Spofforth Castle

The ruins of a fortified manor house once held by the Percy family, with the surviving hall and chamber walls and an undercroft cut into a rocky outcrop. Families can explore the grounds on open grass paths and read the information boards that explain the site's history, including the Civil War damage and the village's links to Magna Carta. The site is free and has no ticket office, so it suits a short, relaxed visit or a stop with a picnic. Surfaces are uneven and some steps are steep, so younger children need close supervision, and climbing on the walls is not permitted. Dogs on leads are welcome. Pubs and a convenience store are in the village, and the castle works well as one stop on a wider day in the Harrogate and Nidderdale area.