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Staindrop

Set in a magnificent 200-acre deer park on the outskirts of the village, Raby Castle is one of the country’s finest medieval castles - a romantic, fairy-tale building, which was once the home of the powerful Nevill family. Built in the 14th century, it houses a fine art collection and sumptuous interiors. In the 16th century over 700 barons assembled in the great Baron’s Hall to plot the overthrow of Elizabeth 1 – an action which was to cost the Nevill family dearly, for it resulted in the castle and all the Nevill estates being seized by the Crown. In 1626 the castle was leased to Sir Henry Vane, James 1’s Secretary of State, and has remained with the Vane family ever since. The castle was besieged during the Civil War, but luckily survived and remains an impressive example of defensive and domestic architecture. Much of the interior is now Georgian and Victorian, although the Great Kitchen remains virtually unaltered since its construction over 600 years ago. The Castle, the beautiful walled garden and the coach house are all open to the public. Tel: 01833 660202

Staindrop itself is a delightful, very typical, Durham village with a long village green lined with Georgian houses. St Mary’s Church, with its Saxon core, houses tombs of the Nevill and Vane families.