Top 4 Castles around Broad Chalke

For deep historical insight, Old Wardour Castle is highly recommended. This ruined 14th-century hexagonal castle has a turbulent past, including significant damage during the English Civil War. You can learn about its unique design, the famous siege defended by Lady Blanche Arundell, and its transformation into a pleasure garden. Similarly, Old Sarum Ruins offers a glimpse into over 2,000 years of history, from Iron Age fortifications to the footprint of Salisbury's first cathedral and a royal castle.

Yes, both Old Wardour Castle and Old Sarum Ruins are excellent choices for families. Old Wardour Castle offers family games like 'Can you Keep Your Castle?' and trails throughout the year. Old Sarum is described as an 'action-packed day out' where children can explore the cathedral footprint and royal castle ruins.

Old Wardour Castle stands out with its distinctive hexagonal layout, a rare design for English castles, inspired by French architecture. Even in ruin, you can observe a bust of Christ above the entrance, stone arches in the wine cellar, and plinths decorated with lions' heads. New Wardour Castle, though not open to the public, is a magnificent Grade I-listed country house built in the Palladian style, visible from nearby trails.

At Old Wardour Castle, you can ascend the atmospheric stone steps of the East Tower for stunning panoramic views of the castle grounds, the lake, and the surrounding countryside. Old Sarum Ruins also offers unrivalled views across the Wiltshire countryside from its elevated position.

Old Wardour Castle is set in a picturesque location by a serene lake, flanked by wooded hills, making it a beautiful spot for exploration and picnics. The grounds were also transformed into a pleasure garden. Old Sarum Ruins provides expansive views over the Wiltshire countryside from its hill-top position.

The area around Broad Chalke offers various outdoor activities. You can find numerous hiking routes, including easy hikes like the 'Bokerley Ditch – Bokerley Dyke loop' or the 'Hiking loop from Bishopstone'. For more challenging options, there are moderate hikes such as 'Broad Chalke & Fifield Bavant loop'. Cycling routes are also available, ranging from moderate to difficult, like the 'Hare Warren loop'. You can explore these and more on komoot's guides for easy hikes, general hiking, and cycling around Broad Chalke.

While Broad Chalke itself doesn't have traditional castles, Old Wardour Castle is approximately six miles away and best reached by car. For specific parking information and public transport options, it's advisable to check the official English Heritage website for Old Wardour Castle and Old Sarum before your visit.

The castles and their surrounding landscapes are beautiful throughout the warmer months. Spring and summer offer pleasant weather for exploring the ruins and enjoying the picturesque settings, especially at Old Wardour Castle with its lake and pleasure garden. Autumn also provides stunning scenery with changing foliage. Always check opening times, as they can vary seasonally.

While specific pubs or cafes directly adjacent to the castle ruins are not detailed, the broader area around Broad Chalke and the nearby towns will offer options. For example, some komoot routes around Broad Chalke mention 'The Queen's Head Pub'. It's a good idea to research local amenities in nearby villages or towns like Salisbury when planning your visit.

Old Wardour Castle is unique due to its distinctive hexagonal design, which is uncommon among English castles. Its picturesque setting by a lake, combined with its dramatic Civil War history and the later addition of an 18th-century banqueting house and grotto incorporating prehistoric standing stones, offers a blend of architectural interest, natural beauty, and historical narrative. It also famously served as a filming location for 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves'.

New Wardour Castle is a Grade I-listed country house built in the Palladian style. Unfortunately, it is now in private ownership and not open to visitors. However, the Wessex Ridgeway trail passes right beside it, allowing you to admire its fine architecture and glorious parkland from a distance.

Old Sarum Ruins represents an ancient settlement with an Iron Age fortification, the site of Salisbury's first cathedral, and a royal castle, offering a broad historical timeline. Old Wardour Castle, on the other hand, is a specific 14th-century hexagonal castle ruin known for its unique architecture, Civil War history, and picturesque lake setting. While both are historical sites, Old Sarum is more about the evolution of a settlement, and Old Wardour is about a specific, architecturally distinct castle.