Your Brilliant Benches

When is a bench not a bench? 

When it’s a curiosity, a work of art, a window to a stunning view, a much welcome resting spot or a fitting tribute. 

We sent you, our local explorers, out on a mission to seek out the most brilliant or bizarre bench in your local area. Here are our top picks for Brilliant Benches – Mission Complete! 

16 of Britain’s best brilliant benches:

 

Ideas bench – Dorchester, Dorset

Spotter: Jacqui Fogg

Bench intel: This bench is the perfect spot to take some time out, reflect, and come up with new ideas!

Heads bench – Cockington, nr Torquay

 

Spotter: Jon Cornish

Bench intel: Some great history of past residents on these heads!

Xylem Voices – Alderbrook viewpoint, Surrey Hills

Spotter: Liz Grant

Bench intel: It is called Xylem Voices and was designed by sculptor Walter Bailey. Made from oak, it represents six xylem vessels which are the way trees transport water up their trunks.

Castle bench -Chepstow Castle

Spotter: Gareth Jenkins

Bench intel: A stunningly carved castle bench!

Diving helmet bench – Whitstable, Kent

Spotter: Diane Berry

Bench intel: If you sit where the diving helmet is, you can sit with your head in it!

Fun fact:  Whitstable harbour was the first place to develop an underwater breathing apparatus.

Keyboard bench – Perivale Park, West London

Spotter: Allen Tsui

Bench intel: Fantastic keyboard bench in memory of English pianist Nikky Hopkins.

Treorci bench – Rhondda Valley, South Wales

Spotter: Claire Williams

Bench intel: It represents the musical heritage of Treorchy Male Voice Choir, singing throughout the mountains of the valley.

Lock view bench – Loch Vanachar, Scotland

Spotter: Vivian Viljoen

Bench intel: Just a bench with a stunning view!

Colour change bench – Alresford Creek, nr Wivenhoe, Essex

Spotters: Richard Martin & Sarah Sherratt

Bench intel: The colours on this bench change depending on which way it’s viewed and are amazing in the sunlight.

Question benches – nr Barbican Tube Station, London

Spotter: Sonia Field

Bench intel: Part of ‘Around the Corner’ – a commission inspired by a quote from the novel ‘Jacob’s Room’ by Virginia Woolf. Follow the words to get to the end of question!

Afternoon tea bench – Aberchirder, Aberdeenshire

Spotter: Susan Middler

Bench intel: Time for tea and cake on this fab bench. The perfect ending to any adventure!

 

Brilliant benches spotted by the team at TT Towers

 

A selection of our favourite brilliant benches spotted by our Trails Writers and TT Towers Team on our explorations!

Framed view bench – Falmouth, Cornwall

Spotter: Jacqui

Bench intel: Just a great spot for a photo! I love the way the stones frame this view.

Bench poetry – Scarborough, North Yorkshire

Spotter: Neil

Bench intel: Whilst we don’t usually set clues on benches (someone might be sat in the way!), we do often spot unusual ones to point out in a Trail, like this fantastic limerick tribute!

Welcome ceramic bench – Stone, Staffordshire

Spotter: Ivan

Bench intel: Created by local school children in 2008, this Welcome to Stone bench certainly gives a warm welcome to any secret agents on the Stone Spy Mission!

Bench with a view – South Bay, Scarborough

Spotter: Jane

Bench intel: Another bench in Scarborough, but it does have so many! This is one I got to sit on and enjoy sharing the view with my dad a few years ago. I took in the castle views whilst Dad enjoyed a spot of birdwatching.

Very long brilliant bench – Stourhead, National Trust

Spotter: David

Bench intel: This bench is perfect for social distancing, or for a very large group not to have to squabble for a spot!

Do YOU have a better brilliant bench near you!

 

If you have a better bench where you live, we’ve love to see it! Post your brilliant benches on the Treasure Trails Facebook page, or tag us on Twitter and Instagram to show it off!

Get bench spotting on your local Treasure Trail

Spice up your local walk with a Treasure Trail, safe in the knowledge that you can take a rest on a bench at anytime! Treasure Trails offer self-guided treasure hunt, detective mystery or spy mission themed adventures across the UK, and we can officially guarantee you’ll pass at least one bench in every Trail!