Ripley Castle estate and tour

The village of Ripley is a lovely delight to walk through. I arrived early so found on road parking next to the main village car park. Walking into the village and to Ripley Castle didn’t take long from there.

A small village, it’s bustling with local shops, as well as those catering for tourists. From the Boars Head pub, to the Ripley Ice Cream shop, as well as pondering the houses for sale, and the graveyard of the village church.

I headed straight for Ripley Castle to be there for opening time. There was a bit of a wait. At the castle entrance, there’s the tea rooms, Grindus – the coffee shop, and an outward bound adventures company – there was a kids birthday party going on while I was walking around the castle grounds, and they sounded like they were having fun. If N had been with me, I’m sure we’d have had to play frisbee golf around the grounds.

I picked up my tour ticket at the entrance having paid online the night before. It was then chance to wander around the gardens and grounds.

Ripley Castle Gardens and estate

My first stop was the walled gardens. It’s a nice easy walk shaded by the trees as you overlook the deer park across the lake.

The Walled Gardens are beautiful, with huge borders and sooo many butterflies around. They definitely like purple flowers!

You can look into the garden room to see the old Ripley Castle fire engine.

There’s different plants in the tropical plant house, and into the hot houses (although it was a bit hot for me to go in those). 

At one end of the lawn there were garden games set up for children (or big kids) to enjoy. 

I continued to head around to the kitchen garden, rather than exploring the pleasure gardens through the woodlands which takes you down to the temple and ice house. Although it was a lot cooler being under the trees.

The kitchen garden has mostly been left to wildflower areas for bugs, bees and butterflies. There was a walk along the apple trees, with some very bizarre shaped fruits amongst ones more similar to the trees we have at home.

And the biggest purple artichoke thistles I’ve ever seen.

I had a bit of time before my tour so I walked around down to the lake to see the first waterfall/cascade. This makes some great views across the lake and up to the castle. As well as watching the paddleboarders scaring off the geese.

It was so hot, I had to stop to get a cold drink and had plenty of time. I had a really nice elderflower lemonade from the Grindus coffee shop and sat with a chance to cool down. The guy working in there is lovely, very welcoming and helpful.

Ripley Castle Tour

The tour was a bit frustrating. They only happen Tuesdays to Saturdays at 11.30 and 1.30pm, so a bit late for my liking. We were all stood around waiting, but no guide turned up. After a bit of asking by some others due on the tour, they were resorting to dragging the family owners out. So we had a bonus getting to meet Sir Thomas Ingilby who took the tour.

I’m not sure if what we saw was the normal tour, if it was only seeing 5 rooms was a bit steep for £20, given I’ve done Blenheim family room tours, and above/below stairs for around a fiver for an hour’s tour. But it was interesting and still worth doing.

We saw the entrance hallway, drawing room, the library, the tower room and the civil war room in the knights quarter.

From stories about the paintings, the family members all sitting on the rocking horse, to family secrets and villains, through to heroes keeping Catholic brothers safe from Cromwell wanting lodgings, there was plenty to learn.

With involvement with royalty, playing a part in the English Civil War, having links to everyone involved in the Gunpowder Plot, priests holes, and seeing real armour and equipment found in the castle, the history links up so well with other places I’ve visited on my travels.

We were also told about the rebuilding of much of Ripley Castle, and the roof where they found engravings of initials and the year meaning it was built originally earlier than they’d thought.

Sir Thomas was a good raconteur, with plenty of personal views and funny anecdotes to share. And it’s always nice to see modern family photos dotted around amongst the historic items and decor. For the chance to see inside the castle, then do book a tour.

The tour lasted just over an hour, just in time for me to get off to my next stop.

You could take all day to spend at Ripley Castle and grounds, along with the village as there’s plenty of estate to explore.

For other days out in Yorkshire, check out my posts here.