Discover Ripley

Ripley brings together traces of different eras with gardens and outdoor activities at Ripley Castle. The town’s history features a gatehouse, a listed church, the Village Cross and two war dedications. For your stay, you can also consider the walled garden, a walk through the park and bookable activities on the lake. When planning, you can decide whether architecture, plants or outdoor exercise should be your main focus.

Cultural history in Ripley

The oldest part of Ripley Castle is a 15th-century gatehouse. The castle has been the seat of the Ingilby family for over 700 years. Ripley’s history therefore centres on both a specific architectural feature from the late Middle Ages and a long-standing family connection to the castle.

The Church of All Saints dates from around 1400 and was largely rebuilt in 1567. These dates mark two distinct building phases: the church’s origins and its later, extensive reconstruction. All Saints is a Grade II* listed building and lies within the Ripley Conservation Area.

The Village Cross with Sundial and Stocks monument stands in a paved square in Ripley. It consists of a village cross and adjacent stocks. Its parts date from different periods: the cross base is from the 15th century, while the shaft and sundial were added in the 18th century. The sundial and stocks suggest that the cross served as a social focal point from the Middle Ages through the 18th century and beyond. Anyone interested in how a town centre developed will find a historical interpretation here based on the monument’s visible features.

The Ripley War Memorial commemorates 51 local servicemen who served in the First World War; five of them died. A further dedication was added after the Second World War. It commemorates 28 local servicemen who served in that conflict; one of them died. The separate dedications record the remembrance of each war with its own figures.

Gardens and walks at Ripley Castle

The Ripley Castle Walled Garden is a restored historic garden. High stone walls surround it, creating a sheltered microclimate. Visitors can see seasonal flowers, heritage vegetables and carefully cultivated fruit trees there. The hot houses at Ripley Castle are home to tropical plants, ferns and cacti. Different planting themes can therefore be found side by side: seasonal and heritage garden plants in the walled garden, and tropical plants, ferns and cacti in the hot houses.

The gardens and grounds of Ripley Castle are open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. As these are current opening hours, it is advisable to check the schedule before your visit.

The park walk from Ripley Castle passes the ornamental lake, crosses two waterfalls and leads into the deer park. There are oak trees there that are more than 1,000 years old. The route described links several specific stops, while the ancient oaks offer a distinct aspect of the deer park’s natural history.

Outdoor activities are also available at Ripley Castle: archery is one of the guided activities. Visitors can canoe or kayak on the lake; both activities can be booked. If you would like to include one in your plans, check the availability of your chosen activity in advance.

Discover more destinations: Cawood, Burton-In-Lonsdale, Knaresborough, Hawnby, Thornton Watlass, Ruswarp, West Rounton, Dalton.

Return to the regional travel overview: North Yorkshire.