Lyme Park

[Eve]

I'm hoping to go there for a day out tomorrow but trying to work out the prices and accessibility and such.

On the National Trust site it has admission to the estate as £5 then to the house and garden about £9. Do you have to pay both or does the house and garden ticket include access to the estate in general? Am on a serious budget so trying to factor in for entrance fees on top of the train fare.

Will be going there via Disley station and I understand it's a half mile walk to the entrance then another mile to the house and gardens but they say there is a courtesy minibus from park entrance and, I think, the park entrance up, does anyone know if it does run, how often and if there is any additional charge?

My arthritis is quite bad at the moment and don't want to be in so much pain getting there that I struggle round the actual place itself.

I also see they have deer on the estate, does anyone know if they are far from the house itself?

Thank you for any help :)

[cc1]

I don't recall paying to enter the park, it's a popular picnic spot. Can't speak about a shuttle bus, it's quite a way otherwise.

[VHG]

The National Trust make the individual entrance fees quite high to encourage people to join the NT.

It is only £36 to be a member for a year and that gets you into EVERY NT property for one whole year for free.

If you pay £9 (or whatever) to get into Lyme Park then you only have to visit two more properties in the year to make it worth you while joining.

Note as a member you also get a magazine every quarter, plus the knowledge you are helping to preserve much of Britains buildings and countryside (the NT own hundreds of aces of British countryside).

If you can afford it I would join instead of paying the £9 or more to get in.

[Eve]

I so would if I could fit it into my budget but things are very tight at the moment. Definitely considering it for the future though! I did pay the higher price though so they can claim gift aid. Turned out you only have to pay the £5 estate fee for parking :)

It was an ominous start to the day with a lack of bus hitch then arriving at Disley Station to torrential rain but a friend dropped me off by the park entrance and they had a minibus to get up the mile long drive up to the house which made a big difference for me :)

Went on the house tour which was great then popped out for some external photos which co-incided nicely with my friends arriving part way through their walk and a coffee in the restaurant before they set off again. Headed back to the house to take some photos but you aren't allowed to take photos in the house which was a bit disappointing but went around again and did some of the extra bits not on the tour then out to the gardens.

Had a lovely wander up round the lake and saw some deer then back via more gardens and the orangerie before grabbing the minibus back to the entrance and a wander past some rather impressive local houses to meet the others in the Ram's Head in Disley for a lovely sunday lunch and leisurely coffee for 12. Can highly recommend it!

It was a great day and turned out lovely after the initial downpours :) I have to say, all the staff (mostly volunteers) at the park were so incredibly friendly and helpful, truly a credit to the NT.