Bolton Castle Vineyard: A Modern Walled Vineyard in a 600-Year-Old Wensleydale Garden
Tucked into the lee of one of England's best-preserved medieval castles lies a quiet, modern surprise: a small, walled vineyard producing a deeply coloured red wine high up in the Yorkshire Dales. The vineyard sits within the historic grounds of Bolton Castle, near Leyburn in Wensleydale, and forms part of a much wider estate that has been owned by a single family for more than six centuries.
A vineyard that should not exist this far north
Vines were first brought to Britain by the Romans after AD 280, when Emperor Probus decreed that vines could be grown outside Italy to keep his troops occupied when they were off duty. Historically, however, no one would have expected a vineyard this far north, and certainly not in the sheltered folds of Wensleydale. The one established at Bolton Castle is therefore a deliberately modern affair, planted with a frost-hardy, early-ripening hybrid red grape, Vitis vinifera x Vitis amurensis. The Amurensis parentage is what makes the vine so cold-tolerant, and the variety was chosen specifically so it could survive the Yorkshire winters and still ripen before the short autumn closes in.
The site lies in the lee of the castle walls, which shelter it from the worst of the prevailing westerlies and reflect a useful amount of stored warmth back onto the rows. Once mature, the vineyard is expected to produce up to 1,000 bottles of wine a year. As the vineyard sits within a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is primarily a feature of the castle's reinvigorated medieval gardens, the wine is not bottled or sold commercially through the estate's online shop; the focus is horticultural and educational rather than commercial wine production.
The walled gardens surrounding the vineyard
The vineyard is one element of a much larger programme of garden reinstatement at Bolton Castle, which began after an archaeological survey in 1994. The gardens team has worked to recreate the horticultural range of a 14th- and 15th-century pleasure garden, drawing on the writer Albertus Magnus, who in 1260 described such a garden as something that might "refresh the sight with the variety of their flowers and... cause admiration at their manly forms in those who look at they."
The gardens are divided into several distinct areas, each telling a different story of medieval life:
- The Dyer's Garden - plants such as madder, weld and woad that medieval dyers used to colour the fabrics worn by people of status and wealth.
- Mary Garden - a Catholic garden of plants whose flowers were seen to resemble articles in the life of the Virgin Mary. The Bolton Mary Garden began with a single Bethlehem Sage planted on Good Friday 2015.
- Rose Garden and Rose Arbour - featuring old-fashioned scented roses including Rosa Mundi, Tuscany, Rosa Ricardii II, Damask roses and the Apothecary's Rose, with a living-willow arbour.
- Herb Garden - a physic garden of more than 100 medicinal species, divided into beds for respiratory, digestive, anti-inflammatory, nerves and emotions, pain, wounds, ophthalmology, poisons and plague, and magic and myth. A new Cancer Garden remembers the life of Harry, the 8th Lord Bolton.
- Bowling Green - surrounded by richly planted borders filled with flowers and shrubs known in England before 1600, including hollyhock, monkshood and clove pinks.
- Vineyard and Maze - the small walled vineyard, paired with a private maze planted to reach maturity for the millennium celebrations in 2000.
Bespoke garden tours with the head gardener
The garden tours are led by Head Gardener Jason Hanslip, who has nearly 20 years of experience on the Bolton Estate, and Gardener Elizabeth Carter, who led the research and replanting of the herb gardens. Private tours take in the full breadth of the gardens overlooking beautiful Wensleydale and chart their evolution from medieval beginnings to the present day.
Tours are available for up to 30 people at £50 per group per day, in addition to the usual castle admission charge, and last approximately one hour. Private tour bookings can be made through the Garden Tours booking service.
The castle: 600 years in one family
Bolton Castle was built by Sir Richard le Scrope, Lord Chancellor of England to Richard II. A licence to crenellate was granted in July 1379, the contract with the mason Johan Lewyn was made in September 1378, and the castle was completed in 1399. It cost an estimated 18,000 marks - roughly £90 million in today's money.
The castle has stayed within the same family ever since, passing through the Scropes and into the Orde-Powlett line. It remains the family seat of Tom, the 9th Lord Bolton, whose forebears have owned parts of the estate since 1149. The estate has never been sold, was defended during the Wars of the Roses and the English Civil War, and has been passed down through the generations, usually from father to son, and twice through daughters.
Highlights of the castle's turbulent history include:
- 1568 - Mary, Queen of Scots, arrives at Bolton Castle in the care of Sir Henry, 9th Lord Scrope, and is imprisoned for six months.
- 1645 - John Scrope surrenders after defending the castle for the king during the Civil War, only after all the horses have been eaten and the garrison is starving.
- 1647 - Parliament destroys the east curtain and garrison quarters, "slighting" the castle to make it militarily useless.
- 1653 - Mary Scrope marries Charles Paulet, later 1st Duke of Bolton, after he returns from the Tower of London.
- 1899 - restoration work is carried out by William Thomas Orde-Powlett, 4th Lord Bolton.
- 1990s - work begins to preserve the castle as found, walls de-vegetated and re-pointed with the help of English Heritage, and the gardens reinstatement programme starts.
- 2005 - a mass and family gathering is held on 9 June to commemorate the 600th anniversary of Archbishop Scrope's execution.
About one third of the rooms remain fully intact, with highlights including the Old Kitchens, Dungeon, Solar, Nursery, Armory, Great Chamber and Mary Queen of Scots' bedroom. Visitors often comment on the atmospheric quality of the rooms, which give the feeling that their medieval inhabitants have only just stepped out.
Falconry and birds of prey
Bolton Castle is home to a working falconry centre with a collection of hawks and owls. Daily flying displays take place in the gardens at 11:30 and 15:00 (weather permitting), and the falcon swooping to the lure against the castle backdrop is one of the most photographed moments of any visit.
The falconry team runs three bookable experiences:
- Full Day Castle Experience - £140. A full day working alongside the falconers, including the two falconry displays, the archery demonstration, the wild boar feed and hands-on time with the birds. Lunch and refreshments are included. Minimum age 10.
- Half Day Falconry Experience - £90. A half-day hands-on session with the falconry team (does not include castle admission).
- Owl Experience - from £60 per person (£120 for two). A hands-on owl experience for two people, both of whom enjoy the full flying experience.
Gift vouchers are also available, priced from £60 to £140, delivered by email on a chosen date.
Knights, archery and medieval games
Beyond falconry, the castle runs a busy daily programme of living-history activities. The archery demonstration takes place in the courtyard at 13:45, the wild boar feeding in the Boar Park at 16:00, and throughout the day there are children's costumes, calligraphy and medieval games to take part in.
For those who want to go further, the Knight's School (ages 7 and over) is a three-hour training session covering the daily routine of boys of the great families such as the Scropes of Bolton. Tickets cost £27.50 and admission to the castle is included; at least one paying adult must accompany each child.
Afternoon tea in a medieval castle
The castle tea room serves a tempting range of homemade cakes, tray bakes, scones, sandwiches, quiches, pasties and treats including the signature Bolton Pie, alongside teas, coffees and soft drinks. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are offered, and locally sourced produce is used wherever possible. The tea room is open daily from 10am to 4pm and visitors are welcome to visit without buying castle admission tickets.
Afternoon tea is by appointment only and served on a tiered stand with freshly made savouries (including a slice of Bolton Pie with chutney or quiche), warm fruit scones with jam and clotted cream, and a selection of sweet treats. Two options are available:
- Afternoon Tea - £29.50, served with a pot of fine English tea or great coffee on a linened table.
- Afternoon Tea with Prosecco - £37.50, served with a glass of chilled Prosecco. Booking required at least 24 hours in advance.
The castle shop
The castle shop is full of local produce, artisan crafts, cards, children's favourites and gifts. Sweets, chocolates and jams come from Farrahs of Harrogate, candles from White Rose Candles in Wensley, and there are gorgeous knitted items and cards. The shop is open daily from 10am to 5pm and visitors are welcome to browse without buying castle admission tickets.
Other smaller purchases include the official Bolton Castle Guide Book at £3.50 (postable for an additional £2.50) and an Activity Bag for children at £7.95, available in five colours.
Events and what's on
The castle runs an acclaimed seasonal programme of events from April to October. The 2026 calendar includes:
- 5 - 6 August - Mary Queen of Scots Family Event (11am).
- 8 - 9 August - Living History Weekend (10am - 5pm).
- 8 August - Evening Castle Tour (6 - 8pm, £10).
- 13, 19 and 26 August - Knight's School (10am, £27.50).
- 15 - 16 August - Lord Scrope's Living History Weekend (10am - 5pm).
- 20 August - The Handlebards - Macbeth (6:30pm).
- 4 September - Evening Castle Tour (6 - 8pm).
- 6 September - Living History Day (10am - 5pm).
- 11 - 13 September - Medieval Music in the Dales (private, ticket-only event; castle and gardens closed to general visitors).
- 3 - 4 October - Lord Scrope's Living History Weekend.
- 9 October - Evening Castle Tour.
- 10 - 11 October - Living History Weekend.
Looking further ahead, the headline event of the next few years is Mary Queen of Scots: The Exhibition, running from 6 March to 5 September 2027. Using museum-grade glass cabinets and historical artefacts, the immersive display tells the story of Mary Stuart from her birthplace at Linlithgow in 1542 to her tragic death at Fotheringhay Castle in 1587. Exhibition tickets are £16.50 and admission to the castle is included; visitors select a session time between 10am and 3pm when booking.
Halloween by lanternlight
As autumn arrives, the castle switches to evening lanternlight events. The family session (4:30 - 6:30pm, ages 10+) is priced from £5 to £12.50 depending on ticket type, while the adults-only session (6 - 8pm, 18+) costs £23. Both events run for a maximum of 30 visitors per session and finish with drinks in front of an open fire.
Weddings at Bolton Castle
Bolton Castle is an award-winning wedding venue, voted one of the 50 Best Wedding Venues in Britain by the Independent on Sunday, and is licensed for civil ceremonies and partnerships. The castle can host ceremonies of up to 100 guests and receptions for up to 120 in the evening, with space for a marquee to seat up to 250 in the grounds.
Three headline wedding packages are advertised:
- Ceremony Only - £2,500 including VAT. Exclusive use of the Great Chamber or Chapel for two hours, with the rest of the castle and gardens available for photographs.
- Ceremony and Reception - £9,950 including VAT. Exclusive hire of the whole castle and gardens.
- Reception Only - £9,450 including VAT.
Unique add-ons include a Barn Owl Ring Bearer for £200, a Hawk, Owl and Falconry Display for £275 during the drinks reception, and Archery for an hour at £150. Couples wanting a religious ceremony or blessing can also use the medieval St Oswald's Church next door, which seats up to 150 people.
The wider estate
Beyond the castle, the wider Bolton Estate is a diverse business including agricultural, residential and commercial property, limestone quarries, forestry, tourism, weddings, education, renewable energy and traditional sporting activities. Approximately 1,300 acres of woodland and 300 acres of ancient woodland are managed, with an emphasis on planting native broadleaves and managing for conservation rather than purely commercial forestry.
The River Ure flows through the estate, which offers day-ticket fly fishing for trout, salmon and grayling booked through FishPal. Three beats are available and the ghillie Brian Towers (07850 727132) can be hired for casting tuition. The estate is also renowned for its driven grouse shooting on the heather moorland, managed under a stewardship agreement with Natural England, and the Bolton Ghyll beat has hosted the filming of the original Holland & Holland High Pheasant tuition video.
Visiting the vineyard and gardens
The vineyard is reached through the castle grounds and is best experienced as part of a combined castle, garden and falconry visit. The castle, gardens and shop are open daily from 10am to 5pm; the tea room from 10am to 4pm. The site closes for winter from 2 November 2026 to 5 March 2027 and for occasional weddings and private events, including closures on 22 August, 11 - 13 September and 26 September 2026.
Tickets and passes can be booked online or by calling 01969 623981. Group rates are available for 15+ people (£14 castle, gardens and grounds; £5 gardens only) and Historic House members are admitted free on production of their membership card. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout, although the falconry experience means non-assistance dogs are restricted to the car park and footpaths. Bolton Castle is signposted from the A684 between Leyburn and Aysgarth, with a regular Dales Bus service to the door.