🌳 Outdoor0–11–33–55–88–1212–16Castle🆓 Free entry
What’s there
- Parking
- Picnic area
- Dogs welcome
Car park in the village opposite the Castle Inn, managed by Dartmoor National Park; charges may apply (English Heritage page). Public toilets in the car park are open May to October.
Only facilities we’ve confirmed are listed — anything missing here we simply haven’t checked, rather than know to be absent.
Lydford Castle and Saxon Town is a free outdoor heritage site spread over three areas in the village of Lydford, on the western fringe of Dartmoor. At its centre stands a square 13th-century tower on a mound, once used as a prison and courtroom, which children can see up close from the walkways. A short walk takes you to the earthworks of an earlier Norman fort, and the Saxon town banks run either side of the village street, giving a sense of how the settlement grew up around the defences. The grassy areas are a good spot for a picnic, and there is room for children to run about. Sheep sometimes graze the banks and the fort, so families should keep an eye on dogs and little ones. Parking is in the village car park opposite the Castle Inn. Because the site is open ground with uneven surfaces and steep sections, it suits families who are happy to walk and explore rather than those looking for an indoor attraction.
Stuff to take with you
The things people wish they’d packed for a day out like this one.
Wellies
Wristband for lost childrenWrite your number on it before you go in.- Puddle suitThe only way a toddler stays dry at a farm in February.
Refillable water bottleMost places will fill it for free.- Car seat protectorWet swimming costumes, melted ice cream, the rest.
Bike helmet- Hand warmers
Sun hat- Nappy sacks
Travel thermometer
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Photos: Anna Tesar, CC BY 2.0 · vgroiwwo96, CC BY 2.0 · crabchick, CC BY 2.0 · Shixart1985, CC BY 2.0
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