Muncaster Castle and Gardens is beautifully situated near Ravenglass, right on the western edge of the Lake District National Park. The estate is highly renowned for its spectacular birds of prey displays, which are absolutely perfect for visitors of all ages, as well as for its stunning, historic gardens. If you visit during the spring, the ancient woodlands come alive, carpeting the forest floor in a breathtaking sea of wild bluebells.

I have been wanting to visit Muncaster Castle for a while as my colleagues told me it was a wonderful place to visit and that the shows with the birds were superb. So when Matthieu told me that his parents and his nephew were coming to spend a few days with us, I immediately knew where we were going to bring them.

Muncaster Castle, which dates back to the 13th century, belongs to the Pennington family who still lives there. The 77 acres Muncaster estate contains, in addition to the castle, a splendid garden filled with rhododendrons, exotic plants and ancient trees as well as a sanctuary for birds. Throughout the year, Muncaster Castle hosts bird shows daily as well as various events such as an open-air cinema or afternoon teas in the castle. That day, there was the “festival of fools” with lots of comical shows.

We started the day with a walk through the rhododendrons garden before heading to the first show “The world of Owls” featuring owls. The show was very well organised, and we could observe the birds flying above our heads. The trainers also gave us a lot of explanations about each bird that I particularly liked. Then we went towards the castle where there were lots of entertainment for young and old. After having a picnic in the garden, we headed for the second show of the day “Sky Hunters”. This show was more impressive than the first one because it presented birds of prey such as eagles, hawks and vultures. Unfortunately, it started to rain during the show but that did not stop us from appreciating the beauty of these birds. I could have watched them flying all afternoon without any problem.

Then, we decided to visit the castle which was open for the occasion. (Be careful, the castle is not open every day.) The interior of the castle is nicely decorated and pleasant to visit. There are some rooms in particular the library that I really liked. The view of the mountains is also breathtaking.

We wanted to stay to feed the herons at 4pm but we finally had enough of the rain. So we ended the day with a quick stop at St Bees Beach followed by a beer at Whitehaven Harbour.

---

---

Final Thoughts

Join the Conversation

Do you know Muncaster Castle and Estate? 

Share your thoughts: Don’t hesitate to tell us what you think by leaving us a comment below!

Stay Updated

If you enjoyed this adventure, consider subscribing below to our newsletter for more family and dog-friendly adventures in Cumbria and across the UK.