Explore Windermere
Choose your boat:
Choose your boat:
Set on the peaceful western shore of Windermere, Wray Castle’s beautiful parkland, woodland, and lakeshore paths offer the perfect escape. Although the Victorian neo‑Gothic castle is undergoing major refurbishment from summer 2025, there’s still plenty to enjoy across the estate, cared for by the National Trust.
Free entry to the grounds
Wander from 8am to 8pm through open parkland, woodland trails, and shingle beaches with some of the best views across Lake Windermere.
JOEY’S Café – open daily
Open 7 days a week, 9:30am–4:30pm, serving fresh bakes, snacks, and locally roasted coffee.
Free Walk & Talk tours
Join a 45‑minute guided tour of the grounds twice daily at 10:30am and 2:30pm to uncover the estate’s history and hidden stories.
Explore the castle exterior
While the interior is closed, you can still get up close to the impressive towers, battlements, and Gothic Revival architecture.
Arriving by boat?
Boat visitors can explore the lakeshore for free, follow way‑marked trails, and discover quiet beaches, lawns, and panoramic viewpoints.
(Ambleside > Wray > Brockhole > Ambleside)
The easiest way to reach Wray is by boat with 14 boats arriving and departing daily during peak season. Wray Jetty is only 15 minutes away from Ambleside (Watehead) Pier, so why not ditch the car and enjoy a cruise on Windermere?
Wray Jetty is a 10-minute walk up a gravel track to the castle and grounds. See directions below.
Our Walkers Ticket combines three lake cruises and a walk to create a circular route of Windermere. The route passes through the grounds of both National Trust Wray and Claife Viewing Station, so you can visit both on foot and on boat.
Find out more about our walkers ticket
The Wray grounds, cafe, campsite and jetty are all easy to find, but just in case you have trouble, here are their exact locations using What Three Words & Google references:
