레스터셔‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪5‬개의 동굴

Nice caffè just outside the castle. Cyclist friendly

A showpiece fortified manor house rather than a castle, the brick-built Kirby Muxloe Castle was begun in 1480 by William, Lord Hastings. Hastings was a leading supporter of the Yorkist King Edward IV. But when Edward died, the future king Richard III suddenly denounced Hastings as a traitor, and Hastings was beheaded without trial. Work on Kirby Muxloe Castle stopped, and the castle was never completed. Kirby Muxloe Castle is currently open at weekends only - for pre-booked guided tours.

Bradgate House is one of England's great 'lost country houses', a once-magnificent Tudor mansion and the birthplace of Lady Jane Grey, the tragic 'Nine Days Queen'. The story of Bradgate House goes back long before Lady Jane's birth, however, and is intertwined with the history of Bradgate Park, a large country park in which the ruins stand. Bradgate Park began as a hunting ground in the early 13th century. It was enclosed by an earthwork bank and ditch, topped by oak timbers. In 1445 the park passed by marriage to the Grey family, who owned it for the next 5 centuries. The first grey owner was Edward Grey, whose son John married Elizabeth Woodville. After John's death at the Battle of St Albans in 1461 Elizabeth married King Edward IV. One of Elizabeth's sons by her first marriage was Sir Thomas Grey, the 1st Marquess of Dorset.

"Leicestershire's finest Motte and Bailey castle". No public access but great view from here and info board on gate

Belvoir Castle sits ontop of a hill rising over the valley of Belvoir, commanding views of North Leicestershire for many miles. The house has been the ancestral home of the Dukes of Rutland with the family living at Belvoir for almost a thousand years. The land was a gift from William the Conqueror to one of his Normal barons who fought for him at the Battle of Hastings 1066. The house and gardens can be visited with a cafe to take a break. More information can be found here: https://www.belvoircastle.com/

Ashby de-la Zouch Castle is a ruined fortification built by William, Lord Hastings. It has a cool tower you can climb and some spooky tunnels! The grounds are famous due to unusual landscaping thought to have been fish ponds that sustained them during a siege.

It's still possible to climb the half-ruined tower to get a commanding view over the countryside.

It's still possible to climb the half-ruined tower to get a commanding view over the countryside.