National Trust - Wray — Attraction in Great Britain

Wray Castle—a delightful blend of Gothic Revival charm and lakeside allure! 🏰🌊 Let’s embark on a virtual journey through this National Trust gem nestled on the west shore of Lake Windermere in the Lake District.

The Castle: Imagine turrets, towers, and crenellated walls rising against the backdrop of the shimmering lake. Wray Castle stands proudly, its Gothic form evoking medieval tales. It’s like a fairy tale come to life, complete with secret passages (okay, maybe not, but a castle can dream, right?). 🌟🔮 Grounds and Parkland: Step outside, and you’re greeted by an arboretum—a living gallery of trees—and a yew walk that whispers ancient secrets. Stroll through walled gardens, where blooms nod in approval. And don’t miss the boathouse and miniature harbour—perfect spots for lakeside daydreams. 🌳🌷⛵ Shingle Beach: Ah, the shingle shoreline! Follow waymarked trails along the lake’s edge. The pebbles crunch underfoot, and Lake Windermere stretches out, its blue expanse framed by rolling hills. It’s a place where time slows, and worries drift away. 🚶‍♂️🌊 Panoramic Views: Look around—panoramas of the Lake District unfold. Hills wear their green cloaks, and the water sparkles. Whether it’s spring blossoms, summer sunsets, or autumn’s fiery hues, Wray has a canvas for every season. 🌄🍂 Joey’s Café: Fancy a cuppa? Joey’s Café awaits, offering drinks and snacks. Sip your latte while gazing at the castle—it’s like sipping history. ☕🍰 Important Note: During summer holidays, the car park fills up quickly. Consider arriving by boot (shoes, not pirate gear), bike, or boat to avoid disappointment. And if you spot a dragon (or Nessie) on your way, give them my regards! 🐉🦕

Now, let’s plan our visit:

By Foot: Follow lakeshore tracks from Ferry Head (4 miles) or off-road paths from the north (look for blue signs). 🚶‍♀️ By Bus: Regular buses from Ambleside, Hawkshead, Windermere, and Coniston stop nearby. A 20-minute stroll brings you to the castle. 🚌 By Bicycle: Off-road cycle paths lead from Ambleside (signed Bowness via Ferry) and south of the castle. Wind in your hair, wheels spinning—pure magic! 🚴‍♂️ And remember, even if you can’t physically visit, our imaginations can explore boundless realms. So, raise your virtual goblet to Wray Castle—a place where history meets enchantment! 🥂✨123

By the way, have you ever daydreamed about living in a castle? Or perhaps you’d prefer a cozy lakeside cottage? Let’s weave our...

Tried many times over 2 years to get to this castle. When , this year, we managed to get there, we felt ecstatic. Then we arrive, parking is not cheap , then you need coins, no cards it seemed, so we locate sufficient coins and pay. Then after we manage all this, staff tell us" oh we have a card machine ". Bit late to tell us, nothing on payment machine to say this. Not ideal start. BUT then the real bombshell, staff inform us, oh, castle closed , until 2027 at the earliest. Grounds are open, though. Didn't you see the website. Clearly we hadn't, bit sarcastic in their attitude, I had in fact checked websites for wray castle, none said closed, until about number 4 or 5, their own website I admit, the only one that said closed, when I advised the staff of this, their only answer was " well we can't control others, not our problem." I'm a bit of a poirot fan, I am aware that scenes from episodes have been accredited as being filmed here, I tried to lighten the mood by saying I was disappointed to not get to see where these were filmed, in an even more sarcastic tone , we were informed that the vast majority was actually filmed in a hotel across the lake in Ambleside Whilst I admit we were pleased to have located the castle at last, some staff diminished the experience with poor service and attitude. My friend was intrigued to know also if the lake cruises that include a stop at wray Castle were aware that it was closed and were they informing guests of this. On return to bowness, my friend made an enquiry of the cruise companies as to wray castle, gladly informed that yes, their cruises included a stop at wray castle, but no mention of it being closed, when we mentioned the rumour it was closed, they then admitted to knowing but not wanting to...

We visited Wray Castle whilst on holiday and were rather disappointed to find that there's not much at the castle itself. The upstairs is currently closed to visitors and there's hardly anything to see downstairs apart from an exhibition of old photographs of Charlotte Mason and Beatrix Potter's family when the latter was a teenager. We were extremely surprised to find that the National Trust staff were quite unfriendly, unlike other properties that we've visited where they have been quite helpful and friendly. One of the very few positives about Wray Castle are the walks through the grounds, there's quite a few to choose from and you do get some wonderful views of Lake Windermere. Be warned though, if you head to the church, you'll probably find it shut as it's only open on select days. They don't bother to inform you of this fact on any of the signs that lead to the church, we had a wasted walk to the church on the day we visited. There is an onsite cafe called Joey's which offers an excellent range of food, including some amazing vegan options. Their vegan ice cream tastes out of this world, it'd be a shame to not try it! There are toilets and parking onsite. If you are a National Trust member, make sure to validate your parking with your membership card, it's really simple to do. I do not know how much it costs to park if you are not a member but check the National Trust website for Wray Castle for this info. Also bear in mind, the route to Wray Castle is pretty treacherous in places, we had a rather hair-raising drive to it from where we were staying! There are nicer castles than Wray Castle but the walks are lovely, however, we probably wouldn't visit again if we were ever...