Muncaster Castle is surrounded by over 70 acres of gardens, with footpaths to explore.
Most of the grounds are covered with trees and ornamental shrubs. The estate managed for conservation with wildflower meadows, ponds and a stream. it is a haven for red squirrels.
There are no formal herbaceous borders, although there is a a large grassed area at the back of the castle surrounded by bushes and hosta.
The grounds fall away at the front of the house, with views across the Esk Valley.
The Ghyll is a steep sided ravine dropping down from the wall of the stable block with ferns, trees and shrubs.
The Terrace stretches for half a mile to the north of the ghyll and was laid out in the 1780s under instructions from the first Lord Muncaster. It is a wide grassed area with trees on one side and a low hedge of box and yew on the other which overlooks the Esk valley.
The “Owl and Hawk Centre”:https://www.muncaster.co.uk/hawkowlcentre is in the grounds and has aviaries and mews. It carries out important conservation work and gives “flying displays”:https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review/attraction/209498-review-muncaster-castle-flying-displays when visitors can watch up to five different birds flying.
Herons nest in the trees below the castle and are fed at 4pm.
It takes several hours to really explore the further reaches of the gardens. There is a map provided.
“Website”:https://www.muncaster.co.uk/castle-gardens/gardens
