Kingswear Castle
Devon, England
Gallery: National Media Museum from UK, No restrictions · Partonez, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- Landmark Trust
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Hotel guests only
- Nearest station
- Paignton, 6.4 miles (straight-line)
- Stays
- Overnight accommodation available
- Note
- Holiday let; occasional open days
Pinpoint
Kingswear, Dartmouth TQ6 0DX
Telephone 01628 825925
Possible Opening Hours*
*Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Dartmouth Castle's twin across the water isn't a visitor attraction in the usual sense - it's a Landmark Trust holiday let, and outside its rare open days the grounds are signed Private Keep Out. The reward for booking it as a stay is a genuinely unusual experience: a castle right on the rocks, sea sounds through the walls, and a lot of stairs.
At a glance
Worth the trip
Sleeping in a working castle on the rocks by the sea, with the tide and the boats for company - reviewers who've stayed call it a one-off experience.
Before you go
Don't turn up expecting to look around - it's private, and reviewers who arrived hoping for a coastal view found only Keep Out signs. If you want in, book the stay, and note dogs aren't allowed anywhere on the grounds, even on open days.
What visitors say
Kingswear Castle reviews · 4 / 5 across 65 Google reviews
Reviews of Kingswear Castle diverge sharply depending on expectations: two reviewers who tried to visit as a typical tourist attraction were disappointed to find it's private property with restricted access and no dogs allowed on the grounds, while those who booked it as a Landmark Trust holiday cottage loved their stay, praising the cozy interior, sea views from the roof terrace, and surrounding coastal walks.
It's worth knowing in advance that this castle is a place to stay overnight, not a day-visit attraction.
“What a lovely place, full of history and coastal walks, very picturesque with a welcoming village.”- Andrew Spicer, visitor review
Getting in - what Landmark Trust says
Access is via an unmade road which is quite narrow, and the turn into the castle drive is very sharp with quite a steep drop below - local staff advise that anything larger than a transit van may struggle to make the turn. There is parking for two cars, with a flight of steps down from the parking area to the entrance of the Landmark. Inside there are a number of steep, narrow, spiral stairs, and
Taken from Landmark Trust’s own website and read 28 July 2026 - check the current version. Access can change with building work, weather and staffing - if the visit depends on it, ring ahead.
Practical notes from visitors
Quoted from individual Google reviews, not verified with the operator - treat as a steer, not gospel, and check before you travel.
- Facilities
- “We walked there from the steam train hoping for a beautiful view and place to picnic but found only Private Keep Out signs everywhere where we might have glimpsed the sea!” - Bonnie Hewson
Common questions about Kingswear Castle
Where is Kingswear Castle?
Kingswear Castle is in Devon, England, at Kingswear, Dartmouth TQ6 0DX.
Can you visit Kingswear Castle?
Kingswear Castle operates as a hotel, so access is normally for staying guests rather than day visitors. Contact the hotel directly about staying or visiting.
Can you stay overnight at Kingswear Castle?
Yes - Kingswear Castle offers bookable accommodation, so you can spend the night in the castle itself or within its grounds. See the Castles You Can Sleep In guide for the full list and how each stay works.
What is the highlight of visiting Kingswear Castle?
Sleeping in a working castle on the rocks by the sea, with the tide and the boats for company - reviewers who've stayed call it a one-off experience.
Is Kingswear Castle a ruin or still intact?
Kingswear Castle is largely intact - Holiday let; occasional open days.
