Hermitage Castle, Hawick, Scotland
Liddesdale was described by George McDonald Fraser as the bloodiest valley in Britain. It was at the nexus of the murderous clan feuds which fed the Border Reiver conflicts and rent this lonely, stunningly beautiful part of Britain for 400 years. The Hermitage stands as a lonely reminder of that bloody past: massive, sinister, brooding, a dark H-shaped monument to power, politics and cruelty. It was there that Sir Alexander Ramsay of Dalhousie was starved to death by Sir William Douglas in 1342. An earlier Lord, De Soulis, was boiled to death at the castle because he sold his soul to the devil. The Hermitage's history feels soaked into its cold stones. It is effectively a ruin but there remains a grim evocative beauty about the building and its wilderness setting. The Reivers bequeathed us the words "bereave" and "blackmail": Liddesdale still whispers those words today. jonbb
Blackness Castle, near Linlithgow, Scotland
A 15th-century castle shaped like a ship on the shore of the Firth of Forth. Steep and scary ruins, rugged and rocky, perfect for clambering around with small children (really!). A small jetty projects into the river and there are fantastic views to the Forth Bridges. gkirrin
Edzell Castle, Perthshire, Scotland
The distinctive red sandstone ruin of Edzell Castle in Angus is perfect for exploring, but the real treasure is finding an Italian Renaissance garden nestling at the foot of a Scottish glen. This walled garden or pleasance was originally built in 1604. Triangular beds of dwarf box hedging create intricate designs while the wall is home to 16th-century German carvings using heraldic and symbolic imagery, plus flower-filled recesses. You won't meet one of the former guests – Mary Queen of Scots – but will you encounter the ghost of the White Lady? northernfi
• 10km north of Brechin on the B966; historic-scotland.gov.uk. Adult £4.70, Child £2.80
Kilchurn Castle, Argyll
A beautiful 15th-century castle ruin which sits beside the impressive waters of Loch Awe and nestles between the magnificent mountains of Argyll and Bute. My husband and I visited on a July evening this year and were lucky enough to share the experience with only the sheep and swooping swallows. We were free to explore the grounds, climb the castle towers and take in the breathtaking views at our leisure. Sipper
• Loch Awe, Argyll & Bute. Access on foot from Dalmally or boat from Loch Awe pier. Both on A85 road.
WALES
Castell Coch (the Red Castle), Wales
This castle can be seen emerging from the trees on a hillside beside the M4 (junction 32). It has a fairytale appearance even when passing at speed, but entering the castle takes this feeling of enchantment further. Unlike most castles this one is relatively modern (although built on ancient foundations) and is the result of money and Victorian imagination taken to the extreme. It was built as an elaborate holiday retreat for the 3rd marquess of Bute, to a design by William Burges, at the end of the 19th century. Its walls are beautifully decorated with intricate paintings of many things, including Aesop's Fables in one room. The furniture and decor is wonderfully over the top and bizarre and brings history to life in a refreshing way. lkerbiriou
Carreg Cennen Castle, Carmathenshire, Wales
Perched on top of – and carved out of – a huge crag, Carreg Cennen is one of the most surprising and romantic castles. From the medieval walls down the passage cut in the edge of the crag to the natural cave which runs beneath the castle, it's like something out of a wild fantasy story. Kids will love attacking the walls and we can all lose ourselves in the darkness below. Spooky, but torches are available for hire at the foot of the hill. Archaos
• cadw.wales.gov.uk Adults £3.70, children 5-16 £3.30
Castell y Bere, Abergynolwyn, Wales
Castell y Bere is a Welsh castle built by Llewellyn the Great in around 1221. It was besieged by the English in 1283 then later abandoned. It is a fabulous ruin with remains of towers, walls and a barbican. It is like stepping back in time when you walk up the path to the castle entrance. The views from the towers are of peaceful green hillsides that rise to heights above the castle. It is easily accessible, completely free and often deserted. rachbrock
• Take the Llanegryn turn off the A493 and follow the road to near the end of the valley, Castell y Bere signposted. cadw.wales.gov.uk. Entrance free.
Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd
Why travel all the way to southern France to see one of Europe's finest medieval castles? While not on the scale of Carcasonne, Caernarfon has plenty of excitement of its own to offer.
It retains an angular, massive, military and almost industrial character (the closest comparison I can think of are 1940s flak towers I once saw in Vienna). As its purpose was to help subjugate the last area of strong Welsh resistance to the invading Anglo-Normans and symbolise royal authority, this isn't surprising. Come to think of it, Prince Charles' investiture as Prince of Wales in the castle doesn't seem too surprising either.
Though dominating the town, the castle really comes into its own when you (literally) get inside the walls. These are thick enough to contain a labyrinthine maze of passages linking the multi-layered, multi-levelled towers. You can easily become disoriented and enjoyably lost: I'd say it's the kind of place you could scamper round for hours with the kids, but to be honest I had hours of entertainment scampering round it as a supposedly responsible adult.
Add beautiful views across the Menai Strait and Snowdonia from the ramparts and the relatively unspoilt walled town (there's also a particularly good curry restaurant in one of the side streets yards from the castle) and you have a near-perfect day out. fivewindows
• 8 Castle Ditch, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 2AU; caernarfon-castle.co.uk
Raglan Castle, Abergavenny
A majestic ruin of a once splendid castle just inside Wales. From a distance it looks surprisingly small but on closer inspection, Raglan offers a good hour's worth of exploring. There are nooks and crannys aplenty for both the kids and brave adults to seek out; a water filled moat adds to the splendour, helping you to imagine yourself in the 15th century when the local gentry spent their days walking the long gallery or enjoying the fountain in the one of the two courtyards. That is until it was raised to the ground during the English civil war. And for a final spectacular, climb the steps to the top of the tallest tower to admire the views and see the castle in all its beauty. Re-enactors patrol the grounds, giving demonstrations of musket loading and firing. Whitemoon
• Raglan, Abergavenny; cadw.wales.gov.uk. Adult - £3.00, Concession - £2.60, Family - £8.60
Caerphilly Castle, Glamorgan
This is a largely unknown gem, just seven miles north of Cardiff. As well as being a fine example of medieval castle architecture, it's the second largest castle in the UK (after Windsor), with a tower which out-leans Pisa's, and the most amazing water defences – so much more than a moat, trust me. Small children will love it, and will adore the life-size working replica medieval siege engines which get fired on special days in the summer. Buy some of the famous cheese in the town after your visit. KDBristol
• Five miles north of junction 32 on the M4, in the town of Caerphilly; caerphillycastle.com. Adult - £3.60, Concession - £3.20, Family - £10.40
ENGLAND
Warkworth Castle, Northumberland, England
As any 12-year-old will tell you, the castle at Warkworth is a text book example of a motte and bailey. It was set out in 1200 and was the favoured residence of the Percy family from the 14th to the 17th century. We love it because there is plenty of scope for children of all ages to use their imagination. Stand in the shadowy passage of the gatehouse and picture missiles being dropped through murder holes on to would-be attackers, wander through the buttery, once stacked with beer barrels, or imagine a banquet in the Great Hall. The tiny port of Amble, framed through the ruined windows, is worth a stop for fish and chips at the end of your visit. morpethwriter
Norham Castle, Northumberland, England
This is one of the most beautiful castles I have ever visited. It has an action-packed past. Look it up and try to work out how its history has impacted on the stones. It has barbicans that still inspire a closer look and inner baileys with mysterious buildings. Even better, it is rarely visited and overlooks the Tweed river. Some of its more illustrious neighbours don't come close. Turner painted it, Scott gave it a verse in his poetry and Mons Meg helped to bring it down. This is one of my favourite places. You will not be disappointed. Take a picnic. There is currently restricted access to the castle keep due to falling masonry, but the rest of the site is still open. The Sheep Gate is closest to the car park - just find your way through a gate, no one else will be there! NitromoorsFlashback
• Norham Village, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland TD15 2JY; english-heritage.org.uk.
Lindisfarne (Holy Island), Northumberland, England
A beautiful, tidal island with a majestic castle on a rocky outcrop above the North Sea. The castle faces the imposing Bamburgh Castle, and has views of the Farne islands. You can only cross at low tide, so make sure you check the timetable! Miles of sand, rockpools and rugged walks, it is amazing at dawn seeing the sun rise over the sea and castle. I loved it so much I got married there. culprit
• Marygate, Holy Island, Berwick-upon-Tweed TD15 2SJ; lindisfarne.org.uk, nationaltrust.org.uk
Chillingham Castle, Northumberland
Chillingham Castle in Northumberland is as haunting as it name suggests – the castle enjoys numerous ghost stories, as well as dungeons and quite a disturbing torture chamber. The castle played a key role in bloody border battles throughout medieval history. Also a private residence, the often eccentric displays of personal belongings and home-cooked provisions in the kitchen really provide the visitor with an intimate experience of a key historic site. Landscaped gardens and tours to see truly wild cattle ensure something for everyone. Lijun
• Chillingham, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 5NJ; chillingham-castle.com. A family ticket is £18
Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland
Perched on the Northumberland coastline, Bamburgh Castle has to be one of the most dramatic, beautiful buildings in England. Explore the history of the site and see archaeological excavations in progress, but to experience the true beauty of this place take a walk along the often deserted beach (coats and scarves are a must). Looking back you get a breathtaking view of the castle standing proud above the sand dunes. The nearby town of Seahouses offers delicious fish and chips at the end of the day. Ali81
• Bamburgh, Northumberland, NE69 7DF; bamburghcastle.com
Corfe Castle, Swanage, Dorset
Just north of Swanage, on the way to Wareham this castle is one of the most stunning in the country. Blown up by Oliver Cromwell, the ruins dominate the town and for me no visit to Dorset is complete without a visit here. The views from the top of the castle of the surrounding country side are amazing, and the history of the castle can be felt everywhere. Once a very important Anglo-Saxon castle, most of the ruins that remain are from the time of Henry II. A castle not to be missed. didotwite2001
• The Square, Corfe Castle, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5EZ; nationaltrust.org.uk. Adult £6.20, child £3.10
Lulworth Castle, Dorset
An outstanding looking castle of fairytale grandeur. It's free to get into the grounds, free to park and only £10 to get into the castle itself. When we visited, there was a wizard in the castle in full costume, which added to the fairytale atmosphere. Just down the road from Lulworth Cove as well. Perfect day out. scottbrawn
• East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset; lulworth.com
Norwich Castle, Norfolk, England
Norwich Castle is my local, and I've known it since I was small. It dominates the city of Norwich, where you can't really move without stumbling over some bit of medieval history - a church every 50 yards, a bit of city wall here, an ancient pub there. But Norwich Castle tops it all - quite literally - from its Norman mound. It's never fallen into ruin because it's never been out of use. The keep is all open inside, and feels strangely small after you've looked up at it from outside. It certainly gives you an idea of what it must have been like for the Normans, crammed together in a stinky, smoky hall. And you get a sense of everything that's gone on since. It was a prison for hundreds of years, and must have been pretty grim, but now I find it rather homely. It's got an art gallery (with stalwarts from the Norwich School of Painters) and even, slightly bizarrely, a rather good but compact natural history museum. hereward99
• Castle Meadow, Norwich, Norfolk NR1; museums.norfolk.gov.uk/default.asp?Document=200.21. Castle ticket £6.20, children £4.40
Rye Castle Museum, East Sussex, England
More than a castle, Rye's 13th-century Ypres Tower forms part of the citadel of this ancient town, one of the seven Cinque Ports of Kent and Sussex. It was built in 1249 under the orders of Henry III to defend England from the French who just over a hundred years later raised Rye to the ground, leaving only the fort intact. You'll find spiral stone staircases, panoramic views and horrific instruments of torture. You can try on helmets and armour and lie on a bed in one of the cells in the narrow turrets. Children are kept busy with competitions or treasure hunts and outside they can clamber over canons in the Gun Garden. With its cobbled lanes, ancient buildings and 900-year-old church, huddled together with the castle inside the citadel, Rye is an impressive and beautiful historic town. Millyu
• 3 East Street, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7JY; ryemuseum.co.uk/. Adults £3.00, concessions £2.50. Children free when accompanying family
Beeston Castle, Cheshire
There are not many family friendly attractions in the UK that allow pet dogs within their grounds, but Beeston Castle in Tarporley, Cheshire is one exception.
It's super to explore on a fine day and picnics are welcome.The pretty sloping grounds often host reenactments and interactive demonstrations for children. Alongside this there are woodlands and bat caves to discover and explore.
The walk up to the castle summit is wonderful, but very steep in parts - however the buggy pushers did not seem to falter! At the top the views are incredible and on a clear day no less that eight counties can be seen, from the Pennines to the Welsh mountains. As a budding photographer, my husband was in his element and the children loved tearing around while the adults marvelled at the view. JohnnySegment
• Beeston Castle, Tarporley, Cheshire, CW6 9TX; english-heritage.org.uk
Adults £5.30, children £2.70
