Travel back in time at Restormel Castle, a stunning ruined keep with a royal history. The stone structure stands proudly on top of a raised motte, offering views of the villages and fields around the River Fowey. The English Heritage Site is also a popular picnic spot, known for its colorful flowers in spring and summer.
The castle started out as a wooden structure, built in around 1100. Visit today to see the ruins of the 13th-century stone keep that later occupied the spot. This was the occasional home of the famous Black Prince. The castle has been owned by the Duchy of Cornwall since 1337, but it fell into ruin during the 17th century after the Civil War.
Roam around the shell keep of Restormel and imagine how huge and impressive it was when royalty stayed here. For a good vantage point of the layout of the castle, walk around the edges of the walls. This allows you to look down into the rooms and also provides expansive views of the surrounding valley.
Enjoy a picnic on the banks outside the castle. The raised vantage point allows you views of Lostwithiel, the River Fowey and the surrounding valley. Watch the woodland for a sighting of the black pheasants that roam the countryside here. The fields next to the castle were once a royal park populated by a herd of deer.
After exploring the castle, head to the nearby town of Lostwithiel. Wander through beautifully preserved medieval streets and over a 13th-century bridge, stopping by sights such as the Lostwithiel Museum and St. Bartholomew’s Church.
Restormel Castle is open daily between April and October and there is an admission fee to enter the keep. Car parking is available next to the castle and Lostwithiel train station is about 25 minutes away on foot. Visit in spring to see the banks around the keep burst into life with colorful daffodils and bluebells.
