Restormel Castle - English Heritage in Cornwall

Restormel Castle
Lostwithiel,
Cornwall
Tel. 01208 872687
Fax. 01326 319911
Map Ref: SX 104614

Facilities. Picnics welcome. Toilets. Parking

Location: From the main A390 through Lostwithiel - follows signs to Castle which is 1½ miles to the north of the town.

Restormel castle lies just to the north of Lostwithiel village, overlooking the River Fowey. This is one of Cornwall's often forgotten corner's, lacking the fame of the nearby castles at Launceston, St. Mawes and Pendennis.

Restormel is the ideal location for quiet afternoons with the family. The grounds are ideal for picnics, with splendid views across wooded valleys.

Children with love exploring the ramparts (supervision needed, as the steps can be slippery), or racing around the top of the moat.

The castle, originally built by the Normans on a spur, overlooking the river valley, stands proudly one mile upriver from Lostwithiel.

You can still make out the ruins of Restormel's keep, gate and Great Hall, and even the kitchens and private rooms. They were built around 1100, making Restormel one of the oldest and best preserved Norman motte-and-bailey castles in Cornwall.

The castle was rebuilt by Edmund, Earl of Cornwall in the late 13th century, as a splendid residence for himself. The bailey (a large courtyard where the retainers lived) has now disappeared, so has the deer park, where Edmund kept 300 deer. The Black Prince held court here briefly in 1354.

Restormel's defenses were perfect. The castle was built behind a 17 metre moat, upon slopes which were artificially steepened. These clearly acted as a powerful deterrent, for Restormel has seen action only once during its long history in 1644, when Charles I's forces drove out the Parliamentarian garrison during the Civil War.

The Castle still belongs to the Duchy of Cornwall. It is administered by English Heritage and is open to the public. Various events are staged here from time to time, bringing history to life. The views over the valley from the top of the castle wall are magnificent.

In the spring, Restormel Castle is surrounded by banks of daffodils and bluebells. It lies a mile to the north of the attractive medieval town of Lostwithiel.