Ford Castle
Plenty of North East children know it from the inside on school residential trips, which is the only way in.
The short answer
Ford Castle is in Ford. It's privately owned and can only be seen from outside. Not open to day visitors; see it from Ford village and nearby walks.
What you actually see
Founded around 1278 and licensed as a castle in 1338, it was captured and dismantled by the Scots in 1385 and taken by James IV on the eve of Flodden in 1513. Louisa, Marchioness of Waterford restored it in the 1860s, and PGL bought it in 2022 as an outdoor activity centre for school groups.
Known for: Taken by James IV on the eve of Flodden.
Tips before you go
Take a look on a Ford and Etal day; Etal Castle is a couple of miles away.
Where Ford Castle is
Ford. OpenStreetMap ↗ · Directions ↗
Castles near Ford Castle
Etal Castle
1.6 miles north-west as the crow flies · Etal · Free to wander · Free
Duddo Tower
3.1 miles north as the crow flies · Duddo · Free to wander · Free
Twizel Castle
5.3 miles north-west as the crow flies · Twizel, near Cornhill-on-Tweed · Outside only · Free
Norham Castle
6.7 miles north as the crow flies · Norham · Free to wander · Free
Wark Castle (Wark on Tweed)
7.5 miles west as the crow flies · Wark on Tweed · Outside only · Free
Berwick Ramparts (Elizabethan Town Walls)
10 miles north as the crow flies · Berwick-upon-Tweed · Free to wander · Free
All 39 castles on the map · Things to do in Berwick and Holy Island
Events at Ford Castle
Sat 28 Nov to Sun 29 Nov
Ford and Etal Christmas Market
Ford, Etal, Heatherslaw and Ford Castle, Ford
More than 70 stalls spread across Ford, Etal, Heatherslaw and Ford Castle, with vintage buses between the villages, outdoor food and festive entertainment. Admission tickets are sold at the estate information points and dogs on leads are welcome. Organiser ↗
Questions people ask about Ford Castle
How much does it cost to visit Ford Castle?
Free.
When is Ford Castle open?
Not open to day visitors; see it from Ford village and nearby walks.
Is Ford Castle good for kids?
Plenty of North East children know it from the inside on school residential trips, which is the only way in. Time needed: 5 minutes.
Is Ford Castle worth visiting on a rainy day?
Not really. Most of it is outdoors, so save it for a dry day.
What is Ford Castle famous for?
Taken by James IV on the eve of Flodden.
Sources
All the castles
39 castles on a map
Open the map and filters →For the bairns
The printable passport
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