Skip to content
Project

Wray Castle Restoration Project

The exterior of Wray Castle  Cumbria
The exterior of Wray Castle Cumbria | © Hugh Mothersole

A major restoration project is underway at Wray Castle securing its future as a vibrant, family-friendly destination.

As well as being a home, the castle has been a youth hostel, a base for the Freshwater Biological Association and a training college for Merchant Navy radio officers.

Donated to the Trust in 1929, with 64 acres of land, it opened as a visitor attraction in 2011. Since then it has welcomed many thousands of visitors providing them with a unique experience on the quieter side of the lake. Wray is one of the few places that the public can visit on the west side.

Over recent years, the mock Victorian castle, with fairytale turrets and arrow slits, has shown signs of deterioration. This essential project will invest in both the castle and the wider estate, ensuring they remain welcoming, engaging spaces for generations to come.

What’s Happening?

During the restoration, we’ll carry out comprehensive surveys of the castle—covering structural, electrical, roofing, historical, and archaeological aspects.

Key improvements include:

  • A new sewage treatment plant
  • Essential maintenance repairs to the roof and electrics
  • An upgraded adventure playground
  • Ongoing restoration of estate buildings. The Glass House is now refurbished, it’s where visitors can find out about the project, next on the list is the Porter’s Lodge

Visiting in 2025

While the castle itself will be closed during the works, the Wray Estate remains open. We’re enhancing the visitor experience with:

  • Outdoor events, like Easter trails and Summer of Play activities for families
  • The Royal Geographical Society’s Earth Photo 2025 exhibition will be on display throughout the grounds between 12th Sept 2025 and 30th April 2026
  • More guided walks, and expanded walking routes
  • Year-round access to Joey’s Café, toilets, and parking (open year round from dawn until dusk)
  • Eco travel as part of your day out. You can travel by boot, bus or boat to Wray. Windermere Lake Cruises Green Cruise operate a launch from Ambleside (Waterhead) and Brockhole to Wray from 5th April

Looking Ahead

Our vision is to transform Wray Castle into a dynamic gallery space, showcasing touring exhibitions and eventually housing the National Trust’s Beatrix Potter collection.

Latest updates

March

Restoring the Glasshouse at Wray

After years of exposure to the elements, the beautiful glasshouse at Wray is receiving some much-needed care. The National Trust’s Specialist Craft Centre (SCC) for joinery and carpentry, now based in Altrincham, is leading the conservation of one of the most damaged window units.

This intricate work began in 2024, when the first window was carefully removed and brought to the SCC workshop. Led by experienced craftsperson Stephen Holt, and supported by apprentice Paddy Boyle, the team is using traditional joinery techniques to retain as much original timber as possible. Severely decayed sections are being replaced with specially selected timber, spliced seamlessly into the existing frame.

The ironmongery, including pivot hinges and stays, was either missing or heavily corroded. These are now being recreated by a blacksmith at Fountains Abbey, where our masonry team is also based.

This project is part of a broader mission to preserve heritage skills. The SCC, one of ten across the country, plays a vital role in training the next generation of craftspeople. Apprentices Billy Burns and Paddy Boyle are gaining hands-on experience, both in the workshop and on-site, helping to ensure these skills live on.

The glasshouse window is now back in place welcoming light, air, and hopefully soon, plants once more. Some of the remaining windows will also be going to the SCC through the year for repair.

Image of stone built Victorian glasshouse with two people in high vis working on the window restoration
SCC working on Wray glasshouse window restoration | © R Cassell
Specialist carpenter working on a window frame restoration
SCC work on the Wray glasshouse window | © SCC
A family at Wray Castle Cumbria
A family at Wray Castle Cumbria | © Steven Barber
A jetty leading into a lake framed by autumn trees with mountains beyond
Article
Article

Exploring the Grounds at Wray 

Wray is a true landscape masterpiece, and the parkland has changed little over the years. Take a walk in the grounds around the castle and park and discover some of the features of this great estate, still much as they were when they were built.

View of the Fairfield Horseshoe mountains from the grounds of Wray Castle Cumbria
Article
Article

Top Ten Things to do at Wray 

There's so much to discover in the grounds and parkland at Wray from panoramic views across Lake District fells, lakeside walks, woodlands and more.