The best castles to visit in Cumbria and the Lake District
· Updated
Cumbria has the finest run of castles in the north of England, and you can reach most of them on a single camping trip. Carlisle Castle guards the Scottish border, Brougham and Penrith sit within a few miles of each other near the M6, and Muncaster still has a family living in it on the west coast. Add Sizergh, Kendal, Lowther and Dalemain and you have a fortnight of history within an hour's drive of the fells.
This guide names the castles worth your time, tells you who runs each one, and points you at where to pitch. It is part of our wider guide to camping near Britain's castles, and it sits alongside the campsite listings on Camping Sites in Britain.
The Lake District is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the northern edge of the county runs along Hadrian's Wall, another World Heritage Site. That means you can spend a morning on a Roman frontier, an afternoon in a medieval keep, and both nights on a proper campsite. Here is where to go.
Carlisle Castle
Carlisle Castle has been besieged more times than any other place in Britain, a consequence of standing on the disputed Anglo-Scottish border for the best part of 900 years. Founded by William Rufus in 1092, its red sandstone keep has held armies, prisoners and a queen. Mary, Queen of Scots was held here in 1568 after fleeing Scotland, and the castle later saw Jacobite sieges in 1745.
It is run by English Heritage, and you can climb the keep, see the medieval graffiti carved by bored prisoners, and visit Cumbria's Museum of Military Life on the same site. Carlisle also puts you within striking distance of Hadrian's Wall, so pair the two.
Penrith Castle
Penrith Castle is a red sandstone ruin sitting in a public park opposite the railway station, free to walk around and open in daylight hours. It was begun around 1399 as a defence against Scottish raids and was later strengthened by Richard, Duke of Gloucester, the future Richard III, who used it as a base when he governed the north for his brother Edward IV in the 1470s and 1480s.
The castle is cared for by English Heritage. It is a quick, easy stop rather than a full day out, and it is a short drive from Brougham, so most people do both in an afternoon.
Brougham Castle
Brougham Castle stands on the bank of the River Eamont just south east of Penrith, on the site of a Roman fort. The stone keep dates from the early 13th century, and the castle owes its survival to Lady Anne Clifford, who inherited the family estates and restored Brougham along with several other northern castles in the 1650s. She died here in 1676.
Run by English Heritage, it is one of the most complete castles in the county to explore, with a keep you can climb for views over the river and the fells. The setting by the water makes it a brilliant spot for families.
Muncaster Castle
Muncaster Castle, near Ravenglass on the west coast, is different from the others because the Pennington family still live in it, as they have for around 800 years. It is a lived-in stately home rather than a ruin, with a Great Hall, terraced gardens with famous rhododendrons, and reputedly one of the most haunted buildings in Britain, complete with a resident jester in its history.
The estate also runs a Hawk and Owl Centre with daily flying displays, which makes it a strong choice if you are camping with children. Muncaster is privately run, so check its own website for current opening times and admission before you go. Ravenglass is the coastal terminus of the narrow gauge Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, worth a ride while you are there.
Sizergh Castle
Sizergh, just south of Kendal, is a medieval house built around a 14th century pele tower, the fortified towers that dotted this border country when Scottish raids were a constant threat. The Strickland family have been connected to Sizergh for more than 750 years, and the house is surrounded by a rock garden, limestone gardens and an estate of woodland and wildflower meadows.
It is a National Trust property, so National Trust members get in free, and the gardens alone justify the visit. Sizergh works well as a gentler half day paired with the ruin at Kendal Castle a couple of miles up the road.
Kendal Castle
Kendal Castle is a free ruin on a grassy hill above the town, open at all times, with wide views over Kendal and the surrounding fells. It was built in the early 13th century and became the seat of the Parr family. Katherine Parr, the sixth and surviving wife of Henry VIII, descended from the family, although the popular claim that she was born here is not proven.
There is no admission and no custodian to check in with, just a short walk up from the town centre. It is an easy leg stretch and a good picnic spot, especially combined with Sizergh nearby.
Lowther Castle
Lowther Castle, near Penrith, is a romantic ruin with a twist: the roof was removed in 1957 and the shell now stands within restored gardens and parkland covering around 130 acres. Once the seat of the Earls of Lonsdale, it fell into decline before being rescued, and the grounds now include the Lost Castle, one of the largest wooden adventure playgrounds in the country.
It is run by the Lowther Castle and Gardens Trust and is a paid attraction, so check current opening and admission on its own site. The mix of dramatic ruin, formal gardens and a huge playground makes it one of the most family friendly stops in the county.
Dalemain
Dalemain, between Penrith and Ullswater, is a fine example of what these border families built once they no longer needed to defend themselves, a medieval and Tudor house behind a grand Georgian front, still lived in by the Hasell-McCosh family. It has gardens, a tearoom and, appropriately for a family home, hosts the World Marmalade Awards each spring.
It is privately run and seasonal, so check its website before visiting. Dalemain sits close to Ullswater, so it pairs neatly with a day on or beside the lake.
Which castles to pick
If you only have a weekend, base yourself near Penrith and you can reach Brougham, Penrith, Lowther and Dalemain within a short drive of each other, with Carlisle and Hadrian's Wall a half hour up the M6. For a west coast trip, Muncaster is the standout. For gardens and a gentle pace, Sizergh and Kendal near the southern lakes are the pick.
| Castle | Where | Run by | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlisle Castle | Carlisle | English Heritage | History, Hadrian's Wall |
| Penrith Castle | Penrith | English Heritage | Free, quick stop |
| Brougham Castle | Near Penrith | English Heritage | Climbing the keep, riverside |
| Muncaster Castle | Near Ravenglass | Pennington family (private) | Families, hawks and owls |
| Sizergh Castle | Near Kendal | National Trust | Gardens, pele tower |
| Kendal Castle | Kendal | Open ruin, free | Views, picnic, leg stretch |
| Lowther Castle | Near Penrith | Lowther Castle and Gardens Trust | Gardens, adventure playground |
| Dalemain | Near Ullswater | Hasell-McCosh family (private) | Gardens, tearoom, Ullswater |
Where to camp
Base yourself according to which castles you want, since the county splits into distinct clusters. The Eden Valley around Penrith puts you in reach of Brougham, Penrith, Lowther and Dalemain plus the M6 north to Carlisle. The southern lakes near Kendal suit Sizergh and Kendal Castle. The Eskdale and Ravenglass area on the west coast is the base for Muncaster.
You can find and compare campsites, caravan parks and glamping across the county in our Lake District and Cumbria campsite listings, filtered by location, facilities and price.
More castle trips nearby
Cumbria's castles link naturally into the wider north. If you are heading up to the border or beyond, our guides to the must-see castles of Northumberland and Scottish castles for family adventures cover the next legs of the journey. Turning south instead, Yorkshire's historic castles make an easy add-on over the Pennines.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous castle in Cumbria?
Carlisle Castle, run by English Heritage. Founded in 1092, it has been besieged more than any other place in Britain, held Mary, Queen of Scots in 1568, and stands close to Hadrian's Wall on the old Anglo-Scottish border.
Which Cumbria castles are free to visit?
Penrith Castle and Kendal Castle are both free open ruins you can walk around in daylight hours without booking. Penrith is run by English Heritage in a public park; Kendal Castle sits on a hill above the town.
Are there any castles you can stay in or that are still lived in?
Muncaster Castle near Ravenglass has been home to the Pennington family for around 800 years and remains lived in, and Dalemain near Ullswater is still the Hasell-McCosh family home. Both open to visitors seasonally.
Which Cumbria castle is best for families?
Muncaster Castle, with its Hawk and Owl Centre and flying displays, and Lowther Castle, which has the Lost Castle adventure playground within its gardens. Brougham Castle's climbable keep beside the river is also a hit with children.
How close are Cumbria's castles to Hadrian's Wall?
Carlisle Castle sits at the western end of Hadrian's Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so you can visit both in a day. From Penrith's castles it is around 30 minutes north up the M6 to Carlisle and the wall.
Can you visit several Cumbria castles in one trip?
Yes. Base yourself near Penrith and Brougham, Penrith, Lowther and Dalemain are all within a short drive, with Carlisle half an hour north. A single long weekend comfortably covers four or five.
The short version
Carlisle for the big history, Brougham and Penrith for easy English Heritage ruins, Muncaster for a lived-in castle with owls, and Sizergh, Lowther and Dalemain for gardens. Pick a base near Penrith or Kendal and you can string several together in one trip.
Sort your pitch first: browse campsites in the Lake District and Cumbria, or read the wider guide to camping near Britain's castles.
