Etal Castle
0.8 miles (1.3 km)This walk visits Etal Castle in the Northumberland village of Etal.
The castle is run by English Heritage and is free to explore. You can park at the car park and enjoy a stroll through the grounds of the 14th century fortification.... It's located in a scenic spot next to the River Till so there's also pleasant riverside footpaths and countryside views to enjoy.
After exploring the castle you can head north to visit the historic ford on the river and then head east to the village itself.
You can continue your historic walking in the area by visiting nearby Ford Castle or picking up the Duddo Five Stones Walk.
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Etal Castle. The castle was originally built around 1341 by Robert Manners after he received a licence to crenellate from King Edward III to defend against Scottish raiders. The structure initially consisted of a residential tower, a gatehouse, and a corner tower, all protected by a curtain wall. Throughout the Middle Ages, the castle was deeply involved in local feuds and border warfare between England and Scotland, most notably a violent dispute between the rival Manners and Heron families that led to a battle outside the walls in 1428.
The castle's most significant historical moment occurred in 1513 during King James IV of Scotland's invasion of England. Despite its fortifications, Etal surrendered to the superior Scottish army and its modern artillery shortly before the Scots were decisively defeated at the nearby Battle of Flodden. Following the English victory, the castle was reclaimed and used to store captured Scottish munitions. In 1547, the property passed to the Crown to serve as a border defence garrison, but it gradually fell into disrepair after the Union of the Crowns in 1603 when its military purpose became redundant. By the 18th century, it was abandoned as a residence and became the ruin seen today.
Now managed by English Heritage, the site is a Grade I listed building and a popular visitor attraction. The ruins feature a four-storey residential tower and a formidable gatehouse that still displays the Manners' coat of arms. Visitors can explore an award-winning exhibition that details the bloody history of border warfare and the Battle of Flodden. The castle is part of the Ford and Etal Estates, which includes other local attractions like the Heatherslaw Light Railway and the only thatched pub in Northumberland
Bridleway ford over the River Till at Etal