North Wales National Trust Sites Open Free in September 2026

Key Points

• Free admission to 15 National Trust Cymru properties will be available during Open Doors organised by Cadw in September 2026.
• Seven National Trust Cymru properties taking part in the Open Doors scheme are located in North Wales, which are Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant, Plas Newydd, Bodnant Garden, Penrhyn Castle, Erddig, Chirk Castle, and Plas yn Rhiw with Sarn y Plas.
• Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant in Penmachno is to open for free on September 5 and 6, from 12 to 4 pm.
• Plas Newydd House and Garden on Ynys Môn and Bodnant Garden in Conwy are to be accessible free of charge on September 12 and 13.
• Penrhyn Castle and Garden in Bangor will be available to visit for free on September 19 and 20, with slate splitting and a Victorian Kitchen baking demonstration scheduled.
• Both Erddig Hall and Garden and Chirk Castle and Garden in the Wrexham area will be able to be accessed for free on September 19.
• Finally, Plas yn Rhiw and Sarn y Plas on the Llŷn Peninsula will have their gardens accessible for free on September 26 and 27 with a guided tour being booked in advance.
• The scheme covers also some places in Mid and South Wales, with National Trust Cymru listing 15 properties in total.
• According to Cadw, over 200 historic buildings and sites in Wales are to have free access, events or tours arranged during the Open Doors in September.
• Visitors are advised to verify the property details prior to visiting as different opening times, access conditions, and parking fees apply to various places.

Wales (Wales Times) August 31, 2026 — National Trust Cymru is set to offer free entry at several historic houses, castles and gardens across North Wales on selected dates in September, as part of Cadw’s Wales-wide Open Doors programme.

The initiative includes 15 National Trust Cymru locations across Wales and allows visitors to enter participating properties for free on specific days rather than throughout the month.

The Denbighshire Free Press reported that National Trust Cymru is taking part in the annual Welsh heritage event, which is organised by Cadw. National Trust Cymru published further details on the participating sites, dates, opening hours and planned activities.

Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, organises and funds Open Doors. The programme is Wales’s contribution to the European Heritage Days initiative and will involve more than 200 historic sites, landmarks and less familiar locations offering free entry, activities or guided tours during September.

Which North Wales sites will offer free entry?

National Trust Cymru has listed seven North Wales destinations within its 15-place Open Doors programme. The participating locations include historic cottages, estates, gardens and castles across Penmachno, Ynys Môn, Conwy, uk/local/bangor/">Bangor, Wrexham and the Llŷn Peninsula.

When is Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant free to visit?

Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant in Penmachno will be free to enter on Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6, between 12pm and 4pm.

The property is known as the birthplace of Bishop William Morgan, who translated the whole Bible into Welsh. National Trust Cymru said the free-entry weekend will include talks about the site’s history, garden and cultural importance.

When can visitors enter Plas Newydd for free?

Plas Newydd House and Garden, on Ynys Môn, will offer free entry on Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13, from 9.30am until 5pm.

National Trust Cymru describes Plas Newydd as a Grade I-listed house and garden located beside the Menai Strait, with views towards Eryri. The organisation said art materials will be placed around the garden, while visitors can also collect an Artist Pack designed to support creative activities during their visit.

When is Bodnant Garden offering free access?

Bodnant Garden in Conwy will be free to visit on September 12 and 13, with opening hours from 9.30am to 5pm.

National Trust Cymru said the Grade I-listed garden lies in the foothills of Eryri and was established in 1874 by Victorian entrepreneur Henry Pochin. The site includes Italianate terraces, formal planting, woodland, meadows and cardiff/riverside/">riverside areas.

The organisation also highlighted late-summer displays at the garden, including dahlias, rudbeckias, heleniums and hydrangeas.

What events are planned at Penrhyn Castle?

Penrhyn Castle and Garden near Bangor will offer free access on Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, from 10am to 5pm.

National Trust Cymru said quarrymen from the Slate Museum will hold slate-splitting demonstrations during the weekend. A baking demonstration is also planned in the Victorian Kitchen on Sunday, September 20.

The castle is known for its neo-Norman architecture and its setting overlooking the Menai Strait. The property has views towards Eryri and the former quarry landscape.

When is Erddig Hall and Garden free to enter?

Erddig Hall and Garden in the Wrexham area will be free on Saturday, September 19, between 10am and 5pm.

National Trust Cymru said the property includes preserved rooms, servants’ portraits, an 18th-century garden and a 486-hectare landscaped park. The garden has a 220-metre herbaceous border that wraps around its grounds.

When can visitors access Chirk Castle for free?

Chirk Castle and Garden will offer free admission on Saturday, September 19, from 10am to 5pm.

National Trust Cymru describes Chirk as the last Welsh castle from the reign of Edward I that remains lived in today. Visitors will be able to enter the medieval castle, its gardens and the wider estate.

The site includes medieval towers and dungeons, later state rooms, formal gardens and a 480-acre estate.

What is available at Plas yn Rhiw and Sarn y Plas?

The gardens at Plas yn Rhiw and Sarn y Plas, on the Llŷn Peninsula, will be free to access on Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27, from 10.30am to 4.30pm.

Plas yn Rhiw is a 17th-century manor house overlooking Cardigan Bay. Sarn y Plas was previously the home of poet R. S. Thomas and his wife, Elsie Eldridge.

A free guided walk is planned to begin at Sarn y Plas at 1.30pm on both days before ending at the Plas yn Rhiw tearoom. The route will pass Fron Deg, a traditional Tyddyn, or crofter’s cottage, dating from the 1870s.

National Trust Cymru said booking is essential for the guided walk.

Which other Welsh sites are taking part?

The National Trust Cymru free-entry programme also includes eight destinations across Mid Wales, South Wales and west Wales. Each property has its own dates, opening hours and visitor arrangements.

• Powis Castle and Garden, Welshpool: Free on September 12 and 13, from 10am to 5pm. The garden and Clive Museum will be open, but the castle rooms will remain closed.
• Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion: Free on September 12 and 13, from 10am to 4.30pm. A re-enactment display featuring archers, knights and historic weapons demonstrations is planned from 11am to 4pm.
• Pontbrenmydyr Cottage, Ceredigion: Free on September 12 and 13, from 11am to 2pm. The 17th-century mud-built cottage is normally used as holiday accommodation.
• Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire: Free on September 5 and 6. Activities include community art workshops, a second-hand bookshop, guided walks, a church visit and apple-picking and pressing.
• Dyffryn Gardens, near Cardiff: Free on Sunday, September 13, from 10am to 5pm.
• Tredegar House, Newport: Free on Sunday, September 13, from 10.30am to 5pm.
• Dolaucothi, Carmarthenshire: Free on September 19 and 20, from 10am to 5pm. Entry includes the mine yard, museum, machinery sheds and the self-guided Roman Mine Trail. Guided underground tours carry an additional charge and must be booked.
• Tudor Merchant’s House, Tenby: Free on Saturday, September 26, from 11am to 4pm.

National Trust Cymru said non-members will still have to pay for parking at Llanerchaeron and Dinefwr. Parking is listed at £4 for non-members at Llanerchaeron and £6 for non-members at Dinefwr.

How should visitors plan a free Open Doors visit?

Visitors intending to use National Trust Cymru free entry should check the arrangements for their chosen property before travelling. The offer only applies on the listed dates, meaning that a free-entry day at one site does not automatically apply to another National Trust location or throughout September.

Opening times differ between venues. Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant, for example, is due to open from 12pm to 4pm, while larger properties including Bodnant Garden and Penrhyn Castle will have longer daytime opening hours.

Some locations are holding activities alongside free entry. These include heritage talks, art activities, slate-splitting demonstrations, baking demonstrations, re-enactments and guided walks.

Visitors should also note that:

• The Plas yn Rhiw guided walk requires advance booking.
• Guided underground tours at Dolaucothi are not included in the free admission offer and require booking.
• Non-member parking charges remain in place at Llanerchaeron and Dinefwr.
• Powis Castle will open its garden and Clive Museum during the free weekend, but the castle rooms will not be accessible.

Background: What is Cadw Open Doors?

Cadw Open Doors is an annual heritage programme held during September. It gives people opportunities to visit historic buildings, gardens, landmarks and other places across Wales without an admission charge or through free activities and guided tours.

Cadw says the scheme is Wales’s contribution to European Heritage Days. The programme includes properties cared for by organisations, public bodies and private owners, as well as sites that may not usually be open to the public.

For 2026, more than 200 Welsh heritage sites, landmarks and hidden places are expected to participate. National Trust Cymru’s 15 sites form part of that wider programme.

The National Trust Cymru properties cover a range of locations, including historic homes, gardens, a medieval castle, a Roman gold mine and a cottage normally used as holiday accommodation.

Prediction: How could this affect North Wales visitors?

The National Trust Cymru free-entry dates are likely to provide residents, families, visitors and heritage groups with additional opportunities to visit historic North Wales sites without paying standard admission charges on the advertised days.

The planned activities at Penrhyn Castle, Plas Newydd, Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant and Plas yn Rhiw may influence which sites visitors decide to attend. Families may be interested in art packs and garden activities, while heritage visitors may choose the slate demonstrations, talks or guided walk.

As the offer is limited to specific September weekends, visitor numbers may be higher than usual on the free-entry dates. People who wish to attend a particular event, take part in a guided activity or visit at a preferred time should confirm the latest access and booking arrangements before travelling.