By car: take the A593 from Ambleside, turn left at Clappersgate onto the B5286. Wray Castle is a Gothic Revival Castle, 180 years old, build by a surgeon and heiress from Liverpool with the sole intention that it would only ever have to defend itself from the Cumbrian weather. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. For more walks like this, stay up to date and “like” our facebook page Family Walks and Pubs in the Lake District. Nice playground area & obstacles for kids. The waterside walks are pleasant enough and offer views across Windermere. Landmark & Historical Place. Walked down the incline to the edge of Windermere and on towards Claife viewing station although decided to turn back before reaching it. .. We undertook a short walk on well-made paths from Hawkshead to Wrays Castle, which took about an hour and a half at leisurely pace. Great little stop off on a journey around the lakes. we visited from Ambleside by boat which was lovely and so is the castle but most activities are aimed at really young children..I would also recommend a picnic as food is very expensive and not a great selection of sandwiches, the tea rooms are also quite small. Parking is extremely pricey £5 for 2 hours. This is the worst place I have ever visited in the National Trust and I question my membership to support such a place. See more ideas about lake district, castle, cumbria. There are lots of ways to travel to Wray Castle, including boat and bike. Visit Wray Castle, a mock-Gothic castle sitting on the shores of Lake Windermere. Our car park can fill up quickly during busy periods so please consider green methods of transport, which can be an exciting part of your day out. It's not really old enough to be considered an authentic castle (built around 1850), and the funny looking architecture says it all. We came to Wray on … After a couple of fun filled hours at Wray Castle we cycled back along Windermere’s shores. Outside the adventure play trail is waiting to be climbed on, … The castle itself is an amazing structure, but to understand it and the history behind it needs the 15 minute talk at the beginning, which we were lucky enough to tap into. From the car park … The only slight disappointment was the cafe - the people working were nice & the sausage rolls were tasty (albeit quite pricey) but it was extremely slow service. Crocodiles of the World. Will definitely be back ........tip......go early in the day. Wray Castle. We've been missing a real gem. First visit to the castle and this side of the lake. Despite its gothic exterior that appears akin to the imaginings of Hans Christian Andersen, Wray Castle was actually built in 1840. Will probably do the reverse next. All the rooms are children's play areas which is great for children but there is absolutely nothing of interest to adults. Article. We recommend booking Wray Castle tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Lakes Aquarium. Best of all, all the campsites listed below have either play areas, onsite outdoor kids’ activities , local attractions very close by or all three – making them ideal family glampsites for camping in the UK with kids. [1] The grounds, which include part of the shoreline of Windermere, are open all year round and are renowned for their selection of specimen trees – … It was our 40th wedding anniversary and the weather was stunning so a lovely way to celebrate the day (should have been driving down US 1 in California until Covid hit). I can't believe the national trust are responsible for running this. Getting to and around the Lake District from Liverpool alone means relying on hire cars, or trains and buses. Wray Castle’s play trail is always open for adventure. Wray Castle Trail. We could not decide between staying at Wray Castle or going across the lake to visit Brockhole. the lake towards the ferry was good fun, but the heritage site website suggested an “easy for beginners” 1hr 40min walk around the tarn. Parking is a little limited so I'd imagine things could get tough in high Summer. The "castle" is actually a 19th century build and its contents now are somewhat eclectic. A bite to eat. Walk up the hill to Wray Castle and down to the lake to hop on a Windermere Lake Cruise to see Bowness, Ambleside and the Lake District Visitor Centre at Brockhole (01539 446601). The waterside walks are pleasant enough and offer views across Windermere. Following the latest Government natio... nal lockdown announcement, Tatton Park’s public outdoor places, including the Parkland and Playground, can safely remain open for local outdoor exercise from 6 January 2021. Wray Castle is a well-loved National Trust site that sits on the shores of Windermere with grounds that are open all year round. more. We are NT members so managed to park for free. There are also family craft activities on offer, and this half term children can make a brilliant bug hotel to take home. Wray Castle is kitted out to let the kids have fun. Bakery. While owned by the National Trust, if you're interested in a "Stately Home" forget it !It has been used as a modern conference center until recently, so it has no historical content. Little gem in the forest but mainly for children. Recent Post by Page. Only 2 mins to the lake down a pathway. Inside you can join a guided tour, try building your own castle or dressing up as kings and queens. Definitely worth a visit, but maybe in the summer and the walk wasn’t one for beginners in our opinion. First batch is Wray Castle, views from the castle and some of the rooms inside. Wray Castle, a National Trust property, is a fascinating building with hints of its 'grand' past and plenty of signs of its varied history, great fun for children and perfect for a wet day in the Lakes. Ask in store for a map and route information. Wray Castle: The Great Wray Castle Sketch. Explore Ambleside, hike around Blea Tarn, see Castlerigg Stone Circle, and enjoy an optional Lake Windermere cruise (own cost), all without any worries detracting from the scenery. Find your way from James and Margaret Dawson’s grand living spaces to narrow, winding passages used by their servants. Ribble Steam Railway & Museum. Some are by the coast, in castle grounds, situated on lakes, or nestled in the English countryside. What you will see is a fascinating building with hints of its 'grand' past and plenty of signs of its varied history. The next room simply had a snooker table, another room had some blocks for kids to play with, and there was a darkened room with a few small tents, also for kids to play in. Eat in the cafe or take out and enjoy your food in the grounds Steve Barber Hotels near Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's House, Lake District Activities with Lakeland Ascents, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Ambleside, Canyoning & Rappelling Tours in Ambleside, Game & Entertainment Centres in Ambleside, Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's House: Tickets & Tours‎, Hayes Garden World Ambleside: Tickets & Tours‎, Esthwaite water trout fishery: Tickets & Tours‎, Hawkshead Grammar School: Tickets & Tours‎, Ambleside Climbing Wall: Tickets & Tours‎, See all 4 Wray Castle tours on Tripadvisor, View all hotels near Wray Castle on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Wray Castle on Tripadvisor. Join a free tour to learn about the history of the 1840s castle, now mostly devoid of the paintings, antiques, and furniture typical of other castles. Blackpool Zoo Play Barn. The area where the castle is based is beautiful and the towns such as Hawkshead and Ambleside are beautiful too. Photos and Property Details for 4656 CASTLE CIR, BROOMFIELD, CO 80023. Scroll down for photos of the shoreline walk and further down for the natural playground. ), there was also a room with ping pong.........Getting my drift? Railroad Company. It has an soft indoor play area and an outdoor adventure playground with rope walks, slides, zip wires and scramble nets, and you can hire a kayak for £10 an hour. Wray Castle National Trust. Only with that talk can the interior ( and exterior ) be understood, as the current layout of the interior is puzzling.The walk then took us down from the castle to the lake shore of Windermere, which was excellent, and then a walk back to Hawkshead and more G&T at The Sun Inn! If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Don’t be fooled by the turrets and towers of this gothic design though – this fairy-tale castle was built in the 19th century by a Victorian surgeon. Wray Castle is a place for all the family to enjoy, so don't worry about running around and making noise! ...we had a lovely day but it's not an all day outing. Playground. Peter rabbit, outside walks, outside adventure area, snooker, table tennis, dressing up, plenty of rooms, exhibitions, lakeside walk, shop, cafe, fant, We saw this Castle from the air and so we decided to visit.. warm and sunny weather..friendly and welcoming staff..NT property where you CAN take photos with or without flash, as there are no original, Although we are regular visitors to Cumbria we had not got around to visiting Wray until this week. Wray Castle is very different from your usual National Trust property. ... Wray Castle is open: Sat - Sun 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM; The whole thing was such a rip off and just dreadfully thought out. Landmark & Historical Place. ... Its big appeal is its 'lost castle' adventure playground - one of the largest in the country. Parking starts at £2 for one hour. Get complete property information, maps, street view, schools, walk score and more. The location is truly historic in the development of the National Tru. There were also various craft activities and a fabulous adventure playground in the forest. Journey Outline. Toilets were free of charge and we went into the café .Again quite. The site is less than one mile on the left. You should use the detailed Explorer map to ensure you are on the right path. Book your tickets online for Wray Castle, Ambleside: See 1,931 reviews, articles, and 891 photos of Wray Castle, ranked No.31 on Tripadvisor among 37 attractions in Ambleside. Find things to do near to Low Wray Campsite ( National Trust ). This stunning National Trust site offers a wide-range of camping options including traditional pitches with waterfront, lake, meadow or woodland views, or pods, safari tents, tree tents, hammocks and space for campervans and motorhomes. The 1st room was a table covered in plastic food with photos/info on foam-boards stuck to the walls. Request additional information, schedule a showing, save to your property organizer. Check facilities, read & leave reviews on Low Wray Campsite ( National Trust ) in Cumbria. Take a boat trip on a lake or visit an old town/village. There's a great adventure playground area that will keep youngsters occupied. Not open since Covid, but serving coffee/tea from a kiosk. Wray Castle is situated in a lovely open space with breath-taking scenery and lovely walks. There’s dressing up, castle building, as well as an outdoor adventure play area with den building, rope swings and scramble boards. I'll get right to it - this place is like something out of an episode of Father Ted. Entry into the castle is £8.50 for adults, £4.25 for children and £21.00 for a family. Lots of little rooms with different things in. 1. more. The weather did turn which probably didn’t help, but there were parts where we were essentially walking across open fields and a farmers yard, when we were expecting a least a pathway of sorts throughout the walk. It is best accessed by bike, either from Ambleside along quiet lanes and cycle tracks, or from Bowness via ferry and along the lakeshore cycle track. Treats by Tidge. Admittedly we aren’t particularly country folk and knew we might not be the target audience with our lack of Berghaus and waterproof trousers. Let your kids have fun in the dress-up and castle-building areas. Beatrix Potter: Morning Half Day All-Inclusive Tour with an Expert Guide, Beatrix Potter: Afternoon Half Day All-Inclusive Tour with an Expert Guide. Wray Castle is open from 10am to 5pm 7 days a week but is closed for the Winter. Please see our partners for full details. A lakeshore path leads to Wray Castle, great for families with a range of activities, including the new Peter Rabbit Warren. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. BBC Wildlife Magazine. The mock gothic castle certainly sounds like a fun day but we felt that our boys would most enjoy the free adventure playground at Brockhole. time we visit the Lakes. Low Wray Campsite occupies one of the finest locations in the Lake District, with access to the shores of Lake Windermere and Wray Castle. Wray Castle, Cumbria. Boats go from there to the Lakes Visitor Centre at Brockhole (01539 446601; www.brockhole.co.uk), and the terrific Treetop Trek (01539 447186). Also as a Victorian 'fake' castle, it's of little architectural interest. Well placed alongside Lake Windermere for views. In the end the underfoot was so sodden I opened up google maps, got us back to the hardstanding road and we walked the final 30 mins after the farmers yard back to the castle on the road. The castle was closed, but is certainly a formidable and interesting building so in that sense worth a visit, but parking was £5 for 2hrs, more than I pay for all day parking in a city centre location back home so seemed over priced, the kids trail was good and the walk around. PHOTOS: Wray Castle – views from castle and rooms inside Also the café was great and the staff so friendly. Whatever you do, don't waste your money in this joke castle. So for the moment at least, they've turned most of it into a giant children's adventure playground. Windermere Jetty Museum. Visited Wray castle as wanted somewhere we could walk around the lakes etc. In 2016 the castle will close on October 30th and re-open March 19th 2017. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Wray Castle: Modern castle - See 1,930 traveller reviews, 888 candid photos, and great deals for Ambleside, UK, at Tripadvisor. Had I not been a member I would have insisted on a refund of the entrance fee. After paying £10 per adult and £5 for a child, we went around each room and the experience was weird and sad at the same time. Historic Sites, Architectural Buildings, Points of Interest & Landmarks. Wray Castle, Cumbria. Wander the elaborate hall, rooms with towers, turrets and arrow slots. There’s an adventure playground on site, the Brockhole Café and the Gaddum Gallery to explore. While owned by the National Trust, if you're interested in a "Stately Home" forget it ! This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC, Historic Sites, Architectural Buildings, Points of Interest & Landmarks. Another room consisted of a plastic canoe and an exercise bike (? Wray Castle is a veritable king of castles: turrets, towers, period dressing-up, castle building room, hidden treasure to find, the new Peter Rabbit Adventure - and you can also arrive by boat! There is an adventure playground for the children and plenty of woodland. Travelling to Wray Castle . The grounds are large enough to go walking around and not get lost, and the cafe on site is well stocked. Test your balancing skills on the slack line, climb up the rope on the scramble board, and be king or queen of the tree-castle in the woods. Wray Castle came to us without its contents so you will not see a 'typical' National Trust house full of paintings, furniture and antiques with an accompanying owner-family history through the ages. Wray Castle is a Victorian neo-gothic building at Claife in the English county of Cumbria.The house and grounds have belonged to the National Trust since 1929, but the house has only recently opened to the public on a regular basis. Skip the effort with a day trip that makes everything smooth and easy, and showcases some of the region’s highlights and under-the-radar sights. 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