Castles in the Clouds

The great British summer hasn't been particularly great so far this year, and we've spent quite a few weekends pottering about at home, doing lots of craft, colouring, and trying not to lose our marbles entirely.

However, this weekend we said 's*d it', bought ourselves some new wellies, and braved the drizzle to explore Beeston Castle and Woodland Park. and step into the past as the grounds of the castle were transformed into a Medieval village, complete with knights, campfires, and entertainers.

After a little accident running down a too-steep hill, Olivia brightened up enough to walk to the summit of the hill and see the castle ruins, so we set off through the misty trees.

Along the route we discovered the Round House hidden in the forest; a faithful reconstruction of a Bronze Age hut, providing an immersive insight into the lives of the people who lived around Beeston in the distant past. It was a lovely little place to hide from the rain, and watch the fire for a few minutes, while the guides explained the making processes and use of the objects scattered about the space.

Then we set off for the summit and finally reached the central hill of the castle ruins. Built in the early 13th Century on the footprint of settlements, dated to have existed since the Neolithic period, the castle was partially demolished after a long siege during the Civil War. These dramatic ruins house the deepest well in England, where, it's rumoured, King Richard II's lost treasure is buried. I'm sure the views are absolutely spectacular on a nice day; as it was we were bumping our heads on the clouds!

Making our way back down the hill, typically, the sun came out, so we sat in the field and had a picnic while we laughed along at the chaos The Silly History Boys reconstruction of the Battle of 'nowhere-near-Hastings' with children from the crowd. The gift shop also houses a small exhibition on the history of the site, with model reconstructions of the castle, and archeological displays of some of the items found in the area - Olivia wasn't particularly enthralled by this as the shop was far too alluring for her, so we only had time for a cursory glance around, but it looked very interesting and it would be nice if this was extended to incorporate more of the history of Beeston Castle.

We took some time to wander round the village tents and displays, watching a knight dress for battle and a squire demonstrating the different weaponry of the soliders, then treated ourselves to a not-very-Medieval ice-cream before the clouds came back and we made our way home.

All in all, a lovely day. I'm glad we made the effort to get out despite the discouraging weather, and it's a good excuse to go back to Beeston on a nicer day to really appreciate the views!

Have you been to Beeston Castle? What did you think?