Free Summer Play Trail at Canons Ashby: Hop, Skip and Soar This Summer

Canons Ashby, the gorgeous little Tudor manor house near Daventry, is running a free play trail right through the summer, and it’s exactly the sort of thing you can just turn up to without any planning at all.

It’s called Hop, Skip and Soar, and it sounds like a brilliant way to burn off some energy while the kids find out a bit about the wildlife that calls the estate home. Here’s everything you need to know.

What is Hop, Skip and Soar?

It’s an active play trail around the paddock at Canons Ashby, designed to get families moving and exploring together. Think stretching your wings in the fresh air, zooming around the paddock, and kicking up your heels like some of the creatures who live on the estate. Along the way, kids get to find out more about the animals and wildlife that call Canons Ashby home over the summer months.

Once you’re done, you can head to the tea-room for something to eat, or treat everyone to an ice cream. Always the best bit, isn’t it?

Dates and times

The trail runs daily from Saturday 18th July to Sunday 6th September 2026, from 10am to 4pm. That’s the whole of the summer holidays covered, so there’s no need to rush — you can fit it in whenever suits your family best.

• No booking needed
• The trail itself is free
• Normal admission charges apply for the venue
• Free entry for National Trust members

Prices

As the trail is included as part of your visit, you’ll just need to pay the usual admission to Canons Ashby if you’re not a National Trust member. From 1st March 2026, prices are:

• Adult (18+): £16.50 with Gift Aid / £15.00 without
• Child (5-17, under 5s free): £8.30 with Gift Aid / £7.50 without
• Family (2 adults + up to 3 children): £41.30 with Gift Aid / £37.50 without
• Family (1 adult + up to 3 children): £24.80 with Gift Aid / £22.50 without

National Trust members go free, so if you’ve got membership, this is a lovely low-cost way to make use of it during the holidays.

Good to know before you go

• Start at visitor reception, where staff will point you in the right direction
• It’s an active trail involving balancing, running and jumping, so dress for the weather and wear shoes you don’t mind getting muddy
• Dogs are permitted in these areas
• Adults should supervise children throughout
• If you have any access questions, you can email canonsashby@nationaltrust.org.uk or call 01327 861900

Canons Ashby is near Daventry (NN11 3SD), so it’s a lovely one for families in the west of the county, or anyone fancying a slightly further afield day out.

Fancy more ideas like this for the school holidays? I put together a free rainy day ideas pack if the weather doesn’t play ball, and I share things like this every week in my what’s on newsletter, so you never miss the free and low-cost stuff happening on your doorstep.

The events listed in this guide are run by third-party organisers, and all details were correct at the time of publication, based on information from their official websites. However, changes or cancellations can happen at short notice. To avoid any disappointment, we recommend double-checking the event information on the official websites before making plans.