Rockingham Castle is set on an impressive hill top with ramparts giving great views out over Northamptonshire and the Welland Valley, with rolling hills and woods as far as you can see (apparently a 5 county view which is no doubt from the top of Salvins Tower which you can climb!).
There is disabled parking right by the entrance, and a ramp into the tea room (wonderful cakes – to be recommended!) and lots of ramps around the gardens, and the gravel is not too deep for a wheelchair. The Castle itself is not ideal for the disabled although some of the ground floor can be seen.
A lovely garden – roses in the remains of the keep and a garden of lavendar and standard roses in the shape of a cross, which looks wonderful from the viewpoint. There are garden tours if you wish.
The Castle itself is very interesting, William the Conqueror ordered the Castle to be built on this splendid site, and it is fun to explore a large kitchen, Long Gallery and Great Hall and other rooms, plus an old cobbled street to the laundry inside the Castle. The Castle was Royalist at the start of the Civil War but taken by the Roundheads and then beseiged so it has been used as a location in By the Sword Divided so you may well recognise the drum tower entrance.
This is the Watson family home so it is open a couple of days a week during the summer months. A memorable visit, and we were well looked after.
There are events at Rockingham, which could no doubt be an added bonus.