National Trust - Duffield Castle — Attraction in Amber Valley

Duffield Castle – A Hidden Historic Gem

Donated to the National Trust in 1899, Duffield Castle is a fascinating, though understated, historical site nestled just off the A6 in Derbyshire.

This quiet location holds the remains of what was once one of England’s most impressive Norman fortresses—its stone keep was the third largest in the country at the time of construction. While only the foundations remain today, they give a powerful sense of the scale and significance the castle once held.

At the heart of the site is a small domed stone structure marking the location of the original well. The area is surrounded by woodland and overgrown grassland, giving it the feel of a natural wildlife sanctuary. There are several informal paths winding through the site, making it ideal for a peaceful walk or an impromptu nature trail.

Access is via a long set of steep, winding steps leading up from the main road through a small gate—unfortunately, this means there is no wheelchair access. At the top, you'll find an informative notice board detailing the castle’s history, along with a reconstruction image showing how it once looked.

Historical Significance Duffield Castle was founded by Henry de Ferrers after the Norman Conquest, originally as a wooden motte-and-bailey to defend his estates. Archaeological findings even point to earlier Roman occupation. The wooden structure was destroyed during a rebellion in 1173 but was later rebuilt in stone with a massive keep. After another failed rebellion by Robert de Ferrers III in 1266, the castle was demolished and much of the stone repurposed elsewhere, leaving the site largely forgotten—until now.

Final Thoughts Though modest in appearance today, Duffield Castle offers an atmospheric glimpse into England's medieval past. It’s ideal for history lovers, walkers, and anyone looking to explore an off-the-beaten-path heritage site...

Apart from a sign telling you to bring your imagination, this is just a staircase to a patch of grass with a brick outline of a demolished room. This could have been anything - there's no information board.

Don't come expecting any walks around the grounds of a demolished castle, either - the old site is now overwhelmed by private residential properties. Twenty seconds walk from the brick square and you're looking at someone's back garden.

(EDIT: Some of the other photos here seen to include a nice view. On our visit it was pleasantly overgrown and there were no views.)

If you've driven here, it's just a short extra drive to Kedlestone Hall, a much more complete and interesting National Trust property with a small number of pleasant riverside and woodland walks.

The only item of note in Duffield Castle is a little stone hemisphere that goes equally unexplained: apparently it's a capped well. Naturally, I smelled the well, and can report that the fragrance was...

Based on a few reviews here, it appears some may need to manage their expectations when visiting historic sites...! Sometimes, there just isn't much left; this is the case with Duffield Castle.

For that reason, it may not warrant traveling hours to visit it. However, it's a good stop if you're nearby, fancy stretching your legs (note: there are some steep stairs), and come prepared to use your imagination a little.

What is to cherished is that this site was discovered at all and we know what we do about it. It's remarkably tucked away and we'd have driven right past none the wiser except we had happened to look at Google Maps as we approached Duffield!

Thank you to the National Trust for caretaking what does remain of what was seemingly once a very grand...