Muncaster Castle, Gardens, Hawk & Owl Centre
Medieval castle filled with historic treasures in a dramatic fellside location.
Ravenglass, Cumbria, CA18 1RQ
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Accessible parking
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Bike storage facilities
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Cafe / restaurant
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Easily accessible without car
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Facilities for children
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Free parking
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Mostly wheelchair accessible
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Parkland / open spaces
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Pet friendly
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Picnic area
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Shop
Medieval castles built on top of rocky hillsides were designed with the intention of keeping people out! Nevertheless, considerable adaptations have taken place to ensure good access to most of Muncaster’s attractions and facilities for guests with accessibility needs.
Accessible parking is available via our Churchgate Entrance, located approximately 1/3 mile further south along the A595 from our Main Carpark. The postcode for this car park is CA18 1RQ and the What3Words is: takers.armrest.placidly.
There are accessible toilets on site and mobility aids available for hire on a first come first served basis.
For further accessibility information please consult the accessibility page on the Muncaster website here.
Set in the idyllic Western Lake District, where the mountains tumble into the sea, Muncaster offers unforgettable experiences for guests, whether visiting for the day, staying for an extended break or hosting an event or special occasion.
The castle itself, a vibrant and lived-in home to the Pennington family for over 800 years, is steeped in history with fascinating tales and ghostly mysteries to be discovered around every corner. It commands the Eskdale valley with impressive views of the estuary and Scafell Pike, and is set in over 70 acres of stunning, wild, woodland gardens.
Muncaster is also home to the Hawk & Owl Centre which offers exhilarating daily flying displays and offers an opportunity to learn about the important conservation work carried out by the centre.
At the The Weapons Hall, you can become a Muncaster knight, where better than a medieval castle to hone your combat skills? Have a go at archery, axe throwing, and crossbow or upgrade to a Masterclass in any of these disciplines to truly perfect your craft.
You will also find a variety of playgrounds and play areas, an Enchanted Trail, and over 6 miles of woodland paths to explore, as well as gift shops and The Stables Café, which offers a delicious seasonal menu, and a variety of self-catering accommodation on-site.
Whether you are looking for a fun day out, a get-away like no other, an atmospheric filming location, an impressive home for a corporate event, or the wedding venue of your dreams, with gift experiences and a packed programme of special events throughout the year, there is something for everyone at Muncaster. Come and visit us soon and experience the Muncaster Magic.
Important information: opening info is generated by artificial intelligence; check specific attraction details before travelling.
The indicator above will show ‘open’ when the public have any kind of access to any part of this property. That could be the park, a shop, or a special event, and may not reflect regular admission times to the main attraction. Always consult the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling to check that the attraction you are interested in is open.
For opening times for Muncaster and for individual Muncaster attractions please consult the Muncaster website.
For current, up to date, admission prices please consult the Muncaster website.
Historic Houses members visit free of charge.
Please note: additional charges may apply during special events or festivals. For details of these please consult the Muncaster website.
Or get in touch by emailing [email protected] or calling 0122971761.
Muncaster makes a wonderful full day out for any group with gardens, castle, Hawk & Owl Centre and The Weapons Hall offering something for everyone.
We recommend a minimum of 2½ hours at Muncaster but many groups find that they can spend up to 5 or more hours here quite happily.
Whether you choose to simply explore the gardens and castle at your own leisure or pre-book one of our specialist tours, experiences and catering packages we look forward to welcoming you to Muncaster.
For more information regarding group visits, and for the group visits brochure, please consult the group visits page on the Muncaster website which can be found here.
Muncaster offers educational visits for students of all ages. The historic castle, acres of woodland, Himalayan and Japanese gardens, and fascinating Hawk & Owl Centre offer an array of dynamic and stimulating learning environments for students of all ages.
With options for self-led visits or workshops led by our knowledgeable team there are endless opportunities to create a bespoke itinerary that is both educational and entertaining.
For more information about educational visits, and for the education and school visits brochure, please consult the education and school page on the Muncaster website which can be found here.
Medieval castles built on top of rocky hillsides were designed with the intention of keeping people out! Nevertheless, considerable adaptations have taken place to ensure good access to most of Muncaster’s attractions and facilities for guests with accessibility needs.
Accessible parking is available via our Churchgate Entrance, located approximately 1/3 mile further south along the A595 from our Main Carpark. The postcode for this car park is CA18 1RQ and the What3Words is: takers.armrest.placidly.
There are accessible toilets on site and mobility aids available for hire on a first come first served basis.
For further accessibility information please consult the accessibility page on the Muncaster website here.
Getting here
Ravenglass, Cumbria, CA18 1RQ
Muncaster, Ravenglass, CA18 1RD
To get to Muncaster’s main carpark please use the postcode CA18 1RD.
For accessible parking via our Churchgate entrance use the postcode CA18 1RQ.
By Car:
From the South: Leave the M6 at Junction 36. Follow signs to Barrow (A590). Before reaching Barrow turn right at Greenodd onto the A5092 (signposted Western Lake District, Workington and Whitehaven). This joins the A595 which will bring you to Muncaster.
From the North: From Carlisle follow the A595 to Cockermouth and continue on past Whitehaven. Alternatively take the westbound A66 from Penrith on the M6, following signs for Workington, then Whitehaven and A595 towards Barrow. This road bypasses Ravenglass and goes straight through to Muncaster.
From the East: Muncaster can be accessed beautiful Hard Knott and Wrynose Passes from Ambleside – if you’re brave enough! This should take around one hour, in theory from Ambleside, but allow longer at busier times and note that this road is extremely steep and is frequently closed in winter.
By Public Transport:
Northern Rail operates the Cumbrian Coast railway line connecting Ravenglass with many towns and villages of the Western Lake District with Carlisle in the north and Barrow-in-Furness in the south. Muncaster is located around 1.5 miles from Ravenglass.
Stagecoach operates the 7 and X7 bus routes between Whitehaven and Barrow which stop at our main car park.
The route operates Monday – Saturday (excluding Bank Holidays). The route also stops at Ravenglass Railway Station, providing an alternative option to reaching us on foot from Ravenglass village.
On foot from Ravenglass:
There are two routes from the railway station. The simplest route is via the main road which is about a mile with a pavement all the way and will take 20-30 minutes. Alternative follow the Eskdale Trail cycle route, which will take you past the Roman Bath House and through delightful scenery, but takes between 30 and 40 minutes to walk and may be muddy in places.
Muncaster Castle’s custodian couple named tourism personalities of the year
The family duo who’ve spent decades shaping Muncaster Castle into a highly popular visitor attraction have been recognised for their lifelong services to tourism in Cumbria.
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