Key facts
- Operator
- English Heritage
- Condition
- Partial ruin
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
Pinpoint
Castle St, Totnes TQ9 5NU
Telephone 01803 864406
Possible Opening hours
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
A textbook motte-and-bailey above Totnes, with a 13th-century crenellated shell keep added onto the original earthwork — small as castles go, but a clean example of the form, and English Heritage keeps it staffed. The climb up rewards you with a proper view over the town and the River Dart below.
Worth the trip
The shell keep on top of the motte — one of the clearest surviving examples of the classic Norman castle layout, best appreciated from the walk around the wall.
Before you go
It's a quick visit — reviewers pair it well with a wander down the historic High Street or a stop on the Dartmouth steam railway round trip, rather than treating it as a destination on its own.
Reviewers consistently praise the views from the keep and the castle's compact motte-and-bailey design, often pairing a visit with a wander round the town or a stop on a wider Devon day out. Most describe it as a small site that only takes a short while to see, with a couple of reviewers noting the tiny castle car park (better to use the riverside town car parks) and one flagging the lack of onsite toilets.
Classic motte-and-bailey with shell keep
“Pleasant stop if you’re doing the Dartmouth steam railway round robin. Nice view. It’s a small monument”— David Tee, visitor review
