{"id":375,"date":"2019-02-04T11:17:39","date_gmt":"2019-02-04T11:17:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.raby.co.uk\/raby-castle\/?page_id=375"},"modified":"2026-07-14T15:26:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T14:26:08","slug":"parking-accessibility","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.raby.co.uk\/raby-castle\/your-visit\/plan-your-day\/parking-accessibility\/","title":{"rendered":"Parking, Accessibility and Advice"},"content":{"rendered":"
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At Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, we aim to make your visit as accessible as possible. Please read the information below and if you have any questions, please contact our team on 01833 660202.<\/p>\n
Accessibility inside the Castle is limited, due to the historical nature of the building, therefore we offer visitors with disabilities concessionary rates.<\/p>\n
There is plenty of parking available at Raby Castle. Please follow the signs on entry. Accessible spaces are marked within the bays.<\/p>\n
In our visitor car park you will find 12 ChargePoint electric vehicle charging outlets, these units offer up to 22 kW charging power and can be accessed through the ChargePoint app or pay-as-you-go, costing 60p\/kWh.<\/p>\n
The Castle is situated in 200 acres of undulating parkland in a countryside location.<\/p>\n
The castle itself is approx. 350 meters on foot from the main visitor entrance, there are benches along the way to the castle to rest on. Those accompanying wheelchair users will need to be strong and able pushers as there is an incline.<\/p>\n
Our Visitor Services team can provide directions to accessible parking and appropriate accessible routes to and from the Castle. We also have a 3D virtual tour showing our accessible routes to help you prepare for your visit in advance at the bottom of this webpage.<\/span><\/p>\n On busy days, holidays and for events, a one-way system might be in operation to ease congestion. Please follow instructions from our marshals and follow the signs.<\/p>\n Please note, some parking may be on the grass at busy times.<\/p>\n There is a designated parking area for Blue Badge holders in the carpark. Bays are individually marked.<\/p>\n Bus Services\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Durham County Council has commissioned the Durham Explorer to run on weekends and bank holidays between 23 May and 31 August this year.<\/p>\n Each service will connect Durham City to a range of visitor destinations including Locomotion; Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens; Beamish, The Living Museum of the North; The Auckland Project; Raby Castle, Park and Gardens; The Bowes Museum; and High Force Waterfall; with many venues also offering discounts to those who arrive by bus.<\/p>\n The new Durham Explorer buses which will be operated by Northstar are:<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1548855672281{background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.05) !important;*background-color: rgb(0,0,0) !important;}”][vc_column width=”7\/12″][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n For those with limited mobility, an admission ticket is available at a reduced rate to reflect access to just the ground floor of the castle. Please contact admin@raby.co.uk or call 01833 660888.<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”50px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1777903377264{background-image: url(https:\/\/www.raby.co.uk\/raby-castle\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/03\/JAA_3633-scaled.jpg?id=4328) !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/2″ pullup=”pullup-large pullup” offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-6″]\r\n\t [\/vc_column_text]\r\n <\/div>\r\n\t[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes”][vc_column width=”7\/12″][vc_column_text css=””]Toilets<\/strong><\/p>\n The Changing Place Facilities are close to The Riding School and Dutch Barn.<\/p>\n There is an accessible toilet at The Plotters\u2019 Forest and The Vinery Caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n The main toilets are located at The Plotters\u2019 Forest, Coach House and The Vinery.<\/p>\n There are limited toilet facilities inside the Castle.<\/p>\n The Vinery Caf\u00e9 <\/strong><\/p>\n The Vinery is fully accessible with both indoor and outdoor seating.<\/p>\n The Round House<\/strong><\/p>\n The Round House is accessible from the east door and is accessed via a ramp leading from the Vinery path.<\/p>\n The Riding School<\/strong><\/p>\n The Riding School is fully accessible from the north and south.<\/p>\n The Coach House<\/strong><\/p>\n The Coach House has level ground floor access from the south to both the retail and exhibition areas.<\/p>\n Photography<\/strong><\/p>\n Photography and filming for personal use only is permitted in the grounds and gardens.<\/p>\n Inside the Castle, photography for personal use only is permitted as long as there is no flash and no tripod.<\/p>\n Permission for commercial photography or filming must be gained in advance.<\/p>\n Dogs<\/strong><\/p>\n Dogs must be kept on a short lead at all times and are not permitted in the play area or inside the castle.<\/p>\n Assistance dogs only are permitted inside the Castle and The Plotters\u2019 Forest.<\/p>\n Under 16s<\/strong><\/p>\n Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times while on-site at Raby.<\/p>\n Please supervise children at all times, especially near the ponds, water features and in the adventure playground.<\/p>\n First Aid<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”6157″ img_size=”full” alignment=”right” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1662386818883{background-image: url(https:\/\/www.raby.co.uk\/raby-castle\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/08\/Plotters-Forest-Drone-3-scaled.jpg?id=2030) !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/2″ pullup=”pullup-large pullup” offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-6″]\r\n\t The Plotters\u2019 Forest is set on a hillside within natural woodland, with some uneven ground and steps. However, a wooden boardwalk, which reaches the top of the playground is accessible by wheelchair and pushchair allowing visitors to enjoy interactive games on the first level.<\/p>\n Wheelchair users should use the boardwalk to both enter and exit the play area.<\/p>\n The Plotters\u2019 Forest has been designed to allow enjoyment and engagement at the boardwalk level for those visitors with mobility issues however you cannot access some play equipment at the upper level. We were mindful to install several interactive items at boardwalk level to make the experience as accessible as possible, including musical chimes, a peeky portrait, pairs games, talking tubes and mischief mirrors.<\/p>\n The play equipment is only part of the attraction of this wonderful place. The way the accessible boardwalk weaves throughout the pine trees allows for a very special sensory experience, just the smell and colour of this fabulous forest towering above you makes it a very magical place and one which stimulates both wellbeing and imaginative play.[\/vc_column_text]\r\n <\/div>\r\n\t[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1730388640206{padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]\r\n\t View the Everybody Welcome 3D Tour<\/p>\r\n\t\t This project has been funded and facilitated by England’s first Destination Development Partnership – Destination North East England. A partnership between , Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, Visit Northumberland and Visit County Durham, benefiting all seven local authorities. Destination North East England is funded by UK Government.<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” css=”.vc_custom_1730388990825{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_raw_html css=””]JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwc3JjJTNEJTI3aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZtcGVtYmVkLmNvbSUyRnNob3clMkYlM0ZtJTNEbjF1d01ZV2lmZUQlMjZtcHUlM0QzMzklMjZtcHYlM0QxJTI3JTIwZnJhbWVib3JkZXIlM0QlMjcwJTI3JTIwYWxsb3dmdWxsc2NyZWVuJTIwYWxsb3clM0QlMjd4ci1zcGF0aWFsLXRyYWNraW5nJTI3JTIwc3R5bGUlM0QlMjJ3aWR0aCUzQSUyMDEwMCUyNSUzQiUyMGRpc3BsYXklM0ElMjBibG9jayUzQiUyMGhlaWdodCUzQSUyMDgwdmglM0IlMjBib3JkZXIlM0ElMjAwJTNCJTIwbWFyZ2luLXRvcCUzQSUyMDQ1cHglM0IlMjIlMjBjbGFzcyUzRCUyMnZpcnR1YWwtdG91ci1pZnJhbWUlMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZpZnJhbWUlM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” container_width=”container larger” css=”.vc_custom_1548869308822{background-color: #ffffff !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”7\/12″ offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-1″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″]\r\n\t\r\n\t <\/p>\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n\t<\/a>\r\n\t[\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″]\r\n\t\r\n\t <\/p>\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n\t<\/a>\r\n\t[\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″]\r\n\t\r\n\t <\/p>\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n\t<\/a>\r\n\t[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” disable_element=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1552928089883{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column]\r\n\tAccessible Parking<\/h4>\n
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The Castle<\/h4>\n
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Gardens<\/h4>\n
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Deer Park<\/h4>\n
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The Plotters’ Forest<\/strong><\/h4>\n
<\/decor>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t[vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\nFurther reading<\/h3>\n
Dogs<\/h2>\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n\t
Groups<\/h2>\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n\t
Opening times & prices<\/h2>\r\n\t <\/div>\r\n\t