Castle · Ruin

Bowes Castle

Startforth, County Durham
Directions
  • Open
  • Free entry
  • Dogs in the grounds
  • No car park on site
  • English Heritage
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Photo: Beep boop beep · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

Quick answer

Checked 14 Oct 2026

Bowes Castle is a ruined castle near Startforth, County Durham, managed by English Heritage. Entry is free and the site is open at any reasonable time. Dogs on a lead are welcome in the grounds but not inside. There is no car park on site.

Getting to Bowes Castle and parking

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Directions to Bowes Castle View on a map
Address
DL12 9HP
Parking
No car park on site. Parking in Bowes village.
By train
Stanhope is 15.7 miles away.
Public transport
Buses: Hodgsons 72, 79X; Cumbria Classic 572; Classic services 352.

Dogs, accessibility and facilities

Dogs

Partly
  • Welcome: in the grounds.
  • Not allowed: inside the buildings.
  • Leads: dogs must be kept on a lead.
  • Page says dogs on leads welcome; open ruin, no mention of inside buildings, so lesser value chosen.

Accessibility

Not step-free
  • Step-free: no step-free access.
  • Paths and surfaces: Rubble pathway to the castle, unsuitable for wheelchairs.

What to see at Bowes Castle

  • 01

    Keep

    The main fortified tower of the castle.

  • 02

    Moat

    A ditch, wet or dry, around the walls.

History of Bowes Castle

  1. 1171 Passes to the Crown on Earl Conan's death; Henry II builds the keep (1171-87)
  2. 1173 Besieged by King William of Scotland's army (1173-4), which retreats
  3. 1233 Henry III gives the castle to the Duke of Brittany
  4. 1241 Given to Peter of Savoy, Earl of Richmond
  5. 1322 Granted to John de Scargill; tenants besiege and capture it
  6. 1471 Reverts to the Crown

Photos

Castles near Bowes Castle

All 5 castles in County Durham

Sources

Every fact on this page last verified 14 Oct 2026
Suggest a correction
  1. Page on english-heritage.org.uk · checked 15 Oct 2026
  2. Page on english-heritage.org.uk · checked 14 Oct 2026
  3. Page on english-heritage.org.uk · checked 14 Oct 2026
  4. Page on historicengland.org.uk · checked 15 Oct 2026
  5. Page on historicengland.org.uk · checked 15 Oct 2026
  6. Page on english-heritage.org.uk · checked 14 Oct 2026

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