Berwick Ramparts (Elizabethan Town Walls)
Walking round the top of a whole town, past gates and bastions with the sea on one side, is about as good as free history gets. Hold small hands on the unfenced bits.
The short answer
Berwick Ramparts (Elizabethan Town Walls) is in Berwick-upon-Tweed (TD15 1DF). It's looked after by English Heritage and free to wander round. Open daily.
What you actually see
In the reign of Elizabeth I, Berwick got new defences built to the latest angled-bastion design, which made the old castle obsolete. English Heritage calls them the most complete and impressive bastioned town defences in England, and you can walk the whole circuit on top.
Known for: England's most complete bastioned town defences.
Tips before you go
Keep children and dogs close on the stretches with sheer drops. Start near the station and you can take in the castle remains too.
Where Berwick Ramparts is
Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 1DF. OpenStreetMap ↗ · Directions ↗
Castles near Berwick Ramparts
Berwick Castle
0.3 miles north-west as the crow flies · Berwick-upon-Tweed · Free to wander · Free
Norham Castle
6.6 miles south-west as the crow flies · Norham · Free to wander · Free
Duddo Tower
7.5 miles south-west as the crow flies · Duddo · Free to wander · Free
Twizel Castle
9.3 miles south-west as the crow flies · Twizel, near Cornhill-on-Tweed · Outside only · Free
Etal Castle
9.6 miles south-west as the crow flies · Etal · Free to wander · Free
Ford Castle
10 miles south as the crow flies · Ford · Outside only · Free
All 39 castles on the map · Things to do in Berwick and Holy Island
Events at Berwick Ramparts
- Nothing listed at Berwick Ramparts in The Northumbrian Almanac right now. It is refreshed every week.
Questions people ask about Berwick Ramparts
How much does it cost to visit Berwick Ramparts?
Free.
When is Berwick Ramparts open?
Open daily.
Is Berwick Ramparts good for kids?
Walking round the top of a whole town, past gates and bastions with the sea on one side, is about as good as free history gets. Hold small hands on the unfenced bits. Time needed: 1 to 2 hours for the full circuit at small-legs pace (our estimate).
Is there parking at Berwick Ramparts?
Public car parks around town (not English Heritage), charges apply.
Can you take a pushchair to Berwick Ramparts?
Partly. There's disabled access onto the ramparts, but some sections have steep unguarded drops.
Is there a café at Berwick Ramparts?
None on the walls; cafés in town.
Are there toilets at Berwick Ramparts?
English Heritage points to Berwick Barracks, but the Barracks is closed until autumn 2027, so don't count on them.
Is Berwick Ramparts worth visiting on a rainy day?
Not really. Most of it is outdoors, so save it for a dry day.
What is Berwick Ramparts famous for?
England's most complete bastioned town defences.
Sources
All the castles
39 castles on a map
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The printable passport
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