Fairytale Castles By The Sea To Enchant Your Little Ones

At last it is starting to feel like summer, with the first really warm sunny days of the year arriving. It’s always tempting to take a trip to the coast at this time of year, especially if you have a young family and can’t wait to introduce your kids to the delights of a bucket and spade holiday!

Here in the UK, we are so lucky to be blessed with hundreds of miles of spectacular coastline with beautiful beaches. Many of these are family-friendly beaches with clean sands and shallow bays that are safe for tots to paddle and and play in. However, the coast is not only about sea and sand, as Britain has a wealth of stunning shoreline castles to explore.

These coastal fortresses are often accessible for families, with pram and pushchair-friendly routes and facilities. Older children will enjoy learning about the fascinating history of these historic sites, many of which are amazingly well preserved and full of charm and atmosphere. Here are some of the best of the bunch to visit this summer!

Eilean Donan Castle, Dornie, by Kyle of Lochalsh, Highlands

Eilean Donan Castle is the epitome of brooding romantic and remote castles, located on a Scottish island overlooking the Isle of Skye. It is not hard to understand why this 13th century fortress has starred as a backdrop in films such as Highlander and Entrapment, with its imposing silhouette and atmospheric snow-capped mountains rising in the background.

The castle was originally built to repel Viking invasions, before being vanquished in a Jacobite uprising in the early 16th century. For the best part of two centuries the castle was a ruin, but was restored in the early 20th century. It’s now open to the public, and sure to spark the imagination of budding writers and artists in your family. 

Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd

Caernarfon Castle on the coast of north west Wales is one of the largest and most impressive coastal castles in the country. It was built on the orders of King Edward I, alongside Conwy Castle and smaller castles at Harlech and Beaumaris. 

Caernarfon Castle boasts a rooftop deck that is accessible via lift, and offers spectacular views over the Menai Straits and the Snowdonia mountains. There’s also the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum, which will interest older children. 

Dover Castle, Kent

The imposing Dover Castle has existed for 2000 years as a stronghold of the country’s defences. It was put to use during the Dunkirk evacuation during WWII, and it’s possible to walk through a network of subterranean tunnels that were used to rescue Allied troops. There’s also a former underground hospital that’s now open to visitors. 

The castle began life as an Iron Age hillfort, and its highly visible location perched above the chalk white cliffs has been a strategic advantage ever since. It was expanded into a Castle by William the Conqueror, and Henry II added the Great Tower. 

Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland

Bamburgh Castle is literally a stone’s throw from the beach, standing on a rocky outcrop just beyond the sand dunes. A castle was first constructed on the site in the 6th century, and the present version dates back to Norman times. It was left in a state of disrepair for centuries following the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century.

The castle fell into the hands of Lord Armstrong in the 19th century, and his descendants still retain ownership and live at the castle. It’s been extensively repaired, and is open to the public to explore. There’s an exhibition of Anglo-Saxon artefacts and information about fascinating archaeological finds in the area.

St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall

St Michael’s Mount is a tidal island located off the coast of Marizon in Cornwall, and has exerted a hold on the imagination of visitors for centuries. Perched on the rocky peak of the island is a castle that began life as a priory, before becoming a fortress and more recently a family home.

The castle is open to the public and contains many quirky historical artefacts, including a mumified cat, a Samurai Warrior suit of armour, and a clock that tells you the time of the tide as well as the hour of the day. The village is unique place that is said to have a special spiritual energy, and be haunted by the myths and legends of the past.