Okehampton Castle: What to Know Before You Go

Short answer: The largest castle ruin in Devon, set above the West Okement river with free parking at the bottom. The path up to the ruin is steep. English Heritage charges for entry and winter hours are shorter, so check before driving out.

The largest ruin in Devon

Okehampton Castle is the biggest castle ruin in the county, a Norman motte and bailey that grew into a substantial fortress and then fell out of use. What is left is a genuine ruin rather than a restored building, standing above the river on the edge of the moor.

Free parking

There is free parking at the bottom, which is unusual for a heritage site and takes the first cost out of the visit. Even if you do not go into the castle itself, the setting and the river walk below are worth the stop.

The path is steep

Up from the car park to the ruin is a steep climb. It is short, but it is not a buggy route and it will be a consideration for anyone unsteady underfoot. The grounds and the riverside below are much gentler and a reasonable visit on their own.

Practicalities

• English Heritage, so there is an admission charge unless you are a member.
• Winter hours are reduced — check before travelling.
• The setting is exposed; it sits on the moor edge and the weather reaches it.
• Allow an hour, or two if you walk the river as well.

The river below

The West Okement runs below the castle and the walk along it is the gentle counterpart to the climb. On a hot day it is the better half of the visit, and it is free.

Combining it

The castle sits between the town and the moor, which makes it the natural first stop of a Dartmoor day: castle in the morning, lunch in town at the London Inn or the Plume of Feathers, then out onto the moor in the afternoon with the firing times checked.