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Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.

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    This is Durham Blog

You are here > Home > Things to Do > The Plotters' Forest at Raby Castle

The Plotters' Forest at Raby Castle

Staindrop
County Durham
DL2 3AH

Tel: +44 01833 660202

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Add The Plotters' Forest at Raby Castle to your Itinerary

Wooden tower and slide through the trees.
  • Wooden tower and slide through the trees.
  • Wooden tower and turrets through the trees.
  • Plotter's forest play area with slide and wooden tower.
  • Wooden turrets with bridge in foreground.
  • View of wooden tower at 'Plotter's Forest' woodland play park at Raby Castle
  • aerial view of the 'plotter's forest' adventure play area at Raby Castle

About

Come and experience Raby Castle's brand new adventure playground, The Plotters' Forest. Inspired by the castle's history, particularly The Rising of the North in 1569, The Plotters' Forest encourages everyone to come and unleash their inner playfulness and mischief as a 'Raby rebel'.

Enter through the towering gateway and disappear into the dense woodland. Explore ground-level forest trails, then climb to high walkways and towers. Become part of a world of magic and mischief: create a cacophony on outdoor musical instruments and match pairs on our giant memory game, or strike a Plotters’  Portrait pose and cause chaos with our spinning signposts.

Visitors young and old will love getting lost amongst exhilarating views, sky-high turrets and treetop tunnels, before spreading out on stargazing decks and slipping down slides. Send your fellow plotters coded messages through the Talking Tubes, and spot enemies in the Mischief Mirrors. And for the very smallest rebels, there’s a dedicated toddler area: think mini turrets, climbing equipment, slides and a chalkboard for drawing secret squiggles.

For centuries, Raby Castle has been home to men and women who stood up for their beliefs and changed the course of history; plus those who weren’t so lucky and ended up in big trouble. Which will you prove to be: a Plucky Plotter or a Rotten Rebel? Find out in The Plotters’ Forest.

Book Tickets

Guide Prices

Castle, Play & Park Tickets (March - October)
Adult – £13.00
Concession – £12.00
4–15 years – £10.00
Under 4s – Free
Family (2+3) – £45.00
HH Member – £5.00

Play & Park Tickets (open daily)
Adult – £8.00
Concession – £7.00
4–15 years – £7.50
Under 4s – Free
Family (2+3) – £29.00
HH Member – £5.00

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

4.5 of 5 stars
961 reviews
  • Travelers Choice 2022
  • Excellent
    599
  • Very Good
    247
  • Average
    54
  • Poor
    36
  • Terrible
    25

Recent Reviews:

  • hunny949
    Darlington, United Kingdom
    Trip Type:
    Family
    Beautiful but rip-off.
    2 of 5 stars
    Friday, 5th August 2022
    We visited the new Plotters Forest for the first time today with our 12 year old and 3 year old, wish I'd listened to other reviews before going! Always willing to give places a go and to be fair it... Read full review
  • davidgR1764DH
    Nice but expensive for what you get
    2 of 5 stars
    Sunday, 7th August 2022
    We visited the Plotter's Forest and Deer Park today, with a family ticket (2 adults and 3 children aged 5 to 15) for £39. Now it's a grand space, with lovely deer at a distance, but the new wooden... Read full review
  • Patrick02424
    Paris, France
    Trip Type:
    Family
    Fantastic day out
    5 of 5 stars
    Sunday, 7th August 2022
    Had a fantastic day at Raby Castle, loads to see and do and the staff are so friendly. We spent an hour at the Plotters Forest play area that was great then the rest of the day exploring the grounds... Read full review
Write a review
© TripAdvisor 2022

Facilities

Accessibility

  • Access Statement - Please see below
  • Guide Dogs Permitted
  • Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors
  • Toilets for Disabled Visitors

Catering

  • On-Site café/restaurant
  • Picnic Site

Parking & Transport

  • Coach Parking Onsite
  • On site parking
  • Parking (free)

Provider Facilities

  • Dogs Accepted - In park only on short leads
  • Toilets

Provider Features

  • In countryside
  • Indoor Attraction
  • Outdoor Attraction
  • Village Location

Tours and Demonstrations

  • Educational Visits Accepted
  • Guided Tours Available for Groups
  • Guided Tours Available for Individuals

Travel & Trade

  • Group discounts available

Access Information

Opening Times

Open daily from 10am (please pre-book your time slot) (15 Apr 2022 - 31 Dec 2022)
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RabyCastle

Map & Directions

Map Link

View Map

Road Directions

Nearest major road is A1(M). From the A1(M) follow the A66 and then take the A688 Barnard Castle-Bishop Auckland road. The castle is 1 mile north of Staindrop and 8 miles north-east of Barnard Castle.

Public Transport Directions

Nearest station is Darlington Station.Nearest bus stop is Keverstone Bank, Raby, near Staindrop.

Highlights...

Exterior shot of Raby CastleRaby Castle, StaindropWelcome to Raby Castle and Deer Park. A stunning complete medieval castle in County Durham with a fascinating history and stories to tell. Explore our Deer Park and adventure playground, The Plotters' Forest or learn about our fascinating Castle collections.

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