Top 20 Castles in Devon

Devon offers several family-friendly castles. Dartmouth Castle is engaging with its gun towers, atmospheric tunnels, and interactive displays like trying on helmets. Powderham Castle provides a Secret Garden play area and pets corner, along with opportunities for pony grooming and alpaca walking. Lydford Castle and Saxon Town offers a large, sloping lawn perfect for picnics, and Castle Drogo has extensive gardens to explore.

Yes, Powderham Castle welcomes dogs in its extensive grounds and even inside the castle itself, making it a great option for visitors with canine companions.

For deep historical interest, Lydford Castle and Saxon Town, a Norman-origin castle with a turbulent history, offers a free audio guide to bring its past to life. Powderham Castle has been home to the Courtenay family for over 600 years, showcasing Tudor, Georgian, and Victorian enhancements. Tiverton Castle spans 900 years of architecture, from Norman origins to Elizabethan and 18th-century residences, and allows visitors to try on Civil War armor.

Absolutely. Okehampton Castle, set against Dartmoor, offers riverside and woodland walks. Castle Drogo is a starting point for walks in the Dartmoor countryside and along the River Teign. For more extensive outdoor activities, you can find various routes near these castles, including gravel biking and running trails. Explore options like the 'Castle Drogo and Fingle Bridge' gravel route or running trails around Dartington Estate. You can find more details on these activities in the Gravel biking in Devon and Running Trails in Devon guides.

Okehampton Castle stands as the dramatic remains of the largest castle in Devon, offering a peaceful and captivating heritage site with panoramic views from its keep. Berry Pomeroy Castle is renowned for its mysterious and atmospheric ruins, set above a steep gorge and known for its ghost stories, providing a fascinating look at an unfinished Elizabethan mansion.

Castle Drogo is unique as the last castle to be built in England, completed in 1930. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, it features medieval and Tudor styling despite its modern construction. Compton Castle, a 14th-century fortified manor house, is bristling with turrets and parapets, offering a picturesque glimpse into medieval domestic life.

Devon's castles can be enjoyed year-round. Spring offers wildflowers and bluebells around sites like Okehampton Castle, while summer provides ideal weather for exploring grounds and gardens. Autumn brings vibrant colors to wooded areas surrounding castles like Berry Pomeroy and Castle Drogo. Many castles, particularly those managed by English Heritage or National Trust, remain open in winter, though it's always advisable to check specific opening times before your visit.

Dartmouth Castle is spectacularly located, guarding the narrow entrance to the River Dart and offering stunning views of the estuary and English Channel. You can even take a scenic ferry ride from Dartmouth town quay to approach it. Castle Drogo, perched high above the Teign Gorge, also provides dramatic gorge-top views.

Lydford Castle and Saxon Town is free to enter, allowing visitors to explore its Norman origins and enjoy its tranquil setting. Woodbury Castle — Iron Age hillfort is also free to access, offering a fascinating historical site cloaked in beech trees with exceptional earthworks.

Many castles in Devon are nestled within beautiful natural landscapes. Okehampton Castle is set against the backdrop of Dartmoor National Park with riverside and woodland walks. Powderham Castle boasts a vast deer park and beautifully landscaped gardens. Berry Pomeroy Castle is situated in a heavily wooded area above a steep gorge. Castle Drogo offers stunning views over the Teign Gorge and is surrounded by vibrant formal gardens.

Dartmouth Castle and Okehampton Castle are managed by English Heritage. Berry Pomeroy Castle is also an English Heritage site. Castle Drogo and Compton Castle are National Trust properties. These organizations ensure the preservation and accessibility of these historical sites.