Top 4 Castles around Over Staveley

The area around Over Staveley offers a diverse range of historical fortifications. You can find medieval pele towers like Kentmere Hall and the remnants of Nether Staveley Old Hall. There are also significant Roman forts such as Ambleside Roman Fort and the dramatically-sited Hardknott Roman Fort. For more traditional castle ruins, Kendal Castle provides a glimpse into medieval baronial life, while Wray Castle showcases 19th-century Gothic Revival architecture.

Yes, Wray Castle is a great option for families. This 19th-century Gothic Revival building on the shore of Lake Windermere is owned by the National Trust. While there's paid entry to the castle for non-members, you can still park and enjoy walks around its gardens and lakeside trails, which are very popular.

Kendal Castle, with its romantic ruins perched on a hill above Kendal, offers splendid views of the town and the Lakeland skyline. Additionally, Wray Castle, located on the shore of Lake Windermere, provides beautiful lakeside vistas and scenic trails.

Pele towers were small, fortified towers common in the Anglo-Scottish border region during the medieval period, built as defenses against raids. Near Over Staveley, you can visit Kentmere Hall, a 14th-century pele tower that retains its turrets, an original window, and a spiral staircase, now functioning as a farmhouse. The ruins of Nether Staveley Old Hall are also believed to be a probable pele tower.

Yes, the region has notable Roman forts. Ambleside Roman Fort, about 6 miles from Over Staveley, features well-marked remains of large granaries. Further afield, roughly 16 miles away, Hardknott Roman Fort is dramatically sited and offers well-preserved remains including the headquarters building, commandant's house, and bath house.

The area around Over Staveley is excellent for outdoor activities. You can find numerous routes for gravel biking, running, and easy hikes. For example, there are challenging gravel biking routes like the 'Garburn Pass loop from Staveley' and various running trails including the 'River Kent – Beckmickle Ing loop'. For easier walks, consider routes like 'St Margaret's Tower, Staveley – Staveley Mill Weir loop'. You can explore more options on the gravel biking guide, running trails guide, and easy hikes guide for the area.

The spring and summer months (April to September) generally offer the most pleasant weather for exploring the outdoor ruins and grounds of castles and historical sites around Over Staveley. Autumn also provides beautiful scenery with changing foliage. Always be prepared for changeable weather, as is typical for Cumbria.

Absolutely. Shap Abbey, about 11 miles from Over Staveley, showcases the impressive full-height 15th-century tower and other remains of a remote abbey. Additionally, Clifton Hall, 17 miles away, is a 15th-century tower notable for its role in the Jacobite rising of 1745, being plundered just before the Battle of Clifton Moor.

Visitors frequently appreciate the historical significance and the stunning natural settings. For instance, Kendal Castle is loved for its 'great walk up to the castle and within easy reach from the Town Centre,' offering 'great views over Kendal.' Wray Castle is praised for its 'very nice hike' to the castle and its 'pretty' lakeside trails.

While Wray Castle has paid entry for non-National Trust members, the ruins of Kendal Castle are generally free to access. Similarly, sites like Nether Staveley Old Hall, Ambleside Roman Fort, and Hardknott Roman Fort, being ancient ruins, typically do not have an entry fee, allowing visitors to explore them freely.

Given the outdoor nature of many of these sites, especially the ruins and those with walking trails, it's advisable to wear comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots. Layers of clothing are recommended to adapt to changing weather conditions, and a waterproof jacket is always a good idea in the Cumbrian climate.