Scarborough Castle

Another lovely set of seaside ruins on the north yorkshire coast. We visited both here and Whitby Abbey in the same weekend.
Good value for a family ticket and the nearest car park is at the opposite the church just a little down from the Castle where one of the Bronte sisters rests in peace. The nearly teenagers liked the audio guide and being able to explore off on their own. There are lovely clean toilets and a shop and spectacular views down on both bays of Scarborough. The staff were polite and helpful.

SCARBOROUGH CASTLE, at Scarborough, facing the North Sea, is not the best castle that’s situated along the East Coast of England. The castle itself is not worth the climb you have to make to reach it, the only good outcome of your climb is the fantastic birds-​eye view you gain of Scarborough and its coastline.

These ruins are definatly worth a walk to if you have a bit of time spare in scarborough. It is a nice climb up to the castle, surrounded by green areas. There is also a little park nearby for children. You can also get some good views over scarborugh and out to see.

The changing season has got me thinking about some of my favourite summer haunts. Scarborough and it’s many attractions has always been a firm favourite. It is a good hour and half, almost, on train from where I live in Hull but well worth the journey. One of my favourites there is the Castle.
Whenever we visited Scarborough as children we always visited Scarborough Castle. As a child it involved a very tiring walk, for myself and my brother, to reach the Castle and usually left us quiet and peaceful for our parents the rest of the day.
The last time we visited the Castle I thought ‘I know I am getting old’ as the walk felt as tiring as when I was a child. You can reach the Castle by a few different routes. There is a drive at the end of a road which leads you to the impressive, stone, large Gatehouse of the Castle and cuts down on most of the uphill walking. However, hard as the walking is, that is part of the fun of the place. You can either start at the bottom of the winding path, which leads you up-​hill to the castle, or climb the stone steps, between some houses arriving half-​way up this path. As you walk up the slope you have the deep, now grassy, moat on one side and beautiful views over the red rooftops at the other side looking towards Scarborugh and it’s harbour. The moat used to have some childrens swings in it, at one point, and I presume it still has.
Ideally you want to visit Scarborough Castle when it is a really sunny day but not too warm. Too hot and the walk can be sticky plus there is little shade when you reach the Castle at the top. Too cold and you can feel very wind blown in the open area of the Castle.
You can do the walk without paying to enter the Castle. However if you have not visited before this would be a shame. You pass through an entrance, the Gatehouse, to the Castle and its Ruins. As I have already said, it can either be very hot up here or more than likely a little cold.
Looking through the narrow window slits that the Archers would use in years gone by the views and scenery is magnificent. The battlements are still impressive and help to give a good feel for the place. You can almost imagine what it must have been like back then. This Castle was used 2,500 years ago to defend the headland on which it is built. It is situated 300 foot above the sea and offers views to the North and the South. This headland now separates what is the North Beach from the South Beach and, as such it is easy to locate for a visit, once in Scarborough. It is visible from the sea front and from most parts of the town. However back then, of course, it would just be a Castle on the headland looking over and protecting the two bays.
Having been attacked over many years by peoples such as the Roman armies, the Vikings, the Kings of the middle ages, being beseiged in the English Civil War and even more recently being bombarded by the German Navy in World War One, it is little wonder that most of Scarborough Castle is in ruins. However much of the wall is in tact, there is a Well, Henry the second’s 13^th century Keep, a Gunner’s house and the impressive Gatehouse. Near to the Gunner’s house there are a few picnic tables. Throughout the grassy area there are information boards and remnants of a bygone age. Evidence of the iron age was discovered on this site but a Castle, as such, was not built until the 1130’s. This building was added to over the years that followed.
Usually when we visit we leave the Castle through the other entrance which leads down to the South Bay. This Bay has Peasholm Park and nearby is the Sea Life Centre. The South Beach area is less commercialised than the North. It is odd to think that the South Bay is where Scarborough’s resort status began. This side always had, and still does, the slightly classier hotels and the like. Of course you could always visit the opposite way around starting from the South Bay. Either way though Scarborough Castle is an uphill walk.
Admission to the Castle is usually quite reasonable, although obviously it depends how many are visiting. It is an interesting sight with much for children to see and read about. Simply as a pleasant area with views over Scarborough, it’s two bays and over to Oliver’s Mount with a great area for the children to let off steam, it is a good day out.
Recommended-​but I think I will wait for the Spring at least

This castle can be seen from any point on the north and south bay. It stands proudly like a beacon high above the cliff tops. The journey up to the castle can seem like an eternity as it is quite a walk and up hill.
When I first visted scarborough my daughter was in a buggy and the normal route to the castle was out as it was mainly steps and a steep climd.
However I did find an alternative route up the castle and this was much easier. On the way up you can see for miles and the view is just breathtaking.
Once there the enterance fee can be quite pricey but for the life in me I just can not remmeber the price. It is worth the price to get into this but for younger children it can be a bit boring.
My daughter was about 2 maybe 3 when we visited the castle and she felt like a queen exploring little nooks and crannies. There is an audio guide available for those that would like it but I think it is nicer just to wander around and take in those views.
Now also in the castle grounds there is a café that I would not recomend to any one. Its is very over priced so I would say take a drink with you. I bought something that looked and sounded nice but tasted like liquid ear wax.
The gift shop to the castle is very small and lets it down a lot. Saying this though there is some nice little nic nacs available and there is always something for you to remember you trip to the castle.
Its is worth vising if you like the history of this sort of thing.

I went to Scarborough Castle a few months ago while on holiday in Yorkshire. The castle can be seen from the Scarbrough coastline, up on the cliffs, when you are in the city itself. Much of the castle is in ruins but I find it was very interesting to see the remains of what would have been a magnificent castle. I found it quiet peaceful walking around the grounds and I though the views over the Scarborough coastline were beautiful. There are plenty of signs giving you information about the history of the castle. I do not feel there is enough here to last a day, I just went for a morning but it is a nice visit nonetheless.

Not much there for the price, walking round the grounds and remnants of the castle is fun but only takes twenty minutes at the most. The museum is a bit of a let down as its small and sparse.
I would recommend timing you visit to catch one of the themed events such as medieval jousting or historical re enactments as you will get more for your money.

A nice place for families particularly when they have their special events on during the summer season. Parking can be a little tricky but it is fairly close to the centre so easily walkable.

I love Scarborough Castle for its position and the general ambiance. Kids seem to love it too. Wonderful views of both bays from here.
The ruins of the castle are situated at the Eastern extremity of the town, on a lofty promontory, elevated more than 300 feet on the southern, and 330 feet on the northern side, above the level of the sea, and presenting to the north, the east, and the south, a vast range of perpendicular rocks, completely inaccessible. Its western aspect is also bold and majestic, being a high, steep, rocky, slope, commanding the town, harbour and the bay. The whole area, at the top of the hill, is upwards of nineteen acres of excellent soil, gently sloping near 20 feet from the north to the south lines.
During the civil wars, in the reign of Charles I. this castle was twice besieged, and taken by the parliamentary army.
Scarborough Castle, is supposedly haunted by the ghost of Piers Gaveston, Earl of Cornwall, favourite and companion since childhood of Edward II. Gaveston was captured at the castle in 1312. He surrendered on condition that his life would be spared and that he would have a fair trial. However, on the journey to London he was beheaded at Warwick. He is said to have ever since enjoyed a vendetta against living people by lurking in the deep shadows of the castle walls and luring them to their deaths over the cliff edge to the sea, 300 feet below.
Although the top of the keep has disappeared, some remaining walls provide a good indication of how splendid this structure was. Fireplaces at the first and second levels can still be seen in the walls. Nothing exists of the once mighty forebuilding except the foundations, which show clearly its size and estimated height of some 40ft (12m). From this date, Scaborough Castle became practically impregnable, although the outer defences were continually improved and reinforced over the years. Scarborough Castle was the strategically important Northern base of Kings and Queens for almost five centuries, and with each new reign came further additions and improvements to the original building.
Perched high on a headland above the North Sea, Scarborough Castle occupies one of the most dramatic castle sites in the country and boasts over 2,500 years of turbulent history. Before the castle was built, this natural fortress was favoured by prehistoric settlers before serving as a Roman signal station and Viking haven. It has endured sieges from medieval kings and Civil War armies, and German naval bombardment during WWII. Now you can climb to the battlement viewing platforms for dramatic coastline views, and take tea in the 18^th-​century Master Gunner’s House.
Built in the reign of King Stephen, by William le Gros; Earl of Albemarle and Holderness. Here Piers de Gaveston, the favourite of Edward II. sought refuge against the exasperated barons, but after a short siege, he was obliged to surrender for want of supplies, and lost his head, as already related, (the ghost) in the castle of Dedington.
Robert Aske, the leader of the Pilgrims of Grace, made an unsuccessful attempt upon Scarborough Castle, in 1536. In the time of Wyat’s rebellion, in 1553, it was surprised and taken by the stratagem of introducing a number of soldiers, disguised as peasants. This achievement was performed by Thomas, second son of Lord Stafford, but his success was of short duration, three days afterwards the place was retaken by the Earl of Westmoreland, and Stafford; and three other of the leaders were conveyed to London, and executed for high treason. A nasty end.
Really must be visited when in Scarborough.