Aydon Castle

About Aydon Castle

Aydon Castle stands on a steep bank above the Cor Burn, a short walk north-east of Corbridge. It was built as an undefended manor house around 1280 and fortified after Robert de Raymes received a licence to crenellate in 1305. The Scots took it in 1315 and again in 1346, and after centuries as a farmhouse it passed into state guardianship largely unaltered. English Heritage describes it as one of the least-altered fortified medieval manor houses in England.

Inside you can see the great hall, chambers with fireplaces, a garderobe, the battlements and the walled orchard. The castle is less than a mile from the Hadrian's Wall Path and is a popular destination for the Aydon Castle circular walk from Corbridge. It is closed for the winter and reopens in 2027, so check the English Heritage website for dates and prices before visiting.

Featured in These Guides

Blog posts and guides that feature Aydon Castle.

Corbridge the Frontier Town: Scottish Raids, Reivers and Pele Towers

How medieval Corbridge went from one of the richest boroughs in Northumberland to a battered border village: the Scottish raids of 1138 to 1346, plague, the reiving centuries, and the fortified towers that survive, from the Vicar's Pele and Low Hall to Aydon Castle and Halton.