Castles and forts

A perfect medieval fortified manor house, little changed since it was built in the 13th century, including original timbers. A wonderful timber-framed gatehouse was added in the 17th century. The castle stands next to the parish church of St John the Baptist and, as English Heritage says, it's unforgettably picturesque.

An amazing 15th century moated red brick castle.

There has been a castle at Tattershall since at least 1231, when Robert de Tateshale received a licence from King Henry III to build a crenelated stone manor house.  In the early 15th century, the castle was acquired by Ralph, 3rd Baron Cromwell, who became Treasurer of England in 1433.  Cromwell upgraded and enlarged the property, including building the great tower, enlarging the moat and adding an additional outer moat.  Unusually, Cromwell used brick rather than stone.  In 1453, Thomas Neville married Cromwell niece, Maude Stanhope at Tattershall.  The powerful Neville family was mid-feud with the equally powerful Percy family and it was when en route from Tattershall to home turf at Sheriff Hutton that the Neville wedding party was famously attacked by the Percys.

After Cromwell’s death, Tattershall passed to the Crown.  It was subsequently owned by various loyal and/or royal celebrities, including Edward IV, Henry VII, Margaret Beaufort, Henry VIII, Henry Fitzroy and Charles Brandon.  It then passed to the Clinton family, the Earls of Lincoln.  A large part of the castle was destroyed in 1643 by Royalists during the Civil War and, after the last Earl of Lincoln died in 1693, the castle was abandoned and became derelict.  Eventually, it became a romantic tourist attraction and in 1910 was sold to Americans.  The fireplaces were ripped out and sold.  Thanks to the efforts of the Reverend Yglesias of Holy Trinity Church and Lord Curzon, further destruction was prevented.  Curzon bought the castle and restored it, including reinstating the fireplaces.  It was opened as a visitor attraction in 1914 and was left to the National Trust when Curzon died.  The rescue of Tattershall inspired the first piece of buildings conservation legislation in the world, the 1913 Ancient Monuments Consolidation and Amendment Act.

The dramatic ruins of Tintagel Castle perch precariously on the clifftops above a thundering sea.  One half is on an island, now joined to the mainland by a stunning, modern, steel and oak footbridge. Below, at low tide, it is possible to enter Merlin's Cave - for Tintagel is most famously associated with the legend of King Arthur.  According to 12th century writer Geoffrey of Monmouth, Tintagel Castle was the place of Arthur's magical conception, when Uther Pendragon slept with Ygraine of Cornwall through trickery, and consequently the legendary king's subsequent birthplace.  The castle actually dates from the 13th century, built by Richard, Earl of Cornwall, younger brother of King Henry III, and there is no hard evidence to associate it with the legendary king. However, recent work has revealed that Tintagel was a high-status community in the 5th-7th centuries, the so-called Dark Ages, when Arthur may have lived. So you never know.

In any event, Tintagel is one of the most evocative, romantic and inspirational places for a castle in Britain.

A classic Norman motte and bailey castle, founded soon after the Conquest to overawe the Saxon town. A later stone shell-keep crowns its steep mound, giving sweeping views across the town rooftops to the River Dart.

Climb to the top of the keep to enjoy stunning views over the town of Totnes and across to the River Dart.

The barely recognisable remains of one of the castles of Robert the Bruce - and possibly his birthplace - lie under and around a restored 19th century lighthouse, on a golf course, on a dramatic headland with views across to Ailsa Craig. The castle was probably 13th century and is believed to have been wrecked on Bruce's orders, to prevent the English using it. The lighthouse was built in 1873 to warn ships of the treacherous Bistro Rock. The light is now automated and in 2016 part of the lighthouse was converted into golf cafe and a luxurious two-bedroom apartment by the Trump Organisation. There's not much to see or do - unless you can afford to stay at the lighthouse or are playing golf - but it is a fascinating walk.  Park by the entrance to Turnberry Lighthouse and walk across the golf course. Also see the aviation memorial and the remains of RAF Turnberry's runways.