{"id":949,"date":"2023-02-28T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelovers.cottage-search.com\/blog\/a-guide-to-castles-in-the-lake-district\/"},"modified":"2023-04-05T15:21:04","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T14:21:04","slug":"a-guide-to-castles-in-the-lake-district","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/a-guide-to-castles-in-the-lake-district\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to the Best Lake District Castles"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Renowned for its glistening waters and rolling fells, the castles of the Lake District are one of the regions best kept secrets.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ancient ruins, impressive architecture, and landscaped grounds promise days filled with adventure. Years of rich history await exploration here.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Read on to uncover the history of these fascinating\u00a0Lake District castles&#8230;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Lowther Castle &amp; Gardens, Lowther<\/h2>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4314 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2019\/08\/A-front-facing-view-of-Lowther-Castle-1.jpg\" alt=\"A front facing view of Lowther Castle\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-offset-key=\"8n49p-0-0\">Having undergone a \u00a39 million restoration, <a href=\"https:\/\/lowthercastle.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lowther Castle<\/a> sits <\/span><span class=\"adverb\"><span data-offset-key=\"8n49p-1-0\">proudly<\/span><\/span><span data-offset-key=\"8n49p-2-0\"> at the top of our list. <\/span><span class=\"hardreadability\"><span data-offset-key=\"8n49p-3-0\">After being partly demolished and left to ruin since 1957, this Lake District castle has since <\/span><\/span><span class=\"passivevoice\"><span data-offset-key=\"8n49p-4-0\">been restored<\/span><\/span><span class=\"hardreadability\"><span data-offset-key=\"8n49p-5-0\"> to its former glory<\/span><\/span><span data-offset-key=\"8n49p-6-0\">. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hardreadability\"><span data-offset-key=\"8n49p-0-0\">Entrance includes a tour of the castle ruins, planted by celebrity gardener Dan Pearson, and the <\/span><span data-offset-key=\"8n49p-0-1\">Story of Lowther<\/span><span data-offset-key=\"8n49p-0-2\"> exhibition<\/span><\/span><span data-offset-key=\"8n49p-1-0\">. <\/span>Get an insight into the history of this wondrous and mystical place and learn more about the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lowther_family\">Lowther family<\/a>, who occupied the castle since 1150.<\/p>\n<p>Let your imagination run wild as you journey through the ruins, picturesque gardens, and secluded woodland. And be sure to look out for the sweeping Lakeland views on display from the Jubilee Summer House.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4315 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2019\/08\/Lowther-Castle-Gardens-Summer-House-1.jpg\" alt=\"Lowther Castle Gardens Summer House\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Sitting within the enchanting castle grounds is one of the UK\u2019s largest adventure playgrounds, aptly named <a href=\"https:\/\/lowthercastle.org\/visiting\/the-lost-castle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the lost castle.<\/a> Lose yourself in a whizz of excitement before refueling at the on-site caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n<p>Lowther Castle has a creative and exciting <a href=\"https:\/\/lowthercastle.org\/visiting\/whats-on\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">events calendar,<\/a> including outdoor theatre performances and gardening masterclasses. As a dog-friendly attraction, this is one that the whole family can enjoy!<\/p>\n<p>Voted large visitor attraction of the year 2018 in the Cumbria tourism awards, Lowther Castle is a must on your magical tour of the Lake District.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lowthercastle.org\/visiting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><button style=\"padding: 10px 30px;border-radius: 4px;background-color: #3e0b46;color: #fff\">Book your Lowther Castle tickets here!<\/button><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Address:<\/strong> Lowther Castle &amp; Gardens, Lowther, Penrith,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Lowther+Castle+%26+Gardens\/@54.607993,-2.7442367,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x487cfa5a93e02079:0xcf40a3bcb26a8464!8m2!3d54.607993!4d-2.742048\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CA10 2HH<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Facilities:<\/strong> Toilets, cafes, on-site parking &amp; electric charging point.<br \/>\n<strong>Pet-friendly<\/strong>: Dogs are welcome on leads, but not permitted on the lost castle adventure playground.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Kendal Castle, Kendal<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4317 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2019\/08\/The-ruins-of-Kendal-Castle-and-the-surrounding-fields-1.jpg\" alt=\"The ruins of Kendal Castle and the surrounding fields\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The ruins of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitcumbria.com\/sl\/kendal-castle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kendal Castle<\/a> stand proudly on a drumlin above <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/kendal-cottages.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kendal<\/a>\u2019s skyline, with a fascinating history dating back to the 12<sup>th<\/sup> century.<\/p>\n<p>Kendal Castle was the seat of supremacy for the barons of Kendal for over 200 years. Most notable tennants include Henry VIII and his only surviving wife, Katherine Parr. The castle fell into a state of ruin following the death of the last baron in 1571.\u00a0Only parts of the castle wall and tower remain today.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hardreadability\"><span data-offset-key=\"93hrd-0-0\">This Lake District castle <\/span><\/span><span class=\"passivevoice\"><span data-offset-key=\"93hrd-1-0\">is accessed<\/span><\/span><span class=\"hardreadability\"><span data-offset-key=\"93hrd-2-0\"> via a steep ascent, rewarding visitors with breathtaking views from the top<\/span><\/span><span data-offset-key=\"93hrd-3-0\">. <\/span><span class=\"hardreadability\"><span data-offset-key=\"93hrd-4-0\">The surrounding landscape and historical significance of the castle make this well worth visitng<\/span><\/span><span data-offset-key=\"93hrd-5-0\">. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4323 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2019\/08\/Ruins-of-Manor-Hall-at-Kendal-Castle.jpg\" alt=\"Ruins of Manor Hall at Kendal Castle\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Take a stroll through the ruins, let your imagination wonder, and envisage what life was like all those years ago. The hill makes for a lovely spot to tuck into a picnic, relax and marvel at the stunning panoramic views.<\/p>\n<p>Amble down to the lower slopes where you\u2019ll find wooded walks and sculpture seats commissioned by the artist Alain Ayers. The perfect place to rest your weary legs after exploring Kendal Castle and its historic market town.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Address:<\/strong> Kendal Castle, Sunnyside, Kendal, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Kendal+Castle\/@54.3249098,-2.7364154,15z\/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x508455a10a8b5ead?sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjywbTBo5v5AhWKaMAKHRzaBjoQ_BJ6BAh9EAU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LA9 7DJ<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Facilities<\/strong>: Facilities available in Kendal<br \/>\n<strong>Pet-friendly:<\/strong> Yes<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Sizergh Castle, Kendal<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4320 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2019\/08\/A-front-facing-view-of-a-pond-and-Sizergh-Castle.jpg\" alt=\"A front facing view of a pond and Sizergh Castle\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/p>\n<p>An impressive stately home standing proud at the gateway to the Lake District. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationaltrust.org.uk\/sizergh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sizergh Castle<\/a> has been home to the Strickland family for over 750 years. The fortified mansion has many tales to tell, boasting some of the finest Elizabethan carved ornamentals in the country.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s much to explore throughout the 647-hectare estate. A network of trails lead through the formal grounds, perfect for an afternoon stroll. Expect to see limestone pastures, peaceful orchards and natural woodlands along the way.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"adverb\"><span data-offset-key=\"10dau-0-0\">Beautifully<\/span><\/span><span data-offset-key=\"10dau-1-0\"> landscaped gardens surround the castle. Here you&#8217;ll find a glistening lake, enchanting wildflowers, and a quirky rock garden. For the little ones, there&#8217;s a wild play trail where they can run free and let their imaginations soar!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>At the end of an action-packed day, head to the lovely little on-site caf\u00e9 to refuel on coffee and cake. Here you can take a moment to reflect over your magical day spent at Sizergh Castle.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationaltrust.org.uk\/sizergh#Prices\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><button style=\"padding: 10px 30px;border-radius: 4px;background-color: #3e0b46;color: #fff\">Check Sizergh Castle admisson prices here!<\/button><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Address:\u00a0<\/strong>Sizergh Castle, Sizergh, Kendal, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/National+Trust+-+Sizergh\/@54.2841514,-2.7737948,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x47d769ea69fcf363:0x51957d0f8239645!8m2!3d54.2841514!4d-2.7716061\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LA8 8DZ<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Facilities:<\/strong> Toilets, baby change, cafe, shop and on-site parking.<br \/>\n<strong>Pet-friendly:\u00a0<\/strong>Dogs are welcome on leads, but not permitted within the formal gardens.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Muncaster Castle, Ravenglass<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4321 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2019\/08\/A-view-of-Muncaster-Castle-1.jpg\" alt=\"A view of Muncaster Castle\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hardreadability\"><span data-offset-key=\"9ejuh-0-0\">Next on our list is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.muncaster.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Muncaster Castle<\/a>, a privately-owned castle tucked away on the outskirts of Ravenglass<\/span><\/span><span data-offset-key=\"9ejuh-1-0\">. <\/span>Built in 1258, this historic, haunted castle is the jewel in the crown of Western Lake District.<\/p>\n<p><span data-offset-key=\"1au1t-0-0\">Many renovations have <\/span><span class=\"passivevoice\"><span data-offset-key=\"1au1t-1-0\">been made<\/span><\/span><span data-offset-key=\"1au1t-2-0\"> to this Lake District castle over the course of its long history. N<span class=\"adverb\">early<\/span> every period of history <span class=\"passivevoice\">is represented<\/span> in one way or another, <span class=\"hardreadability\">making for an especially interesting stop for tourists<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-offset-key=\"10dau-0-0\">The castles 77-acre gardens <\/span><span class=\"passivevoice\"><span data-offset-key=\"10dau-1-0\">are decorated<\/span><\/span><span data-offset-key=\"10dau-2-0\"> in colourful wildflowers, towering woodlands and landscaped lawns. Theres even an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.muncaster.co.uk\/hawkowlcentre\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Owl &amp; Hawk Centre<\/a> offering handling experiences and flying displays!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4331 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2019\/08\/Bird-Handler-holding-a-hawk-at-Muncaster-Castle-2.jpg\" alt=\"Bird Handler holding a hawk at Muncaster Castle\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Entrance to the castle is through the Great Hall, where the intricate architectural history, grandeur and great age becomes apparent. You\u2019ll find splendid state rooms, sophisticated artwork and furniture spanning the history of the Pennington family\u2019s residency.<\/p>\n<p>Audio tours are available, narrated by members of the family, guiding you through the castles public rooms and seasonal exhibitions.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/muncaster.tygit.com\/shop\/group-calendar\/pk\/3281595361ca832e27eb05bd4c4eef83\/groupId\/4032\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><button style=\"padding: 10px 30px;border-radius: 4px;background-color: #3e0b46;color: #fff\">Book your Muncaster Castle tickets here!<\/button><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Address:\u00a0<\/strong>Muncaster Castle, Ravenglass, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Muncaster+Castle,+Ravenglass+CA18+1RQ\/@54.3547744,-3.3808802,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x487cb5080efd2a97:0xae9cc65b61093059!8m2!3d54.3547744!4d-3.3808802\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CA18 1RQ<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Facilities:<\/strong>\u00a0Toilets, cafe, gift shop and on-site parking.<br \/>\n<strong>Pet-friendly:<\/strong>\u00a0Dogs are not permitted within the castle or the Hawk &amp; Owl Centre<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Tempted to uncover the fascinating history of these Lake District castles for yourself? Browse our wonderful collection of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/all-lake-district-cottages.html\">cottages in the Lake District<\/a> and secure your base today! <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>For more inspiration on how to explore this wondrous region, give our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/best-walks-in-the-lake-district\/\">guide on the best walks in the Lake District<\/a> a read.<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Images courtesy of: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geograph.org.uk\/photo\/6104936\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Oliver Dixon<\/a> &#8211; <span class=\"cc-license-identifier\"><a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(CC BY-SA 2.0)<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/37177488@N06\/7519273918\/in\/photostream\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ambersky235<\/a> &#8211;\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"cc-license-identifier\">(CC BY-NC-SA 2.0);<\/span><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geograph.org.uk\/photo\/4903029\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chris Heaton<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"cc-license-identifier\">(CC BY-SA 2.0)<\/span><\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geograph.org.uk\/photo\/6665997\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Stephen Craven<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"cc-license-identifier\">(CC BY-SA 2.0)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13.3333px\">This blog has been updated from original content written by Lakelovers<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Guide to Castles In The Lake District in the Lake District. Visit with Lakelovers and learn more about Attractions in the Lakes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":109,"featured_media":887,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1029],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-things-to-do","location-lake-district"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/949","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/109"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=949"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/949\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5234,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/949\/revisions\/5234"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/887"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}