Route: Raby Castle
Area: County Durham
Date of walk: 30th July 2019
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 3.5 miles
Ascent: n/a
Weather: Cloudy with sunny intervals
Raby Castle is a place which I’d only vaguely heard of and have never visited until today. It dates back to medieval times and is perfectly preserved, with nine towers set in 200 acres of landscaped deer park. The castle was once home to Cecily Nevill, mother of two kings of England. It was also the scene of the plotting of the Rising of the North and a Parliamentary stronghold during the Civil War. In 1626, Sir Henry Vane the Elder purchased Raby from the Crown. The Vane family still own Raby, the present owner being the 12th Lord Barnard
Not knowing what to expect, I entered the grounds (entry is free to members of Historic Houses) and made my way into the Walled Garden, established in the mid 18th century. The garden is divided into sections, and the highlights include two ancient yew hedges, a beautiful rose garden and some fine herbaceous borders
I then made my way over to the nearby castle and after a brief wander around the interior (far too brief, and I must return), I set off on a walk around the parkland which surrounds the castle. The Deer Park at Raby is home two species of deer – red deer, the largest British wild land mammal, and the smaller fallow deer. Both herds include the descendants of deer which have lived in the park since Norman times
I didn’t have any particular route in mind, and set off towards the two ponds, High Pond and Low Pond. There were several large herds of deer, and although it can’t be predicted where they’ll be on any given day, I’d guess that a sighting is almost certain, such are their numbers
After completing a circuit of the castle I made my way back to the car park to end the visit, my only regret being my belated discovery of this wonderful place
Click on the icon below for a location map (this simply links to the location of Raby Castle – an estate plan with suggested routes is available at the entrance, and it’s best to plan your own route depending on your interests and the location of the deer)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Raby Castle seen from the car park, looking across the cricket field
Entrance to the Walled Garden, designed by Thomas Wright in the mid 18th century
The walls of the garden were constructed of locally hand made bricks...
A series of arches leads from one section to the next
Pavilion built into the wall
Day lily in the herbaceous borders
Looking out from the Walled Garden to the castle
The Rose Garden, enclosed by an ancient yew hedge...
The conservatory...
Inside the conservatory
A view of Raby Castle from its Walled Garden
More photos of the Walled Garden...
Pond in the Central Garden
Buddleia in the border, attracting a painted lady...
...as well as red admiral, peacock, comma and tortoiseshell butterflies
Inside the castle grounds now, and a wander around the perimeter...
A distant sighting of the deer herds in the surrounding parkland. - I'll have some closer views shortly...
I leave the moated area of the castle to wander around the Deer Park...
...antlers lower right...
...and left
I follow a track between Low Pond left and High Pond right
Swans and their young in High Pond, and a herd of deer in the background
Raby Castle beyond Low Pond...
I walk to the far end of High Pond, with the castle now in the distance...
More antlers as I return along the other side of High Pond. I could have ventured much closer but didn't want to disturb the herd
A young leucistic (white) deer, with Raby Castle in the background...
I follow a path beside Low Pond which leads around the side of Raby Castle...
The path brings me back to the Walled Garden, and I can't resist another brief visit to the Rose Garden, which was at its peak...
A final view of the castle at the end of a wonderful visit
