A ruined medieval castle on a dramatic sandstone crag in Cheshire, with huge views and an Iron Age past
Open to visitorsan English Heritage site — check opening times and admission before you go
Substantial ruinsruined, but plenty survives above ground
Beeston Castle sits on top of a steep sandstone crag that rises out of the flat Cheshire plain, so the climb up is part of the appeal and so is the view from the top, which on a clear day stretches for miles across the surrounding counties and towards the hills of Wales. People had used the crag long before the castle: there was an Iron Age hillfort here, a defended settlement ringed by earth banks, thousands of years ago. Ranulf de Blondeville, Earl of Chester, built the medieval castle in the 1220s, taking full advantage of the cliffs as a natural defence.
The castle is a ruin now, looked after by English Heritage, with the gatehouse and stretches of wall standing along the rock. One thing worth knowing about is the well cut down into the crag, which is exceptionally deep, one of the deepest at any English castle. There is no roofed building to shelter in, so pick a decent day, and the path to the summit is steep and can be slippery when wet.
The Sandstone Trail, which runs the length of the Cheshire sandstone ridge, passes right by, and you can link the castle with the woods and heath of Bulkeley Hill and Raw Head nearby for a longer walk. The village of Bunbury, a few miles east, is a pleasant spot to round off the day.
More at the National Heritage List entry
