Maiden Castle prehistoric defended settlement and adjacent round barrow
2 ha
Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife✦Heritage
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome2 ha
Getting here
54.37831, -1.96775
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦85+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Jackdaw
- ✦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
- 🐦85+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Jackdaw
- ✦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 — Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Pheasant +82 more · last seen 2026; Upland heathland — red grouse, merlin and short-eared owl
Free
Birds — Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Pheasant +82 more · last seen 2026; Upland heathland priority habitat
Free
Historic site with public access
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Common Red Soldier Beetle, 7-spot Ladybird, Yellow-legged Water-snipefly +23 more · last seen 2025
Free
Dogs allowed with public access
Free
🏡Historic gardens
Good match
Historic site with public access
Varies
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km2 signed routes nearby · 4 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Coast to Coast Walk (Shap to Richmond)Walking route▾
Named routeRef C2CRegional walking route
Herriot WayWalking route79.3 km▾
Named routeRef HWLength 79.3 kmRound tripRegional walking route
10 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Route 71Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 71National Cycle Network
Yorkshire Dales CyclewayCycling route▾
Named routeRef YDCRegional cycle route
Main RouteCycling route1.2 km▾
Named routeRef 71Length 1.2 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route53 m▾
Named routeRef 71Length 53 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route199 m▾
Named routeRef 71Length 199 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route670 m▾
Named routeRef 71Length 670 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
6 public paths nearby
Public paths
No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.
Photos
Maiden Castle from the south
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Wildlife to spot
4,381 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
4,381 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds54 species
autumnwinter
2026▾
Jackdaw · Pheasant · Mallard · Blue Tit · Woodpigeon +49
- JackdawColoeus monedula2025
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
- RobinErithacus rubecula2025
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- RookCorvus frugilegus2025
- Red Grouse (scotica)Lagopus scotica2025
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Common GullLarus canus2025
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
- SwallowHirundo rustica2025
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
- Great TitParus major2025
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia2025
- RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
- RavenCorvus corax2025
- Rock DoveColumba livia2025
- Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
- Little OwlAthene noctua2025
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
- MagpiePica pica2025
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
- TealAnas crecca2025
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
- NuthatchSitta europaea2025
- Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2025
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa2025
- Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
- SiskinSpinus spinus2025
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
- Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2025
- Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
- OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
- Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula2025
- CurlewNumenius arquata2025
🦌Mammals2 species
summerautumnwinter
2025▾
Brown Hare · Rabbit
- Brown HareLepus europaeus
- RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus
🐸Amphibians1 species
summer
2025▾
Common Toad
Common Red Soldier Beetle · 7-spot Ladybird · Nephrotoma analis · Platycheirus clypeatus · Yellow-legged Water-snipefly +12
- Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Nephrotoma analisNephrotoma analis
- Platycheirus clypeatusPlatycheirus clypeatus
- Yellow-legged Water-snipeflyAtherix ibis
- Nephrotoma cornicinaNephrotoma cornicina
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
4,381 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds54 species
autumnwinter
2026▾
Jackdaw · Pheasant · Mallard · Blue Tit · Woodpigeon +49
- JackdawColoeus monedula2025
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
- RobinErithacus rubecula2025
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- RookCorvus frugilegus2025
- Red Grouse (scotica)Lagopus scotica2025
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Common GullLarus canus2025
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
- SwallowHirundo rustica2025
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
- Great TitParus major2025
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia2025
- RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
- RavenCorvus corax2025
- Rock DoveColumba livia2025
- Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
- Little OwlAthene noctua2025
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
- MagpiePica pica2025
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
- TealAnas crecca2025
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
- NuthatchSitta europaea2025
- Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2025
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa2025
- Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
- SiskinSpinus spinus2025
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
- Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2025
- Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
- OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
- Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula2025
- CurlewNumenius arquata2025
🦌Mammals2 species
summerautumnwinter
2025▾
Brown Hare · Rabbit
- Brown HareLepus europaeus
- RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus
🐸Amphibians1 species
summer
2025▾
Common Toad
Common Red Soldier Beetle · 7-spot Ladybird · Nephrotoma analis · Platycheirus clypeatus · Yellow-legged Water-snipefly +12
- Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Nephrotoma analisNephrotoma analis
- Platycheirus clypeatusPlatycheirus clypeatus
- Yellow-legged Water-snipeflyAtherix ibis
- Nephrotoma cornicinaNephrotoma cornicina
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Tipula paludosa
Tipula paludosa
Tipula paludosa
Tipula paludosa
Melanostoma mellinumMelanostoma mellinumMelanostoma mellinumMelanostoma mellinumHexatoma fuscipennisHexatoma fuscipennisHexatoma fuscipennisHexatoma fuscipennisOrchid BeetleDascillus cervinusOrchid BeetleDascillus cervinusDownlooker SnipeflyRhagio scolopaceusDownlooker SnipeflyRhagio scolopaceusPlatycheirus angustatusPlatycheirus angustatusPlatycheirus angustatusPlatycheirus angustatusGreen Dock BeetleGastrophysa viridulaGreen Dock BeetleGastrophysa viridula2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctataMarmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatusMarmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatusCantharis flavilabris (=nigra auctt.)Cantharis flavilabris (=nigra auctt.)Cantharis flavilabris (=nigra auctt.)Cantharis flavilabris (=nigra auctt.)Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinaxEvents & activities nearby
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