Donnington Castle Castle

Website: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/donnington-castle/

Admission: Free to visit (ruin) - check English Heritage for visitor notes

Donnington Castle is a ruined medieval castle on a hillside north of Newbury in southern England, originally built in the late 14th century. Its remains include medieval masonry and later earthwork defences.

Constructed in the late 14th century, the castle was strengthened and famously held for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War; it endured sieges and was largely slighted and left in ruin after the 1640s. Subsequent centuries saw the site remain as a romantic ruin and local landmark.

Perched on a hill just north of Newbury in Berkshire, Donnington Castle overlooks agricultural land and river valleys and is reached by minor roads and footpaths from the nearby town.

• Gatehouse focus: The gatehouse is the most substantial visible part of the medieval castle and is typically the focal point for visitors exploring the site.

What to See#

• Gatehouse: A largely intact 14th-century gatehouse that survives above the later earthwork defenses and marks the main entrance to the ruined inner ward.
• Earthwork fortifications: Extensive Civil War-era earthworks and bastions added in the 17th century, visible as raised banks and ditches around the ruined masonry core.

Donnington Castle (ruins) sits just north of Newbury in West Berkshire. By car it’s a short drive from Newbury town centre via the A339 (roughly 2 miles / 3 km north); from Newbury railway station or the town centre it’s a walk of around 30-40 minutes up to the castle on local streets and footpaths.

• Approach Donnington Castle on foot from Donnington village via the public footpaths and climb to the motte for the best views over Newbury and the Kennet valley.
• Visit outside the busiest late‑afternoon walking times at weekends if you want a quieter experience at the ruins - the site is compact, so an early or late visit avoids peak local traffic and dog‑walking crowds.