AttractionEnglish Heritage

Barnard Castle

Barnard Castle, Durham

A large baronial fortress above the Tees gorge, with a big open ward for your dog inside the walls and a wooded river walk directly below.

Barnard Castle has room, which is not always true of town castles. It runs from a huge outer ward down to the innermost stronghold perched above the Tees gorge. Bernard de Balliol began the stone fortress in the 12th century and his successors raised the great round tower, before the family lost it after a failed bid for the Scottish throne. Richard of Gloucester, later Richard III, held it afterwards.

Whilst you hunt down his white boar emblem carved above a window in the great chamber and look out at the wooded river winding below, your dog has a lot of open grass inside the walls and plenty of space to spread out. The Tees itself walks directly under the castle through a steep wooded gorge, which makes an easy add-on for a longer outing.

Dogs on leads are welcome, as are assistance dogs. There is no parking at the site at all, so you will be using the town car parks and walking in, which is worth planning for. Café, shop, toilets and picnic seating are on site.

At a Glance

Dog Access: On-lead in the grounds; Dogs on leads are welcome, as are assistance dogs.
Site Type: Castle & Fort
Entry: £9.35 adult; £4.67 child · £23.37 family
Members: Free for English Heritage members
Facilities: Café / restaurant, Gardens, Parking, Picnic seating, Shop, Toilets, Wheelchair access
Telephone: 01833 631434
Parking: No car parking available at the site. Nearest parking (not managed by English Heritage) is located in the town itself. There is some 2 hours-free parking in the town, as well as pay-and-display parking in the central car parks. The nearest about 500 metres away.

English Heritage Membership

Planning Your Visit

Opening times

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 10:00 - 17:00
Thursday: 10:00 - 17:00
Friday: 10:00 - 17:00
Saturday: 10:00 - 17:00
Sunday: 10:00 - 17:00

Opening times and prices were checked on 26 August 2026 and are subject to change, and some sites close for events or over winter. Confirm on the English Heritage site page before you travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Barnard Castle dog friendly?
Yes, dogs are welcome at Barnard Castle as long as they're kept on a lead throughout the site. There's a generous amount of open grass inside the walls for your dog to enjoy, and the castle's large outer ward means things rarely feel cramped. Assistance dogs are also welcome.
Are dogs allowed at Barnard Castle year round?
The listing confirms that dogs on leads are welcome at Barnard Castle, though it doesn't specify any seasonal restrictions. It's always worth checking directly with the site before you visit, particularly around bank holidays or special events when access arrangements can sometimes change.
What should I know before visiting Barnard Castle with my dog?
The most important thing to plan ahead for is parking — there's no car park at the site itself, so you'll need to use one of the town car parks, the nearest of which is around 500 metres away. There's some free two-hour parking in town as well as pay-and-display options. Once you're there, dogs must stay on leads, but the spacious grounds and the wooded Tees gorge directly below the castle make it well worth the short walk in.