National Trust for Scotland

I want a sticker to put on my forehead that deters any of the smart ass NT volunteers from pouncing, to show how 'clever' they are then proceed to bore the pants off me, telling everything they know about wherever I am visiting or whatever I am looking at. If I want information, I would ask, I don't want force feeding.
Only once have I been grateful of one of the volunteers, she engaged, was witty, knowledgeable beyond the 'learnt by rote', not condescending and was warm and friendly. So unlike the vast majority of others who just like the sound of their own voice.

Rant over, got man flu, feeling out of sorts, so they can all sod off!
 
hairydog said:
Strong disagreement from me. Not all the volunteers know much, but most are interested and interesting. You sometimes have to work a bit to get the best from them because they tend to assume you're just another tourist flowing through with no interest or quest for knowledge. But there are some fascinating enthusiasts happy to talk about their pet interest.
If you are not interested, why not go to a theme park stead?
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Fair point. It's just the ones that grab you if you make eye contact and then won't stop that I have a problem with....
 
hairydog said:
Strong disagreement from me. Not all the volunteers know much, but most are interested and interesting. You sometimes have to work a bit to get the best from them because they tend to assume you're just another tourist flowing through with no interest or quest for knowledge. But there are some fascinating enthusiasts happy to talk about their pet interest.
If you are not interested, why not go to a theme park stead?
Click to expand...


Quote: Strong disagreement from me.

Well, there's a surprise!?

Quote: If you are not interested, why not go to a theme park stead?

What's a theme park stead?
 
Jays said:
Why would you if you live in England, join the Scottish National Trust?

Why would you join the New Zealand national Trust?

You join to Support the work they do.

Couple of points to by made.

England has more properties than Scotland to maintain.

Scotland has more properties than New Zealand to maintain.

New Zealand has about 10 to visit.

So what do you want, no maintenance but it’s cheap!

Or just pay as its only £18.00 difference.

And before you all plead poverty, we all own motorhomes.
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You would join the Scottish NT, as we did, because it is cheaper! I have no idea how the NT organizes its finances but the guy at the ticket office of one English NT property we visited (on our Scottish card) told me that each property receives funding from the central organization according to the number of members who visit. I didn't go into detail with him but I assume it is a bit like the EHIC card - the "home" nation (ie the one you gave your money to) pays.
 
izwozral said:
Quote: Strong disagreement from me.

Well, there's a surprise!?

Quote: If you are not interested, why not go to a theme park stead?

What's a theme park stead?
Click to expand...

I knew some daft bugger would bite. Put down to the fever.:lol-049::lol-049::lol-049::lol-049:

Cheers

H
 
Jays said:
Why would you if you live in England, join the Scottish National Trust?

Why would you join the New Zealand national Trust?

You join to Support the work they do.

Couple of points to by made.

England has more properties than Scotland to maintain.

Scotland has more properties than New Zealand to maintain.

New Zealand has about 10 to visit.

So what do you want, no maintenance but it’s cheap!

Or just pay as its only £18.00 difference.

And before you all plead poverty, we all own motorhomes.
Click to expand...

£18 is a lot to us. We only have a camper van...
We basically can't really afford even the Scottish nt but in the last couple of years the english nt has aquired so much countryside especially in Cornwall and started charging a fortune for parking, even to go for a walk. This is why we have joined.
This includes access to the coast path in many places. I just can't agree with exclusion on the basis of poverty.
If the nts can see their way to offer concessions then I don't see why the english nt cannot do likewise.
People left their properties so that the public could enjoy them.
It seems to me that those properties have returned back to the elite who can afford to visit them, whilst the poorer peasants who can't are once again left looking in through the gates!
Both nt's also do an awful lot of good work both in conservation and the environment and I applaud them for this.
That does not mean I can't critisize other aspects of their work.
 
same here , i can't afford to pay to park or visit places that are now controlled by NT or EH. places, i might add , that belong to me . very tempted to have a rant here , but i won't . wish i'd paid for the cheaper NZ membership now ! Avebury parking is £7 the day, and no option for staying just a couple of hours- not so much greedy as out of touch with the poorer people who might like a look round , and as for Stonehenge - imagine trying to explain to your kids that only people with trust funds can look at these stones. so to me they're trying to take my dosh to visit my heritage, and i'm trying not to let them
 
Jays said:
Well I would as I live in Scotland.
What about you where do you live?
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I live in Derbyshire (when I'm not in Spain). I don't see what point you are trying to make. Both the English NT and the Scottish NT agree to this reciprocal membership, so it can't be harming either of them financially, as you imply in your earlier post.
 
I don't support the NT and never will do whilst they have the ridiculous ban on deer hunting on the land they are trustees of. But, that is whole different argument.
I am a member because I want to look at old properties, antique furniture, paintings, gardens and soak up the atmosphere and history. Yes, all that costs money, however, if you want to know what a greedy bunch of self serving tw4ts the NT are, then read on. National Trust sitting on reserves of PS1bn

Do they need the difference of what my membership costs me in NZ dollars as opposed to GB pounds? No!

If I was offered a car for £10k or an identical car for £9k, why on earth would I want to pay more money? It just wouldn't make sense would it.
 
I have always found the English NT has priced me out but I love looking round British History although my husband finds it boring. If I join the NZ or the Scottish NT do their memberships include the parking
 
silverweed said:
I have always found the English NT has priced me out but I love looking round British History although my husband finds it boring. If I join the NZ or the Scottish NT do their memberships include the parking
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We are members of the Scottish NT and the parking permit has so far always been accepted at English NT properties.
 
silverweed said:
I have always found the English NT has priced me out but I love looking round British History although my husband finds it boring. If I join the NZ or the Scottish NT do their memberships include the parking
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NTS definitely includes parking. In car parks which have swipe cards you just make sure your car sticker can be seen.
I don't think the NZ one foes invlude parking but not sure.
 
barge1914 said:
For those who have it, do you get much use out of your membership? Was thinking about signing up, but wondering how useful it would be. We usually do a month around Scotland in midwinter, so are many places, carparks etc actually open then?

We may do odd weekends around uk in rest of year, but most of the year we are in Europe...but come the worst ****** scenarios maybe that may have to change.

We’re off to NZ for a couple months next year so I imagine it could come in handy with the reciprocal arrangements...assuming there are plenty of places of interest to see.

I believe membership includes use of NT England car parks...does that apply to NZ, Italy and other such places?

What are folks experiences/successes in staying overnight at NTS and NT carparks?
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NTS members ;worth the saving on fees .No problems with entrances or car park in NT areas. Have not returned to Scotland this year. Overnight parking is not allowed even the the quiet beach car parks we have used. Not sure if enforced. Good online sites on both for seasonal availability of any facilities.
 
NTS members

barge1914 said:
For those who have it, do you get much use out of your membership? Was thinking about signing up, but wondering how useful it would be. We usually do a month around Scotland in midwinter, so are many places, carparks etc actually open then?

We may do odd weekends around uk in rest of year, but most of the year we are in Europe...but come the worst ****** scenarios maybe that may have to change.

We’re off to NZ for a couple months next year so I imagine it could come in handy with the reciprocal arrangements...assuming there are plenty of places of interest to see.

I believe membership includes use of NT England car parks...does that apply to NZ, Italy and other such places?

What are folks experiences/successes in staying overnight at NTS and NT carparks?
Click to expand...

NTS members ;worth the saving on fees .No problems with entrances or car park in NT areas. Have not returned to Scotland this year. Overnight parking is not allowed even the the quiet beach car parks we have used. Not sure if enforced. Good online sites on both for seasonal availability of any facilities.
 
The NZ heritage membership doesn't officially cover parking but we have had it free at several sites. The savings on the membership of NT and EH together was about £120 if you join both so we prefer to pay for the occasional car park in exchange for the ability to visit either. Always make a point of having something in the cafe while there. Basically we would not visit the sites at all without this membership and, as op pointed out, the agreement is there so they must get enough out of it to make it worthwhile. Just because people have a motorhome / campervan does not mean they can afford to not take savings where possible!
 
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