Belsay tower house and attached unfortified wing, deserted medieval village, possible moated site, promontory fort and watch post
12 ha
Plan your visit
🦅Birds✦Heritage🦉Wildlife
Free entryDogs welcome12 ha
Getting here
55.10160, -1.87113
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦73+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Wigeon and Swallow
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🛝Playground 104m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦73+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Wigeon and Swallow
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🛝Playground 104m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Wigeon, Swallow, Chaffinch +70 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds
Free
✦Heritage
Very strong match
Grade I listed building: BELSAY CASTLE; Historic site
Free
Birds — Wigeon, Swallow, Chaffinch +70 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland priority habitat
Free
🍄Mushroom foraging
Strong match
Fungi — Birch Milkcap, White Fibrecap, Bonet Odro +96 more · last seen 2013
Varies
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Volucella pellucens, Syrphus ribesii, Red Admiral +53 more · last seen 2026
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Common Nettle, Red Clover, Hogweed +109 more · last seen 2024
Free
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Wildlife to spot
1,710 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
1,710 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds45 species
springsummer
2026▾
Wren · Woodpigeon · Swallow · Nuthatch · House Martin +40
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- SwallowHirundo rustica2025
- NuthatchSitta europaea2025
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
- Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2025
- JackdawColoeus monedula2025
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2025
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- SiskinSpinus spinus2025
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
- RobinErithacus rubecula2025
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
- Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
- WigeonMareca penelope2025
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
- MagpiePica pica2025
- Great TitParus major2025
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2025
- RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus2025
- Barn OwlTyto alba2025
- Little Ringed PloverCharadrius dubius2024
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
- Tree SparrowPasser montanus2025
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
- TealAnas crecca2025
- GadwallMareca strepera2025
- DunnockPrunella modularis2025
- SnipeGallinago gallinago2025
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
Grey Squirrel
- Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
🐸Amphibians3 species
summer
2025▾
Common Toad · Common Frog · Smooth Newt
- Common ToadBufo bufo
- Common FrogRana temporaria2024
- Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris2024
🐝Insects18 species
summerautumn
2026▾
Syrphus ribesii · Cheilosia illustrata · 7-spot Ladybird · Broad Centurion · Platycheirus albimanus +13
- Syrphus ribesiiSyrphus ribesii2025
- Cheilosia illustrataCheilosia illustrata2025
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Broad CenturionChloromyia formosa2025
- Platycheirus albimanusPlatycheirus albimanus2025
Wild Angelica · Wild Strawberry · Common Sorrel · Common Nettle · Sweet Chestnut +10
- Wild AngelicaAngelica sylvestris
- Wild StrawberryFragaria vesca
- Common SorrelRumex acetosa
- Common NettleUrtica dioica
- Sweet ChestnutCastanea sativa
- Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys
- Pink PurslaneClaytonia sibirica
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
1,710 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds45 species
springsummer
2026▾
Wren · Woodpigeon · Swallow · Nuthatch · House Martin +40
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- SwallowHirundo rustica2025
- NuthatchSitta europaea2025
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
- Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2025
- JackdawColoeus monedula2025
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2025
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- SiskinSpinus spinus2025
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
- RobinErithacus rubecula2025
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
- Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
- WigeonMareca penelope2025
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
- MagpiePica pica2025
- Great TitParus major2025
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2025
- RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus2025
- Barn OwlTyto alba2025
- Little Ringed PloverCharadrius dubius2024
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
- Tree SparrowPasser montanus2025
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
- TealAnas crecca2025
- GadwallMareca strepera2025
- DunnockPrunella modularis2025
- SnipeGallinago gallinago2025
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
Grey Squirrel
- Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
🐸Amphibians3 species
summer
2025▾
Common Toad · Common Frog · Smooth Newt
- Common ToadBufo bufo
- Common FrogRana temporaria2024
- Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris2024
🐝Insects18 species
summerautumn
2026▾
Syrphus ribesii · Cheilosia illustrata · 7-spot Ladybird · Broad Centurion · Platycheirus albimanus +13
- Syrphus ribesiiSyrphus ribesii2025
- Cheilosia illustrataCheilosia illustrata2025
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Broad CenturionChloromyia formosa2025
- Platycheirus albimanusPlatycheirus albimanus2025
Wild Angelica · Wild Strawberry · Common Sorrel · Common Nettle · Sweet Chestnut +10
- Wild AngelicaAngelica sylvestris
- Wild StrawberryFragaria vesca
- Common SorrelRumex acetosa
- Common NettleUrtica dioica
- Sweet ChestnutCastanea sativa
- Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys
- Pink PurslaneClaytonia sibirica
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Syrphus
Syrphus
Syrphus2025
Syrphus2025
Chrysogaster cemiteriorumChrysogaster cemiteriorum2025Chrysogaster cemiteriorumChrysogaster cemiteriorum2025Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus2025Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus2025Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2025Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2025Xylota segnisXylota segnis2024Xylota segnisXylota segnis2024Helophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulus2024Helophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulus2024Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax2024Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax2024Rhingia rostrataRhingia rostrata2024Rhingia rostrataRhingia rostrata2024Melanostoma scalareMelanostoma scalare2024Melanostoma scalareMelanostoma scalare2024Meliscaeva cinctellaMeliscaeva cinctella2024Meliscaeva cinctellaMeliscaeva cinctella2024Eupeodes latifasciatusEupeodes latifasciatus2024Eupeodes latifasciatusEupeodes latifasciatus2024Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum2024Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum2024Volucella pellucensVolucella pellucens2024Volucella pellucensVolucella pellucens2024Common Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatusCommon Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatusHart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendriumHart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendriumPedunculate OakQuercus roburPedunculate OakQuercus roburGiant BellflowerCampanula latifoliaGiant BellflowerCampanula latifoliaButterburPetasites hybridusButterburPetasites hybridusGoat WillowSalix capreaGoat WillowSalix capreaGarlic MustardAlliaria petiolataGarlic MustardAlliaria petiolataRosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifoliumRosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifoliumEvents & activities nearby
Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
