Pendragon Castle

Pendragon Castle is a beguiling place, in a remote location by a small road, surrounded by places with names out of a fantasy novel. Despite being a ruin, it has an atmosphere all of its own. According to legend, it was the fortress of Uther Pendragon, father of King Arthur, who battled the Saxons here in the mists of the Dark ages. Sadly, that is unlikely to be true – the current ruins date from the 12th century, long after Arthur is said to have lived – but they do have their own stories to tell. The castle was last used in the 17th century, when restored by Lady Anne Clifford, but was left to decay after her death. You’ll find it beside the B6259, a little north of the hamlet of Outhgill, about 4 miles south of Kirkby Stephen, on the banks of the River Eden and in the shadow of Wild Boar Fell. It is on private land and access is not always possible. The road it’s on, by the way, in places runs parallel to the Settle-Carlisle railway line and can be a good spot for seeing steam trains.