Inside Raby Castle and Estate

Monumental lifestyle destination Raby Castle in Durham has been recognised in Tripadvisor’s® Travelers’ Choice® Awards for 2024, alongside a Green Tourism Award. Wendyrosie Scott gives us a glimpse inside.

Review: Raby Castle and Estate, Durham

Getting to Raby Castle is a joy, as you pass through winding country roads, sandwiched between an undulating landscape and wonderfully wizened, ancient trees before arriving at the substantive ‘stage’ of buildings, landscape, and design that devise this landmark site. With its defiantly wilful wildness, the North never ceases to amaze and give, often courtesy of the weather. If you want to feel alive and refreshed, get to the North East. Then there are the treasures, heritage, friendly folk, and damn fine food. (Yes, I am talking about British food, I reiterated to a French friend who was smiling wryly). All of these are in abundance at this recently re-developed site. 

The significant Medieval castle with outer walls and towers dating back to the 11th Century, acts as a work of ‘living’ heritage, whose largely single structure wholeness, is of national and international repute. All are surrounded by otherworldly ornamental lakes and dotted with the estate’s deer. Located at Staindrop, the castle has been in the hands of the Vane family for over 400 years and is now owned by Lord and Lady Barnard whose entrepreneurial ideas embrace the locals.

A Castle of Extraordinary Decorative Design

With enviable interiors from the Medieval, Regency, and Victorian periods, it is an inspirational experience that would impress the best in the business. British and European art, textiles and, furniture are in abundance. Many family portraits are by leading artists, including Sir Alfred Munnings, who was well known for his equine-centred paintings. (His museum in Essex, is a wonder). 

Other items include priceless porcelain, Victorian copper cooking utensils, and the revered ‘Raby Tapestry’ on the floor of the Barons’ Hall. Its seemingly endless and impressive rooms imprint and fire the imagination. The treasures’ tales are enthusiastically executed by informed volunteers who deliver the details with humour and pride, as though this grand castle is theirs. The jewels here are both the objects and people who remain in mind, including the Gothic cathedral and the Blue Room, intended for important visitors. Hello, I’ve arrived.

In addition to ancient artefacts and architecture, this is also a very modern estate. ‘The Rising’, their most recent renovation, forms part of a 24-acre site featuring the remodelled Walled Garden and other buildings completed in June. The ambitious scheme is the most significant for generations and let us not forget, this remains an occupied family home. 

These sympathetic additions include newly landscaped areas with meandering walkways devised by respected designer, Alistair Baldwin. The recently constructed Round House is a swish and friendly visitors’ reception, featuring bespoke hand-painted illustrations by Edinburgh-based artist, Lucy Roscoe. The fantastical Plotters’ Forest Woodland Playground and Castle are a favourite with families, and hosts trails and seasonal activities. Notedly, these can be accessed with standalone tickets which also give access to Raby’s wider estate, (including High Force Waterfall).

Nearby, a newly designed and monumental glasshouse, The Vinery, makes for aesthetically appealing architecture. Set on the footprint of the original structure with the same name, it seats over 200 people. This is a gift of a building much needed in the region, and as an affordable fine ‘foodie’ venue which makes it a year-round attraction. 

A wide choice of delicious dishes made with locally sourced ingredients from the estate, enable a menu accessible to all. Having eaten there with two others, all agree that the portions, presentation, taste, and panoramic views across the enormity of the estate, made for an outing well worth making. Again and again.

Notedly, sustainability lies at the heart of the estate and beyond its appealing green surrounds, the castle secured a significant achievement. The Green Tourism Awards delivered a silver accolade in recognition of the business’s commitment to sustainability, acknowledged worldwide as an indicator of good environmentally-friendly practice and a hallmark of ‘green quality’. This was evidenced across multiple criteria including its investments in renewable energy at The Rising Scheme, which includes the Geothermal Heating Network. The award also recognises its commitment to minimising packaging and the environmental credentials of the cleaning and conservation chemicals it uses. 

Victoria Cadman, the Raby Estate’s sustainability manager, began her role last year after working as an environmental scientist for over 25 years. ‘We’re all incredibly pleased with this fantastic achievement, which reflects the hard work of the team,’ she says. ‘We’re very proud of what we are achieving across the estate and following the helpful advice and feedback Green Tourism has provided, we will continue to progress and aim for gold following the opening of the Rising’. Thirteen commitments have been made, from reducing Raby’s carbon footprint to supporting lifelong learning and active leisure. Furthermore, the Castle consistently earns great reviews and was awarded for its business and tourist ethos by Tripadvisor, which places it among the top 10 percent of listings globally on the Tripadvisor site.

Many of Raby’s heritage buildings previously hidden from view are now free and accessible to the public. Each was designed by the best architects of the period and built by the finest craftspeople, mostly with local or reclaimed materials. The 18th Century Coach House is an unexpected ‘extra’ whose extensive new retail space sells inspirational merchandise for the home. These desirable lifestyle goods and gifts are impressively sourced, high-end contemporary, and super stylish designs that shrewdly bring an added positive and will delight the ‘magpies’ among us. (Fittingly, this bold bird is also the local North-East mascot). 

This leads into an audio-visual exhibition that projects across a spectacular carved and bespoke eight-metre table made of estate oak, gives visitors insights on the renowned wildlife in Teesdale. The restored Riding School and Dutch Barn provide a 500m event space and each aspect of the scheme is grounded in honest design combined with the Estate’s characteristic energy and spirit.

As Lord Barnard states: ‘Historic houses and gardens need to be able to offer an entertaining full day out for their visitors. This includes great service, beautiful surroundings, delicious food and drink and high-quality shopping experiences, events, and exhibitions. We’re confident the scheme will deliver within a truly breathtaking setting.’ Damn right, it does.

VISIT:

Staindrop, Darlington DL2 3AH, raby.co.uk