Goodrich Castle Castle

Address: Goodrich Castle, Goodrich, Ross-on-Wye HR9 6HX, England, United Kingdom

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

Hours: Daily Apr-Oct 10:00am-5:30pm; Nov-Mar shorter hours and weekends (seasonal)

Admission: English Heritage adult admission ~£14.00 (prices subject to change); English Heritage members free

Goodrich Castle is a medieval castle ruin in Herefordshire, England, perched above the River Wye near Ross-on-Wye. It is a well-preserved example of Norman and later medieval military architecture.

The castle originated in the medieval period and was developed through the 12th to 14th centuries into a stronghold; it saw action during the English Civil War and was deliberately slighted afterward. In later centuries the ruins became a picturesque and protected heritage site.

Goodrich Castle stands above the River Wye in rural Herefordshire, a short drive west of Ross-on-Wye in southwest England.

• Riverside setting and views: The castle sits on a sandstone spur above the River Wye and provides extensive views over the valley and surrounding countryside from the battlements.
• Management and visitor note: Managed by English Heritage, the site preserves medieval masonry and battlements and is accessible to visitors with steps and uneven surfaces in parts.

What to See#

• Great Tower (keep): The central keep or Great Tower, a large medieval stone tower offering views over the surrounding Wye valley.
• Curtain walls and battlements: Curtain walls and battlements that surround the inner ward, with walkways and defensive positions preserved from medieval phases.
• Gatehouse and approach: The fortified gatehouse and approach, which formed the main controlled entry into the castle’s inner area.

Goodrich is about 8 km north of Ross-on-Wye and 16 km south of Hereford. By car take the A49 and follow local signs to Goodrich; limited parking is available near the site. Public buses run from Ross-on-Wye but services are infrequent-check timetables in advance.

• Walk the curtain wall: the views down the Wye Valley are worth the short scramble and give a sense of why the site was militarily important.
• If visiting in summer, join an evening event-Goodrich stages atmospheric night tours and medieval reenactments.
• Wear shoes that grip-some staircases are steep and uneven.