Unstaffed open site, no booking required
Castles
Castles
What are they and what do they involve?
Castles are a specific type of historic building but can greatly vary in age and purpose; for example, many castles are still in use in modern day times while older and more ruined structures are uninhabited and are only used for sightseeing.
What are the benefits?
A trip to a castle has many educational benefits; they can be an exciting alternative look into the past, and activities such as historic re-enactments can give students the opportunity to form a physical connection with the people of long ago.
What students is it suitable for?
Students of all ages can enjoy a trip to a castle; there are often specific activities available for school groups will help with engaging pupils in the surroundings, so consult with the venue in question to see what they have on offer!
Costs?
Many uninhabited castles are free for the public to access! Buildings that are still in use may charge entry fees that go towards the upkeep of the site, so make sure to thoroughly check out the prices of castles in your area to find out what things may cost.
Safety Implications?
Older castles may have hazardous areas, but these may well be shut off from public access, so brief and monitor students not to go walkabout. The possibility of falls from unguarded heights is prevalent and staircases and walkways are often uneven. Access for the disabled may be problematic and should be thought through to ensure inclusion. The main thing to consider is making sure student groups are properly supervised as castles can be easy to get lost in!
Venues for this Category
An enchanting 16th-century tower house, Crathes is surrounded by 240 hectares of formal gardens, woodland walks and rolling Scottish countryside. Guided tours are available for school groups in the Castle. The ranger service takes education visits to cover aspects of environmental education.
Mainly early 14th century remains of a large courtyard castle.
Also known as Llanblethian Castle, St Quentin's Castle near Cowbridge includes a massive twin-towered gatehouse. It is believed that the majority of the castle was built by Gilbert de Clare (the Last, d. 1314).
Unstaffed open site, no booking required
In a beautiful valley of the river Frome, on the border between Wiltshire and Somerset and only nine miles from Bath, stands the remains of Farleigh Hungerford Castle.
Started in the 14th century, it still has much for visitors to enjoy and provides a great day out for families to enjoy the beautiful surrounding countryside.
Thousand-year-old royal castle shaped by warfare
Enjoy one of Britain's most iconic and evocative survivors of the English Civil War, partially demolished in 1646 by the Parliamentarians.
A favourite haunt for adults and children alike, you can't fail to be captivated by these romantic castle ruins with breathtaking views across Purbeck.
Dramatic fortified manor house and small formal garden
A rare survivor, this medieval fortress with high curtain walls, towers and a portcullis, set in a landscape of rolling hills and orchards, is a bewitching mixture of romance and history.
Home for nearly 600 years to the Gilbert family, including Sir Humphrey Gilbert - half-brother to Sir Walter Raleigh.
The imposing stone walls, with added towers for catapults, of a Roman 3rd century 'Saxon Shore' fort.
Panoramic views over Breydon Water, which the fourth wall collapsed into a long time ago.
The exact date of the building of Enniskillen Castle is not recorded.
Hugh 'the Hospitable' Maguire died in 1428 after returning to Ireland from pilgrimage in Spain. The Castle must have been built before then, sometime during the 1420s.
The earliest known reference to Enniskillen Castle occurs in the Annals of Ulster in 1439.
The riverside ruins, principally the solar tower, of a manor house progressively fortified against the Scots during the 14th century.
Prudhoe Castle has many a story to tell so a family day out to this Northumberland fortress is truly worthwhile.
The impressive ruins of a 14th-century castle with a massive keep, inner and outer baileys, and towered curtain walls still standing.
It was built by the Abbot of Furness on the south-eastern point of Piel Island, to guard the deep-water harbour of Barrow-in-Furness against pirates and Scots raiders.
In a picturesque setting beside the crossing of the River Eamont in Cumbria, Brougham Castle was founded in the early 13th century. This great keep largely survives, amid many later buildings - including the unusual double gatehouse and impressive 'Tower of League'.
Commanding a vital ford over the River Tweed, Norham was one of the strongest of the border castles, and the most often attacked by the Scots. Besieged at least 13 times - once for nearly a year by Robert Bruce - it was called 'the most dangerous and adventurous place in the country'.
Penrith Castle was begun at the end of the 14th century by Ralph Neville, who played a key role in defending this area against the Scots. It was later transformed into a luxurious residence by Richard, Duke of Gloucester (subsequently Richard III). Surviving to their full height, the castle walls stand in a public park.
History
Set in the charming village of Etal by a ford over the River Till, this Northumberland castle is the ideal location for a school trip.
Built by Robert Manners as a defence against Scots raiders in the mid 14th century, it fell to James IV's invading Scots army in 1513, immediately before their catastrophic defeat at nearby Flodden.
One of the earliest artillery forts in Scotland
Thanks to its massive, 3.5m-thick frontal wall and proliferation of gun holes, Ravenscraig has generally been regarded more as an artillery fort than a castle. This view holds that it was built to help defend the Firth of Forth from an English invasion.
The earthworks, albeit quite clear ones, are all that remain of this former Norman Motte and Bailey castle in Henley-in-Arden, not far from Stratford in Warwickshire.
The ruins at Weoley Castle are over 700 years old and are the remains of the moated medieval manor house that once stood here. The site has been inhabited from the 12th century and, according to the Domesday Book, was part of the estates of William Fitz Ansculf. Weoley changed hands several times between 1485 and 1531 when it began to fall into disrepair.
An ancient site of incarceration (since 1071) offering a highly atmospheric history lesson spanning ten centuries, with hands on displays and real life prisoner stories. Quirky costumed tour guides are available every 20 minutes.
The old buildings have been preserved and are now open to the public revealing a time capsule: allowing the buildings to tell their captivating story.
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