Ascott Earl motte and bailey castle
1 ha
Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife🦋Insects
Free entryDogs welcome1 ha
Getting here
51.86392, -1.57040
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦68+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Blackbird and Woodpigeon
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦68+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Blackbird and Woodpigeon
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Blue Tit +65 more · last seen 2026
Free
Birds — Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Blue Tit +65 more · last seen 2026
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Meadow Brown, Small White, Ringlet +45 more · last seen 2024
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Pignut, Cock's-foot, White Clover +116 more · last seen 2022
Free
🏡Historic gardens
Moderate match
Historic site
Varies
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km6 signed routes nearby · 2 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Oxfordshire WayWalking route110 km▾
a traverse of Oxfordshire from the Cotswolds to the Chilterns
Named routeRef OWLength 110 kmRegional walking route
Wychwood WayWalking route59.5 km▾
Named routeLength 59.5 kmRegional walking route
D'Arcy Dalton WayWalking route107 km▾
Follows roughly the western boundary of Oxfordshire in unspoilt countryside.
Named routeLength 107 kmRegional walking route
The Roman WayWalking route274.5 km▾
Named routeLength 274.5 kmRegional walking route
European walking route E2 west, UK, South East EnglandWalking route▾
Westroute: Stranraer (UK) - Birminhgham (UK) - Calais (FR) - Zoersel (BE) / Eastroute: Stranraer (UK) - Harwich (UK) - Rotterdam (NL) - Zoersel (BE) / Both Routes: Zoersel (BE) - Maastrich (NL) - Luxembourg (LUX) - Lake Geneva (CH) - Nice (FR)
Named routeRef E2International walking route
9 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Cotswold Line Cycle RouteCycling route▾
Named routeRef 442National Cycle Network
National Byway (Oxon and Glos)Cycling route▾
Named routeRef NBRegional cycle route
Main RouteCycling route2.5 km▾
Named routeRef 442Length 2.5 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route430 m▾
Named routeRef 442Length 430 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route5.3 km▾
Named routeRef 442Length 5.3 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route46 m▾
Named routeRef 442Length 46 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Photos
Motte and Bailey, Ascott Earl
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
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Wildlife to spot
7,433 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
7,433 records · National Biodiversity NetworkChaffinch · Red-legged Partridge · Jackdaw · Mallard · Blue Tit +5
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- Great TitParus major
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Rabbit · Brown Hare
- RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus
- Brown HareLepus europaeus
Fannia · Fannia armata · Fannia similis · Dicraeus vagans · Cecidomyiidae +69
- FanniaFannia
- Fannia armataFannia armata
- Fannia similisFannia similis
- Dicraeus vagansDicraeus vagans
- CecidomyiidaeCecidomyiidae
- ChrysotusChrysotus
- EupteryxEupteryx
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
7,433 records · National Biodiversity NetworkChaffinch · Red-legged Partridge · Jackdaw · Mallard · Blue Tit +5
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- Great TitParus major
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Rabbit · Brown Hare
- RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus
- Brown HareLepus europaeus
Fannia · Fannia armata · Fannia similis · Dicraeus vagans · Cecidomyiidae +69
- FanniaFannia
- Fannia armataFannia armata
- Fannia similisFannia similis
- Dicraeus vagansDicraeus vagans
- CecidomyiidaeCecidomyiidae
- ChrysotusChrysotus
- EupteryxEupteryx
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Ooctonus hemipterus
Ooctonus hemipterus
Ooctonus hemipterus
Ooctonus hemipterus
SciaridaeSciaridaeSciaridaeSciaridaeContariniaContariniaContariniaContariniaLeptacis tipulaeLeptacis tipulaeLeptacis tipulaeLeptacis tipulaeHilaraHilaraHilaraHilaraHilara anglodanicaHilara anglodanicaHilara anglodanicaHilara anglodanicaRhopalomyiaRhopalomyiaRhopalomyiaRhopalomyiaMegaseliaMegaseliaMegaseliaMegaseliaDolichopus festivusDolichopus festivusDolichopus festivusDolichopus festivusClinodiplosisClinodiplosisClinodiplosisClinodiplosisDiplonevra nitidulaDiplonevra nitidulaDiplonevra nitidulaDiplonevra nitidulaMesochorusMesochorusMesochorusMesochorusAnaphesAnaphesAnaphesAnaphesBraconBraconBraconBraconRibautiana debilisRibautiana debilisRibautiana debilisRibautiana debilisMicrolophium carnosumMicrolophium carnosumMicrolophium carnosumMicrolophium carnosumMycodiplosisMycodiplosisMycodiplosisMycodiplosisSimuliumSimuliumSimuliumSimuliumDinotremaDinotremaDinotremaDinotremaHybotidaeHybotidaeHybotidaeHybotidaeDolichopus trivialisDolichopus trivialisDolichopus trivialisDolichopus trivialisCordilura albipesCordilura albipesCordilura albipesCordilura albipesDolichopodidaeDolichopodidaeDolichopodidaeDolichopodidaeStackelbergiellaStackelbergiellaStackelbergiellaStackelbergiellaOpiusOpiusOpiusOpiusDolichopusDolichopusDolichopusDolichopusArgyra leucocephalaArgyra leucocephalaArgyra leucocephalaArgyra leucocephalaDelia platuraDelia platuraDelia platuraDelia platuraAmphinemuraAmphinemuraAmphinemuraAmphinemuraMacroglenesMacroglenesMacroglenesMacroglenesDark-palped MelindaMelinda viridicyaneaDark-palped MelindaMelinda viridicyaneaAtomaria rubellaAtomaria rubellaAtomaria rubellaAtomaria rubellaMacrostelesMacrostelesMacrostelesMacrostelesOrmosiaOrmosiaOrmosiaOrmosiaCerodontha atraCerodontha atraCerodontha atraCerodontha atraPhorodonPhorodonPhorodonPhorodonDolichopus arbustorumDolichopus arbustorumDolichopus arbustorumDolichopus arbustorumMelanagromyzaMelanagromyzaMelanagromyzaMelanagromyzaSemiotellusSemiotellusSemiotellusSemiotellusArthaldeusArthaldeusArthaldeusArthaldeusAmphorophoraAmphorophoraAmphorophoraAmphorophoraAphidius urticaeAphidius urticaeAphidius urticaeAphidius urticaeLeafhopperCicadellidaeLeafhopperCicadellidaeAphidiusAphidiusAphidiusAphidiusExallonyxExallonyxExallonyxExallonyxAnagrusAnagrusAnagrusAnagrusMegaselia pusillaMegaselia pusillaMegaselia pusillaMegaselia pusillaLuciliaLuciliaLuciliaLuciliaEudasyphoraEudasyphoraEudasyphoraEudasyphoraLypeLypeLypeLypeLasiomma seminitidumLasiomma seminitidumLasiomma seminitidumLasiomma seminitidumBradysiaBradysiaBradysiaBradysiaPhyllomyza securicornisPhyllomyza securicornisPhyllomyza securicornisPhyllomyza securicornisElaphropeza ephippiataElaphropeza ephippiataElaphropeza ephippiataElaphropeza ephippiataStilobezzia gracilisStilobezzia gracilisStilobezzia gracilisStilobezzia gracilisAgromyza nigripesAgromyza nigripesAgromyza nigripesAgromyza nigripesAprostocetusAprostocetusAprostocetusAprostocetusChloropidaeChloropidaeChloropidaeChloropidaeClytocerus ocellarisClytocerus ocellarisClytocerus ocellarisClytocerus ocellarisPegoplata aestivaPegoplata aestivaPegoplata aestivaPegoplata aestivaMegaselia tarsalisMegaselia tarsalisMegaselia tarsalisMegaselia tarsalisZyginaZyginaZyginaZyginaPlatypalpus pallipesPlatypalpus pallipesPlatypalpus pallipesPlatypalpus pallipesHaematopotaHaematopotaHaematopotaHaematopotaTrioxysTrioxysTrioxysTrioxysCuliseta morsitansCuliseta morsitansCuliseta morsitansCuliseta morsitansPinalitus cervinusPinalitus cervinusPinalitus cervinusPinalitus cervinus