Bamburgh Castle

Dramatic castle on an outcrop of dolerite, the same formation underlying the Farne islands and Hadrian's Wall on Whin Sill. This natural bastion has been fortified at least since the Iron Age, with the first written record in 547 AD. The core of the present castle was the work of the Normans in 1095: it withstood a 9-month siege during the Wars of the Roses in 1464. In the 18th century it was converted into a residence, but decay outpaced renovation until it was overhauled from 1894 by the industrialist William Armstrong (1810-1900). It's still owned by his family and has been used as a location for several films. You visit the Great Kitchen, King’s Hall, Captain’s Lodging and Keep and Armoury. They charge £5 to park but you can walk from free sites.