Bolton Castle

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Bolton Castle We can also offer a state of the art Audio- Visual tour to give you an even greater insight into Castle life between the 14th and 17th Centuries.
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🏰 Medieval castle, nr Leyburn, in the magnificent Yorkshire Dales.

👑 600 years of history
🍰 Tea room
🧺 Gift Shop
🌿 Gardens
🦅 Falconry
🐗 Wild Boars
🏹 Archery
🎟️ Events
💍 Weddings

Open 7 days a week, 10am - 5pm. Bolton is one of the country’s best preserved medieval castles, situated in the heart of Wensleydale with stunning views over the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Completed in 1399 by Richard le Scrope, Chancellor of England to Richard II, its scars bear testament to over 600 years of fascinating history including involvement in the Pilgrimage of Grace, Mary Queen of Scots imprisonment and a six month siege during the Civil War. As well as the new Falconry Experience, Wild Boar Park, Medieval Archery Demonstrations and Bee Keeping display, which were introduced in 2011, we now have our own flock of Wensleydale and other local rare breed sheep. Enjoy the ultimate medieval experience in the historic heart of Wensleydale.
• Spectacular falconry displays
• Archery demonstrations
• Wild Boar Park
• Medieval nursery, childrens’ costumes, trails, and activity packs
• Beautiful gardens, maze and bee hives
• Tea room serving delicious homemade and locally sourced foods
• Group tours and packages

Always great to reveive positive independent reviews on Tripadvisor."Excellent experience!Our second visit to Bolton Cas...
26/10/2026

Always great to reveive positive independent reviews on Tripadvisor.

"Excellent experience!

Our second visit to Bolton Castle and we struck lucky again. The “living history” team were on site. We spent over 5 hours at the castle and ran out of time. The team are clearly passionate and experts in their field. Information is offered in an engaging and enjoyable way.

The falconry display was very informative.

So good to see a castle being presented as an interactive working experience.
The gardens are well tended and the information available on the plants is top notch with the added bonus that the information available is also available online.

Oh, nearly forgot - the Tea-room has excellent food and cakes.

Top marks to all the friendly staff and Bolton Estate for offering an experience other than just an empty shell of a building with info signs."

- TheLuddite, TripAdvisor, Oct 2026

World Polio Day 💜If you notice the castle lit up in purple this evening, it's in support of World Polio Day in collabora...
24/10/2026

World Polio Day 💜

If you notice the castle lit up in purple this evening, it's in support of World Polio Day in collaboration with Wensleydale Rotary - to raise awareness, eliminate and vaccinate against this disease.

Oh. Just the best Autumn wedding vibes 🍂 Couple: Bethany & TobyPhotographer: Sam Chipman
21/10/2026

Oh. Just the best Autumn wedding vibes 🍂

Couple: Bethany & Toby
Photographer: Sam Chipman

Lots of Halloween fun to be had + skeletons in the courtyard, a headless horseman, ghosts, witches and a real dungeon - ...
17/10/2026

Lots of Halloween fun to be had + skeletons in the courtyard, a headless horseman, ghosts, witches and a real dungeon - visit if you dare mwah ha ha 🎃

🏰 Behind the scenes at Bolton Castle: the Kitchen & GranaryEver wondered how people lived – and ate – inside Bolton Cast...
17/10/2026

🏰 Behind the scenes at Bolton Castle: the Kitchen & Granary

Ever wondered how people lived – and ate – inside Bolton Castle centuries ago?

Step into the Kitchen & Granary, where food was stored, prepared and preserved for life in the castle.

🌾 Grain was spread across the warm granary floor and regularly turned by hand to prevent fermentation.
🍺 Malt was produced here for brewing and making wholemeal bread.
🌿 Fresh herbs and spices helped flavour food – and sometimes disguise food that was past its best!
🍯 Honey was the usual sweetener, with bees kept in wicker or wooden hives.
🐟 During Lent, fish became an important part of the diet, alongside the ever-present staple of pottage.

A fascinating glimpse into the everyday life of a medieval castle.

NEW START DATE - we just couldn't wait any longer!Halloween fun starts 10am today 🎃Visit our courtyard and dungeon - wit...
16/10/2026

NEW START DATE - we just couldn't wait any longer!

Halloween fun starts 10am today 🎃

Visit our courtyard and dungeon - with a flurry of skeletons, a coffin, witches and a cauldron brew so potent that even the witches won’t go near it 🧙. Costumes and props to try on for those ghoulish family photos.

On these dates – 24th, 25th, 26th, 29th, 30th and 31st October there will be be storytelling at 1pm and the very popular Witches Trial at 2.15pm in the Great Chamber.

Included in our usual admission charges.

What a shot!With huge thanks to Don Brown for sharing these amazing images of a recent flying display here at Bolton Cas...
13/10/2026

What a shot!

With huge thanks to Don Brown for sharing these amazing images of a recent flying display here at Bolton Castle 🦉

What’s better than a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?A castle of course!Happy FriYAY 🌈
09/10/2026

What’s better than a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?

A castle of course!

Happy FriYAY 🌈

Living History Weekend 🎟It's October 1415, a contingent of men and archers from Bolton Castle has just left Harfleur and...
09/10/2026

Living History Weekend 🎟

It's October 1415, a contingent of men and archers from Bolton Castle has just left Harfleur and are on their way to Calais.

Unbeknown to them, a large French army is gathering and will shortly confront them just outside a small French village called Azincourt.

Find out what life would have been like for these men and their families.

The Medlar Tree 🌳 This tree always attracts visitor’s attention. It’s a tree which has been in cultivation for a whoppin...
08/10/2026

The Medlar Tree 🌳

This tree always attracts visitor’s attention.

It’s a tree which has been in cultivation for a whopping 3,000 years with medieval connections and an unusual fruit - which can become an accompanying jelly 🫙 .

Brought to Britain by the Romans, it also featured at Henry VIII’s Hampton Court, and is referenced in literary works by both Chaucer and Shakespeare 📚

Address

Nr Leyburn
Leyburn
DL84ET

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