Situated just outside the Lake District National Park, only a couple of miles from Penrith is the magnificent Brougham Castle. Read on to discover the keep and all it has to offer as a great family day out in Cumbria.

The Hassan family are all stood together on a path leading up to the main arch entrance of Brougham Castle. Brougham Castle is in the background.

About Brougham Castle

Sitting on the banks of the River Eamont, Brougham Castle is an impressive set of ruins, largely still in tact. The 13th century castle was built using the original stone and land of the Roman Brocavum Fort, and makes a pretty imposing destination to explore within a picturesque setting. It may not be your typical family-friendly day out, but we loved it.

The photo is taken from outside the grounds of Brougham Castle. You can see a field with River Eamont to the right of the image and Brougham Castle on the left toward the back of the image.

Where can I park?

Whilst the castle itself does not have a designated car park, there is plenty of space available on the roads along the side of the grounds.

To find the castle and park nearby, use this post code: CA10 2AA

Taken to the side of Naomi's black Qashqai +2 you can see Brougham Castle to the right of the image behind the car.

What is available at Brougham Castle?

Explore the castle grounds

Yelling down into the echoey well was Munchkin's favourite part of the day, I'm sure. It wasn’t the only exciting little gem to enjoy, however. There were plenty of different places to climb inside, wander around, enjoy and explore.

Munchking is leaning over a stone wall touching a metal grate which sits over the top of the well. You can see water in the bottom reflecting the grate.

The children loved to look through windows and holes in the walls, play hide-and-seek, peekaboo and so much more within the grounds of this impressive location. Nothing is more special that happy squeals and joyful laughter of children having fun amongst some of the most amazing, well preserved ruins we've visited to date.

Read the signs and discover more about the heritage

Scattered around the grounds are a variety of different signs detailing where you are and what you can see. They give a little insight into what it would have looked like while it was still in use as well as sharing the history of the castle. With two avid readers amongst our children these signs were a great addition to our day out, as they took time to read and learn - something I loved to see them doing.

Squidgy is stood reading a sign with history of Brougham Castle on it. She is stood within the walls of the keep.

Climb inside the castle walls

If you're brave enough, climb the 70-step spiral staircase case to walk around the inside of the walls. It was a pretty amazing experience, and the children loved it. However, I’m not going to lie it's not for the faint hearted. I felt like my heart was in my mouth the whole time (and don't get me started on the steep, narrow staircase making me feel a little queasy!) It was worth it to see how much the children loved it and of course to check out the view.

Pickle inside the walls of Brougham Castle

The view is spectacular. You have an amazing panoramic view of Eden Valley, and on a clear day you can even see across to the Lakeland Fells in the distance.

A large window in the top of the keep at Brougham Castle can be seen with the view over Eden Valley through it.

Check out the exhibition

Just to the left when you enter the shop is a small museum style exhibition. It showcases some of the preserved items from Brougham Castle's history; from a 19th century tombstone to Roman stone carvings.

Munchkin in the Brougham Castle exhibition

FAQs about our family days out

Is it suitable for children?

Brougham Castle is a lovely place to visit for all the family. Ruins aren't everyone's cup of tea, but my children love places like this. There is plenty to keep them occupied, from hide-and-seek amongst the ruined walls, to climbing to the very top of the keep. It is accessible around most of the castle and walls, which is useful if you want to bring a pushchair or which to visit with a wheelchair.

Pickle and Munchkin are holding hands and walking on the path towards Brougham Castle. A grassy field is to their left, and Brougham Castle can be seen beyond them.

Are there facilities available?

Toilet facilities can be found at the back of the shop.

You can see the shop shelving with some products available for sale, as well as a door to the disabled toilet within the shop at Brougham Castle.

Is there anywhere to eat nearby?

The shop sells ice cream and snacks, but there is no café on site. If you want to head a little further afield there is a Burger King on the A66, and places to eat in Penrith. Alternatively, you could just bring a picnic like we did!

Having an English Heritage membership is well worth it to have the chance to visit amazing places like Brougham Castle. I can't wait to see what other amazing places we can explore and share them all with you.

For more blog posts about exploring the beautiful outdoor spaces England has to offer, check out my days out and travel blog. Have you found somewhere amazing to visit in the Lake District and Cumbria? We love to explore new spots, so feel free to share in the comments below.