Pictures of Raby Castle

a Castle in the town of Staindrop, in the county of County Durham

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About Raby Castle

Arriving close to Staindrop from almost any direction the view of Raby Castle, built by the powerful Nevill family in the 14th-century and said to have a hall in which 700 knights could meet, is awesome in its stark grandeur. The castle walls hold secrets uncovered for over a thousand years, leading back to the time when in the 11th-century King Cnut had the first castle here.

The Nevill family had but one aim - the Crown, and to help them in their quest they built for themselves the magnificent fortress we see today. Its walls were built to be unassailable, its towers and turrets, large hall and stone minstrels' gallery, all were significant of their might, wealth and ruthless ambition.

There is no place in the north of England like Raby, even its kitchen is said to be the grandest in the country. It is of majestic proportions, it has gleaming Victorian copperware and in spite of being used until quite recently, it is seemingly little altered since in was built in the 14th-century. The great Barons Hall, is where the Nevill family mustered hundreds of knights to aid Mary Queen of Scots in her bid for the English throne during 1569. A bid which was to fail and cause the demise of the Nevill's.

In 1626 the castle passed into the hands of the Vane family, Earls of Darlington and Dukes of Cleeveland. They added the magnificent Entrance Hall and dramatic Octagon Drawing Room. Lord Barnards family have lovingly cared for and preserved the castle since that time and although many original medieval features remain, most of what we now see dates from alterations in 1765 and the mid-19th century. The house contains English, Dutch and Flemish paintings, elegant furniture and a magnificent collection of porcelain. In the coach house visitors can see the family carriages and other vehicles.

Gentle deer nuzzle the grass of the surrounding 200 acre parkland where visitors can stroll in walled gardens and enjoy lovely views of the local countryside.

This is an evocative place to visit, there is much history attached to the two families that have owned Raby. There is also talk of the castle being
haunted. Charles Nevill is said to stalk the Barons Hall, Henry Vane, supposedly without his head, haunts the library and the first Lady Barnard has made various appearances in all parts of the castle.

Raby Castle hosts regular events and is open to the public.
Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near Raby Castle.

Planning a visit? Please help support this website by booking your hotels near Raby Castle and uploading your pictures.
Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Raby Castle

Bowes Museum	(5.4 miles, 8.7 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Barnard Castle	(5.6 miles, 9.0 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Egglestone Abbey	(6.0 miles, 9.6 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Hamsterley Forest	(6.6 miles, 10.6 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Auckland Castle	(7.5 miles, 12.0 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Binchester Roman Fort	(7.8 miles, 12.5 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Richmond Castle	(13.8 miles, 22.3 km, direction S)	Pictures
Easby Abbey	(14.2 miles, 22.9 km, direction S)	Pictures
Arkengarthdale	(14.3 miles, 23.0 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Durham Castle	(14.7 miles, 23.6 km, direction NE)	Pictures

All attractions in County Durham
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Raby Castle

Barnard Castle, a Historic Market Town in the county of County Durham (5.7 miles, 9.2 km, direction SW)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Escomb, in the county of County Durham (6.2 miles, 10.0 km, direction NE)
Lying in a prominent position ringed by the River Wear, Escomb is best known for its magnificent Saxon Church reputed to be built from stones brought from the near-by ruined Roman Fort at Binchester.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Bishop Auckland, a Historic Market Town in the county of County Durham (7.1 miles, 11.4 km, direction NE)
This was the busy social and commercial centre of the south-west Durham coalfield, but the town is actually much older than the...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Craigside, in the county of County Durham (8.3 miles, 13.4 km, direction N)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Coundon, in the county of County Durham (8.4 miles, 13.5 km, direction NE)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Wolsingham, in the county of County Durham (10.1 miles, 16.2 km, direction N)
This is a lovely village lying on the edge of the North Pennines in an area of great scenic beauty. It is a wild and beautiful landscape dotted only by scattered farms with meadows full of grazing sheep and cattle.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Kirk Merrington, in the county of County Durham (10.3 miles, 16.6 km, direction NE)
Kirk Merrington is a pretty, hilltop village overlooking the Wear Valley and the Cleveland Hills.
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Darlington, in the county of County Durham (11.1 miles, 17.9 km, direction SE)
Darlington, bustling though it is today was once a small Saxon settlement, this flourished as evidenced by the beautiful building of the church dedicated to Saint Cuthbert which lies at the heart of the town.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Stanhope, in the county of County Durham (13.5 miles, 21.7 km, direction NW)
This is a lovely, bustling little town is set amidst the charm of Weardale, it is almost entirely built of stone particularly around the old Market Square, dominated by a fine stone cross.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Richmond, a Historic Market Town in the county of North Yorkshire (13.5 miles, 21.8 km, direction S)
Richmond is a lovely old market town on the River Swale in North Yorkshire.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

All towns in County Durham
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Bishop Auckland Station	(6.6 miles, 10.6 km, direction NE)
Shildon Station	(7.3 miles, 11.7 km, direction E)
A1(M) Junction 58	(9.0 miles, 14.5 km, direction E)
A1(M) Junction 57	(9.7 miles, 15.7 km, direction SE)
Teesside International Airport	(16.3 miles, 26.2 km, direction E)
Newcastle International Airport	(30.9 miles, 49.7 km, direction N)
Raby Castle to London	(224.5 miles, 361.3 km, direction S)

Accommodation & Hotels near Raby Castle

Hotel Name
Headlam Hall Hotel	(4.0 miles, 6.4 km, direction SE)
Manor House Hotel	(4.5 miles, 7.2 km, direction NE)
The Otter Hotel	(4.8 miles, 7.8 km, direction E)
The Morritt Arms Hotel	(6.0 miles, 9.7 km, direction SW)
Walworth Castle Hotel	(7.0 miles, 11.3 km, direction E)
Paramount Redworth Hall Hotel	(7.2 miles, 11.6 km, direction E)
Aston Hotel	(9.7 miles, 15.6 km, direction E)
Hall Garth Hotel, Golf & Country Club	(10.2 miles, 16.4 km, direction E)
Whitworth Hall Country Park Hotel	(10.4 miles, 16.7 km, direction NE)
Swallow Eden Arms Hotel	(10.7 miles, 17.1 km, direction NE)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts