Wray Castle Lake District

Wray Castle

Wray Castle in the Lake District in northwest England is a neo-Gothic castle built in 1840 as a retreat by a rich surgeon, James Dawson and his wife from Liverpool.

Now belonging to the National Trust, the castle and its beautiful grounds occupy part of the shoreline of Lake Windermere.

Wray Castle, Wray, Lake District, UK. — Wray Castle was constructed as a retreat for James Dawson and his wife

History

Using his wife's money, James Dawson built the castle and also nearby St Margaret's Church.

When Dr Dawson died in 1875, the castle estate passed to his nephew, Preston Rawnsley. In 1877 Preston's cousin, Hardwicke Rawnsley (one of the founders of the National Trust), became vicar of St Margaret's. Within is a memorial in marble to Dawson and his wife. The church is no longer open for worship.

Beatrix Potter, also instrumental in the early beginnings of the National Trust, spent a summer at the castle.

The castle stands close to Lake Windermere. — The castle stands close to Lake Windermere

Things to See & Do

The castle grounds are open all year round and are ideal for walking. Admire the lovely trees including redwood, ginkgo, sequoia, weeping lime and various types of beech.

Joey's Cafe at the Castle is a plant-based cafe and bakery.

Nearby

Wray is south of Grasmere. Here is William Wordsworth's Dove Cottage. This quaint whitewashed home was Wordsworth's first home in the Lake District, where he stayed between 1799 and 1808. Now owned by the Wordsworth Trust, the cottage is full of memorabilia, including the poet's ice-skates, his passport, a pair of his reading glasses and a portrait of one of his favourite dogs, Pepper, given to him as a present by Sir Walter Scott.

Standing on the shores of Derwent Water, the market town of Keswick makes a good base for exploring the northern Lake District, particularly the delightful Borrowdale to the south of town, or the heights of Skiddaw (3053ft) and Blencathra (2847ft), which loom over the town to the north.

Lake District, north west England, UK. — Lake District cruises, north west England

Access - Getting to Wray Castle

Low Wray
Ambleside
Cumbria, LA22 0JA
www: nationaltrust.org.uk/wray-castle

The castle has different opening times for winter and summer. From mid-July to mid-September the castle is open from 10.30 am to 5 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, closed Thursday and open from 10.30 am to 4 pm on Sunday. From mid-September until mid-December the castle is open from 10.30 am to 4 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and closed Thursday and Sunday. See the website above for full details.

Windermere Station is the nearest station but still some distance away on the other side of the lake. Take the 505 bus towards the castle and then walk. Windermere Station has trains to Staveley, Burneside, Kendal, and Oxenholme Lake District.

From Oxenholme there are trains to Manchester Airport, Lancaster and Preston. There are also trains to Blackpool North and Barrow-in-Furness.

The Windermere Ferry crosses the lake from Ferry Nab in Bowness-on-Windermere to Ferry House at Far Sawre. Windermere Lake Cruises has boats from Bowness, Ambleside & Lakeside.
www: windermere-lakecruises.co.uk

By car the town is about 2 hours minutes from Manchester on the M6 motorway. From Leeds take the A65. Driving time is about two hours.

Book a hire car for your holiday in Britain - pick up at the airport or in the major cities

Accommodation

The Lake District has some superb places to stay. Around Lake Windermere choose from the Windermere Manor Hotel, a three-star property set in 3 acres of tree-lined gardens, the four-star Beech Hill Hotel & Spa which offers indoor heated swimming pool, a sauna, a steam room and outdoor spa pool or the Windermere Hotel with views over Lake Windermere or the town center.

See a listing on hotels in and near Windermere