In a world of late trains, lousy weather and international sporting losses, it's easy to forget the things Britain is uniquely good at. Constitutional monarchies, for example, or Marmite, depending on your point of view. But perhaps best of all is The National Trust. Where would we be without the Trust's meticulously-preserved historic houses, beautifully-tended gardens or, (let's face it) diet-endingly delicious cream teas?

The National Trust was founded in 1895 by Victorian philanthropists. Over a century later, it now looks after over 612,000 acres of countryside in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 700-plus miles of coastline and over 200 houses and gardens, monuments and mills, and churches and chapels of outstanding interest and importance.

Our exclusive new HD series, National Trust: National Treasures examines a selection of these properties in detail (see list right). It takes you on a private guided tour of the selected properties, charting each of their often colourful histories and revealing a selection of their art treasures from 17th-century tapestries and Renaissance stained glass to sculptures by Henry Moore and oriental rugs with the help of the Trust's many and varied experts. Atmospheric, lavishly-shot and with great attention to detail and illuminating explanations from members of the properties' staff, it's almost as good a good as being there although of course, you do have to provide your own scones and jam.

Castle Drogo
Situated at a height of nearly 300 metres within Dartmoor National Park, Castle Drogo was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and was built between 1911 and 1931 for the self-made food retailing millionaire Julius Drewe. The castle is a masterpiece in Dartmoor granite that blends into the landscape to give the appearance of having been there for centuries.

The first 20th-century property accepted by the Trust, it combines the grandeur of a medieval castle with the interior of a country house. Lutyens designed the 4.9-hectare (12-acre) garden to reflect the architectural vision of the castle, with the wild moor encroaching into the formal areas. Planted by George Dillistone and influenced by Gertrude Jekyll, the garden's (which is currently undergoing major replanting) varied walks throughout the surrounding Teign Gorge provide spectacular views.