Castles of the Lake District: Our Favourites

We can’t offer royal palaces to our visitors at Coronation time, but we have the best castles in the Lake District. Some you can go inside and wander round, some are only ruins with heaps of history. But all are worth visiting while you stay with us here at the Cedar Manor. Let's take you on a tour of our favourites.<\/p>

Kendal Castle

Kendal Castle, probably built in the late 12th Century, is now a ruin, but worth exploring as one of the best castles in the Lake District. From here you can get brilliant views over the town. Castle Hill itself is a lovely place to walk and picnic, with views in all directions. The lower slopes have wooded walks. There are sculptured seats specially commissioned for the site, by the artist Alain Ayers.

It's thought that Richard II granted the castle to the Parr family, who took control in 1383. Yes, that's Katherine Parr, sixth and final queen of Henry VIII. It's fun to imagine that she lived here, but in fact she probably never even saw it; by the time she was born in 1512, the castle was already ruined. But the place is still fascinating.

In 1897 Kendal Corporation bought Castle Hill for ‘public enjoyment’, to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Over the following years there have been major repairs to the masonry, landscaping, and new information displays on the site and at the nearby Kendal Museum. The site is open to the public daily.<\/p>

Sizergh Castle

The medieval Sizergh Castle near Kendal has been home to the Strickland family for more than 750 years. This is a castle that you certainly can go inside, and there are lots of historic treasures to discover within the beautiful rooms. Sizergh has many tales to tell and certainly feels lived in, with centuries-old portraits and fine furniture sitting alongside modern family photographs.

Outside in the grounds there are lovely walking routes and you can wander through ancient woodland, or join a guided countryside walk. The gardens are glorious, and there's a cafe famous for brunch and lunch as well as fabulous cakes. You will also find a shop selling gifts made locally, and a secondhand bookshop.

For details and opening times: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/lake-district/sizergh/visiting-the-house-at-sizergh<\/p>

Muncaster Castle

This is a magnificent castle in the western Lake District, the very ideal of what every child's image of a castle should be. And it's still a lived-in family home, even though visitors are very welcome to come along in and look around.

The castle is host to weddings and functions as well as open to the public. Over the years it has been built onto, extended and refurbished throughout every era in history. Lots of things to do and see here, plus regular events such as festivals, concerts, shows, and sporting fixtures. One of the most popular attractions is the hawk and owl centre next to the old rose garden, where you can see birds close up, and watch flying displays.

And this is one of Britain's most haunted castles. Paranormal researchers visit here to seek rational explanations of the strange happenings. Many tales revolve around a character known as Tom Fool, aka Thomas Skelton, a powerful force at Muncaster. Tom is rarely seen, but his spirit continues to play tricks on family, staff and visitors.

Hauntings often occur in The Tapestry Room. Visitors complain of disturbed nights, hear footsteps outside in the corridor, see the door handle turning and the door opening although nobody is there. A child is frequently heard crying near the window end of the room and sometimes a lady can be heard singing, comforting a sick child. Visitors have also felt cold in the room for no apparent reason. We dare you to visit!<\/p>

Lowther Castle

You can tell from the facade at Lowther Castle, near Penrith, that it must have been one of the most astonishing sights in the north of England. It was truly a grand place, built at the turn of the 19th century. But it was abandoned, left to fall into ruin, and in 1957 most of the structure was demolished. Just the facade and outer walls were left and the garden became a wilderness. But now the castle itself is a garden estate, beautifully landscaped and treasured. There’s exhibitions, an adventure playground, and of course the most beautiful gardens you could imagine. Here, until June this year, you’ll find ten thousand ceramic daffodils, installed to raise money for six charities. It’s the work of artist, Helen Ratcliffe, inspired by the poetry of Wordsworth and his celebration of the daffodils on the shores of Ullswater.<\/p>

Wray Castle

This is our nearest castle and one of our favourites. It was built as a folly by a businessman whose wife complained that their original home had a leaking roof. Rumour has it that she wasn't impressed with the castle, either, but we are. It's now owned by the National Trust who have opened it up to the public. Inside it's still a work in progress, but there's an exhibition of local 19th century photography on the ground floor. There are waymarked trails through the woods and down to the lakeshore, and a great cafe, Joey's, which is open daily. Best of all, you can get there by boat. Take the ferry from Bowness and have a lovely walk up the Claife shore of Windermere, returning by cruiser first to Waterhead and then back to Bowness. Details and opening times here.<\/p>