6 Things to Do When Visiting Dunham Massey

If you love exploring historical country houses, strolling through beautiful gardens and, most importantly, you’d love to watch deer casually roaming around you, then you must visit Dunham Massey. 

This beautiful estate is a well known National Trust site within the north of England. Dunham Massey is perfect for a day trip if you’re located within Greater Manchester or just touring around the northwest. So, if you’re in search for someplace that you can visit at any time of the year then keep on reading, I’ve got you covered.

Introducing Dunham Massey

Located approximately 12 miles (19 km) to the southwest of Manchester and 10 miles (16 km) to the east of Warrington is a little green oasis called Dunham Massey. Between the walls of the estate you can discover over 400 years of the history of two families: the Booths and the Greys. There is also a beautiful formal garden and 300 acres of deer park. 

The stately home, stables and carriage house have been listed as Grade I buildings since 1959. Both the gardens and deer park are listed as Grade II on the Register of Parks and Gardens. The English country house was donated to the National Trust in 1976 who now own and have run the estate ever since. 

How to get to Dunham Massey

By car: Dunham Massey is located to the west of Altrincham in Cheshire, Greater Manchester. If you arrive by car, use WA14 4SJ in your SatNav and also follow the signs leading you to the estate. You can park your car just in front of the visitor centre. If you don’t have your own car but would like to enjoy the freedom of a private vehicle, then you can always hire a car get to Dunham Massey.

By bus: If you decide to use public transport there is a bus stop at the main gates of the estate. Bus Cat5 is operating regular services between Altrincham and Warrington, so if you come from further afield, I suggest getting to either of these places first, then getting the bus to Dunham Massey. Make sure to plan your journey with Trainline which also provides information on bus fares.

Top Tip – If you’re planning on travelling across the UK by train a lot, then check out some Railcard options which allow you to save some pennies on your train fares.

By bike: If you decide to hop on your bike there are plenty of national and local cycle routes running in the vicinity of the estate. You can lock your bike in the car park and enjoy a walk around the grounds. (You might need to pre-book a bike stands online!)

Cost to enter Dunham Massey

Entry fee to Dunham Massey is £8.59 for adults and £4.25 for children. Further information on tickets can be found on the website.

If you’re a member of the National Trust you can visit this stunning garden free of charge. You can read about the different kinds of membership by clicking here.

Facilities at Dunham Massey

Cafés and Restaurants – There’s plenty of places to choose from when it comes to food and drinks. There’s the Stables restaurant offering substantial meals, desserts and drinks. If you fancy a pizza then you can try out Stonebaked Pizza’s delicious ones. It is a pizza trailer baking pizzas in a wood fired oven every day. There’s Stamford café which offers light snacks and drinks for those only wanting quick refreshments. And, last but not least, Dunham Massey have an Ice Cream Parlour too, serving some delicious ice creams.

Picnic Spots – If you visit the estate on a nice day, I recommend bringing your own picnic with you. You can bring your own picnic blanket and find a great spot to eat anywhere on the grass within the gardens. (Please note that in order to avoid deer eating food they’re not supposed to, it’s not suggested to have a picnic in the deer park!) 

Gift Shop – Stop by the gift shop if you’d like to browse for some home made products and trinkets. 

Toilets – There are toilet facilities available next to the Stables and Visitor Centre.

What to See in Dunham Massey?

Below I’ve summarised 6 areas you should explore to make the most of your trip at Dunham Massey. 

1. Dunham Massey Hall

The present Elizabethan hall you see today has been remodelled countless times over the years. It was originally built in 1616 by Sir George Booth, then altered between 1732 and 1740. Through marriage, the Earls of Stamford became the owners of the Hall after the death of the 2nd Earl of Warrington. Inevitably, Dunham Massey Hall went through some alterations again between 1905 and 1908. It was used as a military hospital, called Stamford Military Hospital, during World War I. The 10th Earl of Stamford donated the estate to the National Trust in 1976. 

The house is well know for its impressive collection of silver but during your tour you’ll also see some beautiful paintings, furniture and a library filled with original books. Unfortunately, due to the restrictions we weren’t able to explore the interior of the Hall, but once it opens to the public again we’ll be sure to return and do so.

2. The Gardens of Dunham Massey

The garden you see today has definitely gone through some changes over the decades representing the style of the Earls during their lifetimes. The gardens were even abandoned for some time in the 19th century. However, when the National Trust took over in 1976, the gardens were transformed into an Edwardian style pleasure garden. The transformation has not stopped yet and something new is constantly being added to it like the Rose Garden and the Winter Garden. At 7 acres, the Winter Garden is actually considered the largest in Britain and has snowdrops, daffodils and bluebells. 

There are a few historical landmarks you shouldn’t miss when walking around the gardens. One of them is the orangery, growing exotic fruits. But also check out the bark house, with sweeping views of the lawn, the well house and the family dog graves (okay this last one may not be for everyone…)

3. The Deer Park

A visit to Dunham Massey wouldn’t be complete without seeing Dunham’s resident herd of fallow deer. Dunham Massey have been home to these deer since 1748 and they roam freely around the parkland. If you visit the estate I can guarantee that you will be able to see many of them eating and minding their own business in very close proximity to you. As you walk around the 300 acre deer park, you’ll notice their sanctuary which is closed to the public.

Please Note! – Whilst they are super adorable and they can look so friendly and calm around you, this doesn’t mean you should be petting them like you would a puppy who ran up to you! You should never feed them either; let them eat whatever nature provides them with. (Picnics are actually not allowed within the parkland to prevent these deer eating anything that they shouldn’t!) However, you are free to observe them and admire their beauty from a relatively safe distance. 

Since 1978 the park has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. You might also spot some owls, bats and woodpeckers when you’re strolling around. The parkland is also home to the UK’s rarest species of beetle.

4. The Ancient Tree Walk

There are plenty of oak trees at Dunham Massey many of which date back to the 17th century. The density of the old trees actually makes the park the only place in the northwest of England with this high concentration of ancient trees. You can do an ancient tree walk and explore the collection Dunham Massey has by following a 2.5 mile (4 km) long route. It’s a pretty easy walk and you can complete it in about 1.5 hours. You’ll definitely see plenty of trees with dead branches and hollow trunks.

Did you know? – Apparently oak trees grow for about 300 years then rest for 300 years before they die for 300 years! Nature is amazing don’t you agree?

5. The Sunflower Field

If you visit Dunham Massey in the right season (around July/August) then after exploring its grounds head over to the popular sunflower field. It’s technically not within Dunham Massey’s grounds, but basically just across the road from them. (It’s that popular, that it’s even marked on Google Maps!)

To find it, you’ll need to exit the Estate towards Dunham Town onto the B5160. Turn onto Woodhouse Lane then follow it to the north until you come to the first junction with an unnamed road. From there, you’ll need to turn onto Oldfield Lane and follow it until you see the sunflower field. You can also walk through the fields which I highly recommend as during autumn they look incredible for photos. If you decide to do that, then instead of walking along Oldfield Lane, take the footpath on the right. Trust me, you really cannot get lost as its a popular place so there will be people walking around constantly. 

6. Popular Events at Dunham Massey

Dunham Massey has many events all year round so make sure to check out their website before your trip to see what event is on at the time of your visit. 

By far my absolute favourite event at Dunham Massey is their annual Christmas Lights Trail. We attended about 2 years ago, and I absolutely loved it. They only started this event 4 years ago, and it became very popular as I’ve not seen many other places doing a winter light trail in the area. 

The entire formal garden is decorated in lights and divided into different sections. As you make your way through the garden each section will have different Christmas music on and lights are even flashing to the rhythm of the song. They even set up a marshmallow roasting section within the Rose Garden which just makes the trail even more fun. The place looks and feels magical so no wonder it attracts a large group of people every year. 

Top Tip – If you’d like to attend next year’s Christmas Lights Trail, then tickets will be available from around autumn time. You have to be quick because they sell out pretty fast. If you attend, then make sure you wrap up nicely since you’ll be spending a few hours outdoors during winter.

Additional Places to Visit in the Area

Tatton Park – Owned by the National Trust, Tatton Park is a beautiful historical estate situated to the north of Knutsford. Since the estate has a mansion, a medieval manor house, 50 acres of gardens, an animal farm and 1000 acres of deer park you can easily spend a full day there. You can read about 8 things you must do when visiting Tatton Park by clicking here.

Quarry Bank Mill – Learn about the history of one of the best preserved textile factories of the Industrial Revolution. Walk around the beautiful garden, explore Styal Country Park and spot planes at Manchester Airport. You can read about 7 things to do to get the most out of your visit by clicking here.

Arley Hall and Gardens –  Explore 500 years of history, a beautiful formal garden and a lovely woodland walk all in one place. You can read about 6 features not to miss when visiting the estate by clicking here. 

Have you ever been to Dunham Massey before? Which season did you visit the garden in and how much of the area did you manage to explore? Let me know in the comments below.