Castle Waimea Country Lodge, Kamuela

Advantages: Lots of history
Disadvantages: Mainly ruins

...of the Duke of Norfolk and the Castle was neglected and went into decline. Much of the Castle was dismantled and its stones were used to build the adjacent Manor Oaks Farm and Manor Cottage Farm. In 1953 the land was handed over to Sheffield City Council on a 999 year lease. Unfortunately there is not a great deal left of the original Castle but what is left is completely free to visit and makes for an interesting visit if you are in area. There are some people that claim that Manor Castle was never a Castle at all, but merely a Grand Hunting Lodge for the Earl of Shrewsbury, and later the Duke of Norfolk's Country Estate. The Turret House is now fully restored and is used as the headquarters of a Company called Green Estate (formerly known as the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust), this is the Company that my late Partner worked... Read review

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Advantages: Sheer luxury, fantastic food, everything about it
Disadvantages: No lifts

...table. The thick luxurious tartan curtains add the finishing touch. The bedroom and the sitting room both have window seats over looking the car park and onto the countryside and the sitting room has a 2nd one which overlooks the grounds of the castle. The sitting room hosts a settee, table, large storage unit and another TV, again hidden behind a unit. Just off the sitting room is another room which has a writing desk, its located in a very small turret which has a cannon hole (covered in glass) in the wall Each room is very individual but all stylish and stunning in their own way. Pictures and descriptions can be found on the hotel website. There is also a 100 year old lodge in the grounds which hosts a further 6 bedrooms, all these rooms have full access to all hotel facilities just the same as any castle bedrooms... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful, cheap, history, easy to get to, not often that busy, events
Disadvantages: The castle is a little run down

...Elvaston Castle Country Park spans over 280 acres of varied landscape, including beautiful woodland, gardens and open parkland. It offers a wide variety of facilities, from a riding centre and showground to caravan and camp sites. A permanent nature trail has been made there and part of the park has been set aside as a nature reserve. The grounds are absolutely beautiful, particularly in late May and early June when the Rhodedendrons are in bloom. The parks wooded areas have rock follys scattered throughout, kids love clambering over the artificial ruins. The woods surround a picturesque lake inhitabited by canada geese, swans and dozens of ducks! The footbridge over the lake provides a view of the fishy inhabitants, bream will swirl for bread with the ducks and geese! Elsewhere in the park wildlife is also abundant, in addition... Read review

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