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Middleham Castle

📍 North Yorkshire, England

4.2 ★★★★ 1,540 reviews

About

Middleham Castle is a ruined castle in Middleham in Wensleydale, in the county of North Yorkshire, England. It was built by Robert Fitzrandolph, 3rd Lord of Middleham and Spennithorne, commencing in 1190. The castle was the childhood home of King Richard III, although he spent very little of his reign there. The castle was built to defend the road from Richmond to Skipton, though some have suggested the original site of the castle was far better to achieve this than the later location. After the death of King Richard III the castle remained in royal hands until it was allowed to go to ruin in the 17th century. Many of the stones from the castle were used in other buildings in the village of Middleham.

Getting There

🚗 By Car

In Middleham village in Wensleydale. Off the A6108 between Leyburn and Masham.

🅿️ Village Parking

Small car park in the village.

Terrain & Accessibility

⚠️ Uneven Ruin👟 Sturdy Footwear📐 Keep Stairs

Childhood home of Richard III. The massive Norman keep is largely intact and can be explored. Stairs to upper levels. Surrounding ruins have uneven ground. Also known for its racehorse training stables in the village. English Heritage.