Chillingham: Castle History and Wild Cattle

Chillingham brings together two distinct themes for planning a trip: Chillingham Castle, with its architectural history, church and lakes on the grounds, and the Wild Cattle and their long association with the area. If you are looking for a hotel in Chillingham, these interests can help you decide how to focus your trip: historic architecture and monuments, or the herd and the tours described for observing it. The different ways to visit highlight how these themes differ.

Chillingham Castle, architectural history and church

The towers of Chillingham Castle were built in the 12th or 13th century, while the connecting walls date from the late 16th century. These different dates refer to different parts of the building and reveal several phases of construction, rather than reducing the castle to a single date. The castle also displays the “Licence to Crenellate” from 1344; individual exhibitions may change.

St Peter’s Church is located on the grounds of Chillingham Castle. It dates from around 1100 and is listed as a Grade I building. The church contains a 15th-century tomb commemorating soldier-general Sir Ralph Grey and his wife Elizabeth. The dates therefore distinguish the church building from the later tomb: one dates to around 1100, the other to the 15th century.

Lakes and landscape

The lakes on the grounds of Chillingham Castle are also closely tied to the landscape: they are fed by seven springs and five streams. The bodies of water add a distinct landscape feature to the buildings and historic monuments described above.

Wild Cattle and tours in the Cattle Park

Chillingham Cattle Park covers about 350 acres and includes the surrounding woodland as well as the herd of Wild Cattle. The animals are said to be the only survivors of the wild herds that once roamed the forests of Britain. Chillingham has been home to the Wild Cattle for at least 800 years. These statements emphasize different things: the 800 years describe the herd’s connection to Chillingham as its home, while the claim that they are the only survivors places the herd in the history of Britain’s wild herds.

On a Wild Cattle of Chillingham tour, a Land Rover trailer takes visitors along a farm track to the starting point of the Cattle Tour. From there, a short walk leads into the Cattle Park, where visitors can observe the cattle and learn about their history. The “Up close and personal tours,” by contrast, use a Polaris 4x4 vehicle to take visitors among the cattle and into remote areas of the park that cannot be reached on foot.

Getting around is a practical difference between the formats: the Cattle Tour includes a trailer ride and a short walk, while the “Up close and personal tours” use the Polaris vehicle to reach areas of the park that cannot be accessed on foot. Parking for the Wild Cattle tour is on the road just beyond St Peter’s Church. Booking arrangements for the Cattle Tour, as well as advance booking and availability for the special tour, may change; check the details for your chosen format in advance.

Ghost Tours and Ghost Hunts

Chillingham Castle’s Ghost Tours and Ghost Hunts run throughout the year. Availability and booking dates may change, so check the dates for your chosen tour before making plans.

Discover more destinations: Chatton, Fourstones, Mickley, Newbiggin-By-The-Sea, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Embleton, Brampton, Holburn Village

For the broader travel overview: Northumberland.