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Mote Hills motte and bailey castle

2 ha

📷 Oliver Dixon · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

PicnicBirdsWildlife
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome2 ha

Getting here

55.23582, -2.09971

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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 Barn Owl and Meadow Pipit
  • 🧺Good picnic destination in summer — open space and facilities for a relaxed day out
  • ☕Impromptu Tea Room — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
CaféParking· FreePicnic spot

Best for

13 activities

Picnic day out

picnic area, café, car park

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Barn Owl, Meadow Pipit, Woodpigeon +70 more · last seen 2025

Free

Wildlife

Birds — Barn Owl, Meadow Pipit, Woodpigeon +70 more · last seen 2025; Lowland meadows priority habitat

Free

Heritage

Historic site with public access

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Green-veined White, Silver-ground Carpet, Common Carpet +36 more · last seen 2025; Lowland meadows — marbled white, meadow brown and pollinating insects

Free

Mushroom foraging

Fungi — Golden Waxcap, Snowy Waxcap, Parrot Waxcap +32 more · last seen 2016

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

1 signed route nearby · 10 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
St Cuthbert's Three Church TrailWalking route
Named routePoint-to-pointRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

6 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Pennine CyclewayCycling route
Named routeRef 68National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route1.1 km
Named routeRef 68Length 1.1 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route122 m
Named routeRef 68Length 122 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route5.6 km
Named routeRef 68Length 5.6 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route413 m
Named routeRef 68Length 413 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route1.9 km
Named routeRef 68Length 1.9 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
🐴

Horse riding

4 public paths nearby

Public paths

No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Motte and Bailey Castle at Elsdon

📷 Oliver Dixon · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Motte and Bailey Castle at Elsdon

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Weather for this location

Next 14 days

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦Elsdon MotteHistoric site0 m→⛪St Cuthbert's ChurchReligious grounds300 m→🦉GRASSLEES BURN WOODNature reserve4.3 km→✦Manside defended settlement and medieval crossHistoric site4.9 km→✦Prehistoric settlement, funerary and agricultural remains, 650m south of South Monkridge BridgeHistoric site3.9 km→✦Unenclosed settlement, field system, cairnfield, round cairn cemetery, round cairn, shieling and enclosed cremation cemetery on Todlaw PikeHistoric site4.3 km→