Bolsover Castle

About

Bolsover Castle is a 17th century historic building in Derbyshire overlooking the Vale of Scarsdale. Originally founded in the 11th century, a knight of William the Conqueror first built the castle. However, the castle remained empty from the 14th century until the early 17th century. In 1612, Charles Cavendish took ownership of the property and built Little Castle as a retreat for aristocrats. His son William Cavendish, the 1st Duke of Newcastle, completed the build and interiors of the castle. Also, after the civil war Cavendish worked on restoring his properties including the castle. Eventually gifted to the Ministry of Works in 1964, damages to the castle throughout the years were repaired. Additionally, English Heritage now have ownership of the historic castle which is open for the public to visit. For information about tickets and events at Bolsover Castle, click here.

What is there to do at Bolsover Castle?

Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire has lots of historic features for visitors to explore, including:

• Little Castle – discover the 17th century aristocratic retreat visited by King Charles I. Here you will find medieval towers and turrets, rare 17th century wall art, painted ceilings and more.
• Terrace Range – once a variety of stately rooms, this is now a roofless shell. However, media guides can help depict the impressive rooms which once stood here.
• Fountain Garden – view a fountain statue of Venus along with 5,000 different plants and flowers, fruit trees and wall paintings.
• The Wall Walk – walk along the garden walls with a scenic view of the castle, fountain garden and surrounding countryside.
• Tearooms – take a break at this cafe which serves sandwiches, drinks and cakes. Alternatively, there is space for picnics in the castle grounds
• Second-hand Bookshop – located at the Riding House, visitors can donate and buy books here.

The castle also frequently hosts different events including regular Cavalier Horsemanship dressage demonstrations at the Riding House. To find out more about upcoming events at Bolsover Castle and tickets, click here.

Accessibility

Bolsover Castle has a level pathway between the grounds and the buildings. The Little Castle does not have level access with a flight of stairs required to get to the top and back down. However, the Terrace Range, Fountain Gardens and some of the Riding House have level access. Seating is available throughout various points of the site with benches placed around. Additionally, an accessible toilet is available for visitors. In terms of parking, there is a free carpark with disabled bays which are a 50 meter walk from the entrance.

Sensory experience at the castle could involve high noise levels inside the buildings, particularly when busy. For a quieter visit, the castle is usually least busy on weekdays or early times on a weekend. Audio tours are available and there are touch models in the Discovery Centre. Additionally, there are subtitles on film displays. Exhibits have tactile elements and involve a large use of sound.

For more information about days out in the Midlands, visit the Eric Knows website.