and enjoy the beautiful settings, and a trail for children to follow to get them engaged with the plants and trees around them.

a wicker basket of brown leaf shaped cards, and another filled with paper labels, on a wooden table

Eating at Erddig

One thing is for sure, you won't go hungry at Erddig! There are plenty of picnic benches in the front pond area, main courtyard, and beside the forest school, and their own ice cream parlour, tea room, and coffee shop offering everything from snacks to full, hot meals.

On our visit they were all understandably very busy so we drove to nearby Llangollen, which is full of eateries, for lunch, and I couldn't write this post without recommending you pop into the Courtyard Cafe if you're in town. They served the most delicious freshly baked bread I've ever eaten!

After my visit, I can see Erddig becoming one of my favourite National Trust properties, and somewhere I'll visit in every season. The garden looks truly gorgeous in Spring, but I can imagine Erddig Hall is lovely at Christmas too. If you'd like to see more of my days out, make sure to follow me on Instagram, as I often post them in my stories.

What's your favourite National Trust property?

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