Devon, England
Kingswear, Dartmouth TQ6 0DX
Telephone 01628 825925
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Dartmouth Castle's twin across the water isn't a visitor attraction in the usual sense — it's a Landmark Trust holiday let, and outside its rare open days the grounds are signed Private Keep Out. The reward for booking it as a stay is a genuinely unusual experience: a castle right on the rocks, sea sounds through the walls, and a lot of stairs.
Sleeping in a working castle on the rocks by the sea, with the tide and the boats for company — reviewers who've stayed call it a one-off experience.
Don't turn up expecting to look around — it's private, and reviewers who arrived hoping for a coastal view found only Keep Out signs. If you want in, book the stay, and note dogs aren't allowed anywhere on the grounds, even on open days.
Reviews of Kingswear Castle diverge sharply depending on expectations: two reviewers who tried to visit as a typical tourist attraction were disappointed to find it's private property with restricted access and no dogs allowed on the grounds, while those who booked it as a Landmark Trust holiday cottage loved their stay, praising the cozy interior, sea views from the roof terrace, and surrounding coastal walks. It's worth knowing in advance that this castle is a place to stay overnight, not a day-visit attraction.
Holiday let; occasional open days
“What a lovely place, full of history and coastal walks, very picturesque with a welcoming village.”— Andrew Spicer, visitor review