The manicured lawns and grounds of many of the UK's stately homes and castles make perfect natural amphitheaters for outdoor performances and events. If you are touring the UK, especially if you've taken advantage of the Great British Heritage Pass, you've probably scheduled visits to a few of these historic places. Check out their individual websites before you travel to see what's going on along your route. You'll likely find concerts, drama, folklore and dance festivals taking place under the stars somewhere along the way.

Just remember to bring (because we are having that kind of summer):

• something waterproof to sit on
• a nice warm sweater
• an umbrella

Armed against anything the weather can throw at you, these are two family events you might enjoy:

• Treasure Island at Lulworth Castle in Dorset, July 29. Quantum Theatre presents an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's swashbuckling pirate tale - complete with Long John Silver's parrot Cap'n Flint. Admission is £10 for adults, £5 for kids and under 5s go free. Telephone +44 (0)845 450 1054
• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland at Dudmaston Hall's Lakeside Gardens, in Shropshire, August 2. Intermission will feature an opportunity to dress up as a favorite character (bring your own costume) and take part in an Alice Parade. Dudmaston Hall's tea shop will be open during the evening, serving traditional English summer treats - including strawberries and cream. The organizers suggest you come prepared for all weathers.

  Dudmaston Hall is a National Trust property. Tickets (£15 for adults, £10 for children and £40 families of two adults and two children) are available on the door or online from the National Trust's events page, where you can find loads of other summer happenings.

_{Treasure Island, courtesy of the Lulworth Estate}

The charm of tiny, country schoolhouses may not readily come to mind when you think of a vacation in England. Think again. The Little House on the Prairie did not have a monopoly on quaint, one-room schools.

Cottages4you, a vacation rental company I recommend, has late availability in August on three nostalgic, converted schoolhouses with bags of character plus "all mod cons", in beautiful locations, suitable for families or groups of friends. All are available for at least 7 days, starting August 23:

• Old School House Cottage on the North Yorkshire Moors is 200 yards from a country pub and just a few miles from Rievaulx Abbey and the village of Helmsley, with its inns, castles and dining at The Black Swan. It sleeps 4 and is Ref: 11258 on the Cottages4you website.
• Old School Cottage in Norfolk is a mid 19th century flint cottage near Norwich and the Norfold Broads. It sleeps six, it's pet friendly and it's not far from the village shop. Find Ref: 23775 on the website.
• My favorite is The Old Boys School near Hexham in the North Pennines. It's a Victorian schoolhouse near the Cumbrian borders that's equally well located for explorations of Hadrian's Wall or the Lake District. The owners describe the area as having "the lowest light pollution in the UK". How's that for saying It's bloody dark out there 21st century style? There are loads of stars though. And room enough for six. Ref: MNM on the website.

Book through the Cottages4you website (easier to use on Internet Explorer), or telephone +44 (0)8700 782 100 and quote the cottage reference number.

_{Picture of Rievaulx Abbey in North York Moors courtesy of britainonview}