Top 8 Castles around Scackleton

Duncombe Park is a 300-acre (120-hectare) country estate and one of Yorkshire’s finest historic homes. It is the current home of the Duncombe family, or Baron Feversham. The estate sits in a beautiful setting above the meandering River Rye and is noted for its woodland walks and wildlife. It has been designated a National Nature Reserve due to the rare insects and fungi that thrive in the ancient woodlands. The trails in the park itself are open to the public seven days a week, and tickets can be bought from the Birds of Prey Centre for a nominal fee of £1 at the time of writing. The house itself, however, is closed to the public but does host public events such as weddings.

Unmissable and unfortunately not well served by public footpaths or bridleways, however, the main road has sufficiently wide verges to walk safely along. If you are heading north past the Obelisk Ponds, then there is a fantastic track on the east side of the road which is flanked by lime trees forming a wonderful avenue to walk along (see photos).

Easily accessible as a public footpath runs north/south right past the tower. One of a number of towers that radiate east/west from the Castle Howard Gatehouse (aka Temperance Inn).

The original Gate House, with its famous pyramid, was built in 1719 by Sir John Vanbrugh, the architect who designed Castle Howard itself. Its flanking wings plus building were built in the 1750s, at which time it was referred to as The New Inn and served people journeying from York to Castle Howard and the Vale of Pickering. By the 1850s, the Gate House had become an inn and an hotel. By the late 19th century, it was developed into The Temperance Hotel, where the ninth Countess of Carlisle would accommodate women and children from the industrial belt of the North to help them to escape "urban drudgery".

An interesting folly (pretending to be medieval) and a tower within the Castle Howard grounds. These are mock fortifications - fascinating! There are great views from here towards the village of Welburn.

The Obelisk, raised in 1714-15, carries two sets of inscriptions. The first, in Latin, commemorates the victories of the 1st Duke of Marlborough. The second, on the west side is in English, was composed in 1731 when much of the building and landscaping had been completed. It was written with posterity in mind and is the clearest statement possible of the 3rd Earl's aspirations for his family.

Castle Howard is enormous! It doesn't conjure up Brideshead but is well worth seeing in its own right. The formal gardens, extensive grounds and house are each worth seeing separately.

Crayke is a small village with a great vantage point over the Vale Of York. Climbing up here beings great views to the south and it a little taster of the Howardian Hills to the north and east. Crake has its own castle which is a grade I listed building. It is privately owned and on the site of a Norman Motte and Bailey Castle. It is believed there has been a fortress on this high position since the Roman times. Crayke Castle is not the only interesting building though, this small village has 28 grade II listed buildings. The local pub, the Durham Ox is 300 years old and is beautiful inside with flagstone floors and ornately carved oak panelling.