Totnes Castle — Attraction in South Hams

About the Castle : The "Castle" (it is more a tower on top of a hill with fortifications) is nice, but there is not much to see, except the nice view over Totnes and the Dart river. There are literally 4 signs with a few explanations. I would say it takes 20 minutes maximum for a complete visit. Having said that, the small fee of ~4£ per entry is way to high for what it offers, especially because almost no maintenance is required to maintain these old walls. I guess the entrance fee is just enough to pay the guy that collect money at the entrance, which is a bit ironic. I would be ok with that (to pay so that a person can get a job) but it should be clearly stated what the entrance fee is used for.

About the way they handle billing errors : When I visited, I have been charged for an extra adult entrance fee, and did not realise it before coming back home. When calling the Castle, they admitted they probably made a mistake but refused to refund the extra entry I paid. This is unfair. I am now in contact with English heritage hoping they will do something about it, but I guess they won't. I was hesitating becoming a member of English heritage, but the way they handle billing errors and customers requests leaves me...

Amazing views. The tallest motte (artificial mound) still surviving at 15m above the bailey (courtyard), all overlooking Totnes on the north west fringe of the original Saxon town.

Some original bailey walls still exist to the west (you can tell by the thickness).

The current stepped walk up to the motte is a gentler incline than the original would have been that ran along the steep wall to the east above the entrance shop.

Much of the castle has not been excavated so archaeological mysteries remain, especially around the buildings that would have existed in the Bailey and above on the motte. And yet, either standing on the battlement above, or walking the bailey below, you get a real sense of the place and it’s magical.

I recommend buying the great little guide book when you enter and sitting for a few minutes to read before you explore.

As an artefact of the Norman invasion and domination it’s a bit...

This is a small site, with castle ruins and some picnic tables in a green area. There is a ticket office, which contains a small gift shop. The site has a couple of information boards about the site.

This is not a place that you would go to spend a full day with your family, but it is still very much worth a visit. If you climb to the castle on the hill, you have some really nice views out over the area. I would say that you would really spend 30-40 minutes here, so it’s something to do whilst you are nearby. (For example browsing the shops nearby)

It is an English Heritage site, so you do have to pay to enter (we paid £6 each to enter). I do personally think that the price should be a little lower than it is currently, as the site is small and there is nothing else on offer here. I think you can buy some ice cream, but no food or drinks.

It is worth a visit if you are...