THIS weekend the clocks will go back across the UK to result in an extra hour of much needed sunlight as we approach the darker months.

Clocks officially go back at 2am on Sunday, October 27, resulting in an extra hour in bed if you're lucky.

In the majority of cases, the days of manually changing your clocks are long gone.

Any device connected to the internet such as smartphones, televisions, laptops and tablets will change automatically.

However, alarm clocks, car radios and other devices not connected to the internet will need to be adjusted manually.

It's a very different story in North Wales for the National Trust Cymru properties across the region.

While time appears to stand still at the heritage-preserving sites, there are many timepieces that need altering.

Erddig Hall and Garden, Wrexham

At Erddig, there are 13 clocks on display.

All of their longcase clocks are eight-day clocks, which the house and collections team wind every seven days to ensure they continue running smoothly.

Whenever possible, the same person winds the clocks each week and keeps a record of whether they run fast or slow. This routine allows them to quickly detect any issues with the mechanisms, helping to prevent damage and ensure the clocks remain in good working order.

Many of the clocks in the collection date back to the early 1700s. The oldest piece is displayed on the Nursery Landing. It's a fine English clock made in London by William Andrews, set in a black Japanned case. It is recorded in John Mellor's accounts between 1709 and 1711. In the Servants Hall, there is another remarkable longcase clock, crafted by Edmund Appley of Charing Cross, dating to around 1700.

Erddig also have a longcase clock by the local maker John Ratcliffe of Chester, who crafted this piece between 1700 and 1730. It is displayed outside the State Bedroom.

In addition to their longcase clocks, they also have French bracket clocks and a Swiss Challet Cuckoo Clock. The cuckoo clock is particularly special, as it is inscribed on the back: "S. Yorke 1904 from his Aunt Miss M. Scott, given on his 1st birthday."

It takes about 15 minutes to stop all the clocks and about half an hour to set them again and make sure they're all working properly. The team go around and stop all the clocks, then come back an hour later to restart them.

Joanne Hodgson, collections and house manager at Erddig Hall and Garden said: "There's something special about the clocks in Erddig House. They add sound and movement to the space. When the house is quiet, you can hear their ticking in the background, almost like the house itself is alive."

Chirk Castle and Garden, Wrexham

At Chirk Castle, they have 10 clocks on display. All of these clocks are eight-day clocks, meaning they only need to be wound once a week. One notable clock in the collection is located in the drawing room, just to the right as you enter. This clock was crafted around 1730 by Patrick Thomas, a local clockmaker from Chirk. He lived and worked in Chirk and his craftsmanship is a testament to the skill and artistry found in this area.

We also have another remarkable longcase clock positioned at the top of the grand staircase. Dating back to 1725, this clock is also believed to be by Patrick Thomas. It has a striking walnut case and stands more than 10ft tall, complete with ornate finials. This towering clock is often a conversation starter due to its impressive height.

It takes the team approximately five minutes to change each clock. To change the clocks, they first go around and stop all of them. Then wait for an hour before coming back to restart each clock.

Plas Newydd House and Garden, Anglesey

As you can't wind the hands back they all have to be stopped and restarted again an hour later, bang on time!

There are 10 clocks in the collection, not including the Stable Block clock. Their oldest clock is an eight-day English striking longcase clock in a green Japanned case, by Robert Henderson of Scarborough c.1750. With a 12in brass break-arch dial, the chapter ring with Roman numerals and Arabic five minutes, and a square calendar aperture. The green and gold Japanned case with pagoda top hood surmounted by three brass ball finials, hood with foliage decoration, the door panel with two seated men (in spandrels), top and sides with flower and geometric decoration, centre panel with Chinese pagodas and bridges with seated figures on the veranda, birds and flowers in a cartouche at the bottom, plinth with views of a village. It's 1175809 on CMS and it belongs to the NT.

Penrhyn Castle and Garden, Bangor

On display around the house there are 14 clocks.

The oldest clock in the house is c.1700, which is in the Drawing Room.

To move the clocks back an hour the easiest way to do this is to stop the clock and return in an hour to restart the clock. So the process takes an hour but you need to remember to return exactly within an hour or the process will take longer if you have forgotten.