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Wray
Parkland and castle on the west shore of Windermere.
Low Wray, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0JA
Important notice
The school holidays are a busy time here at Wray and our car park can be full by 11am. To avoid disappointment, why not travel by boot, bike or boat. See the 'Getting here' tab below for more information on how to travel car free.
Opening times for 2 November 2024
Asset Opening time Castle 10:00 - 16:00 Grounds 08:00 - 20:00 JOEY'S Café 09:30 - 16:30 MTWTFSS282930311234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829301OpenPartially openClosedBookshop
Cycle parking
Cycle parking is located down the road past the accessible parking; in the picnic area by the lower car park; between the lower and upper carpark; and outside the café.
Café
Dogs allowed
Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds, castle and cafe.
Car park
Toilet
Level access to the castle. Blue Badge parking in the top car park. Easy access toilet near café. Braille & large print guides are available from house entrance. Please ask if you or one of your party would like to use this. Ear defenders are available if you'd like to use them. All-terrain mobility scooter available for hire.
Accessible route and/or map
Level access to food outlet
Accessible toilet
Level access/terrain
Designated parking
Powered mobility vehicle available
Pre-booking advised.
Induction loop
In the castle.
Seating available
Large print (guide or menu)
For the exhibition.
Steps/uneven terrain
By road
Narrow roads in some places. Not recommended for motorhomes. Not suitable for coaches - maximum size minibus 16 seater. From the south and Bowness (via Ferry) take the B5285 through Hawkshead where this becomes the B5286. Continue on this road for 2.5 miles, then take the right hand turn to Wray Castle. From the north and Ambleside, take the A593 to Clappersgate, then take the B5286 signed to Hawkshead. After 2.5 miles take the left turn, to Wray Castle. Plan your car-free visit with Good Journey
We do no have campervan or minibus parking at the castle
Parking: Pay and display (non-members) £6 for 2 hrs, £7.50 for 4 hrs and £9 all day. Members - please scan your card for free parking. Thank you. Please note: there is no parking for campervans or minibuses at the castle.
Sat Nav: Post code LA22 0JA
On foot
From the south, follow the lakeshore track from Ferry Head (4 miles). From the north, off road paths exist for the majority of the route, signed Bowness via Ferry, look out for the blue signs. From Hawkshead village, follow bridleway (3 miles).
By train
The nearest train station is Windermere, see National Rail to plan your journey Plan your car-free visit with Good Journey
By bus
Year-round, regular buses from Ambleside and Hawkshead (10 mins), Windermere and Coniston (30 mins) stop nearby. It’s then a 20-minute, off-road stroll to the Castle. Get the 505 bus: Kendal to Coniston route. Check timetables and routes at Stagecoach Plan your car-free visit with Good Journey
By bicycle
Off road cycle paths from Ambleside, signed Bowness via Ferry, and south of the castle, along the west shore track between Claife Viewing Station and Wray, on the west shore of Windermere. Look out for the blue signs. National route 6 passes nearby. Bike racks at Wray castle and at the third party café. Cycle Hire is available from several places in the local area. Please view this webpage for details: https://www.visitcumbria.com/bike-hire-windermere/ Plan your car-free visit with Good Journey
By ferry
The Windermere car ferry runs a daily limited service. Please check before travelling. Once getting off the ferry, it is a 4 mile walk or cycle along the Windermere west shore path to Wray Castle or a 6 mile drive, via Hawkshead. WINDERMERE LAKE CRUISE BOAT Catch the Green Cruise from Waterhead Pier (Ambleside) to Wray Castle with Windermere Lake Cruises. See their website for times and further information www.windermere-lakecruises.co.uk Plan your car-free visit with Good Journey
Car-Free
Travel the green way and help us preserve this amazing place. Plan your car-free visit with Good Journey
Planning your visit
Article
Borrow a mobility scooter to explore the Wray estate
Borrow a tramper mobility vehicle, an all-terrain scooter which makes Wray estate more accessible to those who are less physically able.
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Visiting Wray parkland and castle with your dog
Wray is a three pawprint rated place. You can explore all of the estate at Wray with your dog including the ground floor exhibition space of the castle.
Highlights
Exhibition
Timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the 1924 British Mount Everest expedition, Other Everests: One Mountain, Many Worlds, shares fascinating archives from the Royal Geographical Society and the Mountain Heritage Trust with photographs presented in large-format lightboxes and displays of artefacts. Free to enter.
Lakeshore Access
Shingle beach for easy access to England's largest lake.
Parkland & Walking Trails
Explore the lakeshore and parkland on waymarked trails, starting at the front of the castle. Or use the castle as a starting point for longer walks in the area.
JOEY's Café (Independently Run)
Independent café serving vegan baked goods, savoury snacks, locally roasted coffee, teas and hot chocolate.
Gothic Revival Boathouse and Miniature Harbour
One of the largest boathouses in the Lake District and an imposing entrance to the estate for visitors when arriving by water.
Small Arboretum
Like many Victorian Lakeland villas, Wray has a collection of giant exotic fir trees. It is said that William Wordsworth planted the Mulberry tree in the grounds in 1845. There are some other interesting specimen trees, such as sequoias, cedar and beech. Many of the surviving veteran oaks in the parkland pre-date the Castle.
Second-hand Bookshop
Located in the study on the ground floor, find a lovely selection of second-hand books. Take a browse and grab a new story to get lost in. By leaving your donation, your money will go directly into supporting Wray.
Things to see and do
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Family-friendly things to do at Wray
Discover what family-friendly activities are on offer at Wray parkland and castle, from interactive indoor activities, outdoor walks and lakeside views to a scenic boat cruise across Windermere * *seasonal.
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Exploring the Grounds at Wray
Wray is a true landscape masterpiece, and the parkland has changed little over the years. Take a walk in the grounds around the castle and park and discover some of the features of this great estate, still much as they were when they were built.
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Things to see and do inside Wray
Discover Wray's church-like interiors and visit the photography exhibition.
Top trails
Trail
Wray to Blelham Tarn circular walk
Discover fascinating stories from the past and enjoy some great views on a circular walk from Wray to Blelham Tarn that also takes in the Windermere shoreline.
Trail
Wray to Latterbarrow circular walk
Starting and finishing at the castle at Wray, this route through fields and woodland offers rewarding Lakes views without the big fell climb.
Eating
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Eating at Wray
Need some refreshment during your visit to Wray? Our partners at JOEY's Café offer a wide range of snacks and drinks to help you refuel before or after your adventures.
Places to stay
Low Wray Campsite
By Windermere, England’s largest lake, surrounded by things to do and places to visit.
The Summer House
A cosy house in the old kitchen garden of Wray Castle with views of stunning scenery all around.
Trees
A 1930s log and stone cabin high above Lake Windermere with a sun terrace and great views.
Silverthwaite
An inspiring spot looking out over Langdale Valley with Arts and Crafts influenced detail inside.
High Strawberry Gardens
A simple lakeside retreat for an uplugged holiday, with a jetty to launch your canoe or kayak in Windermere.
Low Strawberry Gardens
A simple lakeside retreat for an uplugged holiday, with a jetty to launch your canoe or kayak in Windermere.
Silverthwaite
An inspiring spot looking out over Langdale Valley with Arts and Crafts influenced detail inside.
Rose Castle Cottage
A two-bedroom cottage just above Tarn Hows with heaps of character in the heart of the Lakes.
Upcoming events
Event
Other Everests: One Mountain, Many Worlds
Other Everests: One Mountain, Many Worlds, shares photographs and mountaineering artefacts from the Royal Geographical Society and the Mountain Heritage Trust in the centenary year of the 1924 Mount Everest expedition.
About Wray
Take a walk in the grounds at Wray and discover some of the features of this great estate, still much as they were when they were built, including an arboretum and yew walk, walled garden, boathouse, and miniature harbour.
Follow waymarked trails through beautiful grounds, parkland and woodland including a long stretch of shingle beach on the shores of Lake Windermere and panoramic Lake District views, Wray has it all in every season.
The imposing house in the Gothic form of a medieval castle, stands prominently in an elevated position above the lake. The vast building includes castellated towers, arrow slits, ruined battlements and an impressive porte-cochere. The ground floor rooms are open to the public and house a photographic exhibition and offer the chance to glimpse the grand Lake District villa Wray would once would have been.
History
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History of Wray Castle
Discover the history of the Wray Castle estate and the fascinating link that Hardwicke Rawnsley, one of the National Trust's three original founders, had with the property.
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Beatrix Potter
Discover how Beatrix Potter’s Victorian upbringing and fascination with animals culminated in a successful career as an author and illustrator and a passion for conservation.
Support us
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Volunteering at Wray
If you can see yourself working in the beautiful grounds of Wray Castle or welcoming visitors inside, we might just have a role for you. Find out more about volunteering here.