Step Back in Time at Raby Castle: What to See and Do

By Blog Squad member Olivia - The Northernist

Raby Castle sits in the beautiful countryside of Staindrop on the cusp of the Durham Dales and provides an incredible spot for a day out. No matter if you’re 5 or 95, the castle, park and gardens offer so much to explore, especially now that the latest redevelopments have been finished!

If you’re looking for the perfect place to visit in summer, here’s how I would spend the day there.

The North East's latest lifestyle development

Start at The Round House, located in one of the newly opened parts of Raby Castle's grounds. It’s the first area that welcomes you to the site and it truly is breathtaking.

You’ll find a brand new building, The Roundhouse, where you’ll be able to book tickets to enter the castle, deer park and Plotters’ Forest, choose dining options, and find out more about upcoming events. It’s a lovely addition and fits perfectly into the newly landscaped gardens.

With Insta-worthy flower beds and stepped grassy bank that begs to be sat on in the sun, these first gardens are a gorgeous taster of what’s to come.

Shop in the Coach House & Stables

Another part of the ambitious new dvelopment was the repurposing of the Grade II listed Coach House and Stables building.

As you enter, you’ll step into an airy and luxurious retail space, that offers a curated selection of homeware and gifts displayed on reclaimed furniture from the estate. From candles and vases, to premium stationery and delicious Raby rapeseed oil, it’ll be hard to resist! Why not take a little piece of Raby home with you?

In the Coach House and Stables, you’ll also find a little museum that tells the story of the castle’s history. You’ll be able to learn about the turbulent history of Raby Castle itself, the landscapes of the Raby Estate, including High Force Waterfall with a commentary by Matt Baker MBE, and see the old stables with lots of interesting artefacts.

Wander through The Walled Garden

The stunning 18th century Walled Garden has been remodelled by the incredible Luciano Giubbilei to create the most serene 5-acre vision possible. There are three sections - East, Formal and West. Each with its own personality and feeling, like hedge mazes, a fountain and a cascading water feature in the central section, and a huge, grassy amphitheatre in another.

Take a leisurely meander through each area of the garden, admire the flowers and just bask in the tranquility. Take a seat and soak in the sun, or make note of the planting layouts for your own home garden.

Be sure not to miss the famous Raby figs growing in the greenhouse too!

Head to The Plotters’ Forest

If you’ve taken little ones to Raby Castle with you, they’ll love The Plotters’ Forest. This immersive outdoor playground is nestled amongst a Christmas tree plantation, creating an atmospheric play space in the heart of nature.

You’ll spot The Plotters’ Forest before you reach it, as the treetop castle perches up high above the fir trees. And there are many more of these treetop buildings and platforms to explore, all connected by bridges and tunnels that are woven into the forest.

The playground is built from sustainable materials, keeping the nature theme going, and offers kids the chance to run, climb, jump and slide as they explore each area. Grown ups, let your littles loose, then head up to the top of the forest to enjoy the little cafe and a sit down.

Tickets allow for a 2 hour play session in the Plotters’ Forest, plus full day access to The Walled Gardens and the 200 acre deer park, so it’s definitely worth doing if you have children with you.

Lunch in The Vinery

Once your kids have worked up an appetite in The Plotters’ Forest, it’s time to grab some lunch in the new Vinery Cafe Restaurant. This elegant eaterie is a stylish recreation of the historic glass house that once stood on the same spot, so you can expect it to be lovely and bright with panoramic views of the castle.

In the cafe, you’ll find a fantastic seasonal menu filled with food made from locally sourced ingredients and inspired by the Raby Estate. There’s plenty to choose from, like topped baked potatoes, soup, quiches, salads and so much more. I highly recommend trying out one of the artisan sandwiches that are made with fresh bread from the pantry - the grilled chicken Caesar baguette is sensational!

There’s also a very impressive cake cabinet with all kinds of treats to enjoy, like the chunkiest, most indulgent rocky road and delicately piped lemon meringue pies. You’ll be totally spoiled for choice.

Sit a while, eat your lunch and maybe enjoy a hot drink or two, then get ready to venture through history in the castle.

Explore the castle and deer park

Once you’ve finished up in The Vinery, head back through the Walled Garden to access Raby Castle itself and the sprawling deer park.

If you’re lucky, you might be able to see the red and fallow deer before you walk through the castle gates. But if not, you’ve got a good excuse to have a wander in the 200 acre parkland to see if you can spot them. They’re so peaceful and so beautiful to see, but make sure you don’t get too close and keep your dogs on a lead.

The castle is one of the most impressive in the North of England and it’s silhouette is incredibly powerful. It’s breathtaking to see! You’ll feel just like royalty as you step through the gates over the old moat and through the doors to see some of the rooms.

You’ll be amazed by the grandeur of the rooms and the sheer size of some of the chandeliers. Make sure you also take in the artwork, furniture and textiles to really appreciate the collection. And if you’d like to engage your little ones, each castle ticket includes a free trail sheet with things for them to find in each room.

It’s an absolutely fantastic piece of history and so well preserved. You get to see a good amount of rooms, each with information panels and live guides to tell you all about its history.

Home Time

After exploring and making the most of the visit to Raby Castle, it’s time to head home, but you could maybe swing by the van next to The Vinery for a scoop of ice cream on the way!

It's advised to book yout tickets before visiting Raby Castle, Park and Gardens and The Plotters' Forest via the Raby website. 

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