County guide · The Castle Rolls
Best castles in Devon
14 castles across Devon, from Dartmouth's harbour-mouth fortress to Castle Drogo, the last castle built in England - by way of the still-lived-in medieval keep at Tiverton.
Map
Every castle on this list - 14 in total, 3 free to enter, 5 you can stay overnight in
Castle Drogo
Devon
20th-century granite castle by Lutyens
Photo: Stanleykswong, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Dartmouth Castle
Devon
Photo: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Powderham Castle
Devon
Photo: Davepark, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Watermouth Castle
Devon
Victorian castle family theme park
Totnes Castle
Devon
Classic motte-and-bailey with shell keep
Photo: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Berry Pomeroy Castle
Devon
Tudor mansion shell within medieval castle
Okehampton Castle
Devon Free entry
Free entry Wednesday-Sunday, April to October
Photo: Reading Tom from Reading, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Compton Castle
Devon
Fortified manor, Gilbert family home; limited opening days
Photo: Tilman2007, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Rougemont Castle
Devon
Norman gatehouse - the castle's main standing remnant - viewable from the free public Rougemont Gardens.
Photo: SouthWestExplorer, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Bickleigh Castle
Devon
Grade I-listed manor around a Norman motte and an 11th-century chapel; main hall demolished after Civil War slighting.
Photo: Smb1001, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Lydford Castle and Saxon Town
Devon Free entry
Medieval prison tower plus Norman earthworks
Photo: Mkwadee, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Tiverton Castle
Devon
Limited summer opening; holiday apartments in castle
Photo: Lewis Clarke, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Kingswear Castle
Devon
Holiday let; occasional open days
Photo: Nilfanion, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Marisco Castle
Devon Free entry
On NT-owned Lundy; Landmark Trust manages, keep cottages via Landmark
Common questions
How many castles are there in Devon?
This roll lists 14 visitable castles, fortresses and tower houses in Devon. Of those, 3 are free to enter and 6 charge admission. The other 5 have restricted access.
Which castles in Devon are free to visit?
3 of the 14 castles in Devon are open-access sites with no admission charge, namely Okehampton Castle, Lydford Castle and Saxon Town and Marisco Castle.
What is the best-rated castle in Devon?
Berry Pomeroy Castle is among the highest-rated castles in Devon on this roll - 4.6/5 from 1,444 Google reviews.
Can you stay overnight in a castle in Devon?
Yes - 5 of the castles listed here offer overnight stays, including Watermouth Castle, Bickleigh Castle, Tiverton Castle and Kingswear Castle.
Can you reach any castle in Devon by train?
4 of the 14 sit within 1.5 miles of a railway station, namely Rougemont Castle (Exeter Central, 0.1 miles), Totnes Castle (Totnes, 0.3 miles), Okehampton Castle (Okehampton, 0.5 miles) and Powderham Castle (Starcross, 1.2 miles). Those are straight-line distances from the station to the castle, so the walk on the ground is longer than the figure.
Can you go inside every castle in Devon?
Not all of them on the same terms. 5 of the 14 restrict what a visitor can see. Kingswear Castle is a hotel, so there is no way in without booking a room or a table. At Rougemont Castle the building itself isn't open to visitors, so you see it from the grounds or from outside. At Compton Castle, Bickleigh Castle and Tiverton Castle you get the grounds or a booked tour rather than free run of the building.