Wigmore Castle, Herefordshire

Details

Accessibility 

•  The Castle is not wheelchair-accessible. 
• English Heritage who manage this historic site also advises that: " The castle has very steep slopes and steps and can be muddy in wet weather, so we would advise you to wear stout footwear". 
• The nearest car parking  is situated in Wigmore village (Castle Visitors' parking at the Village Hall). 
• The rest of the route to the castle from the car park is then on foot  for approximately  three quarters of a mile/1.6 kilometres (approximately 15 minutes' walk). 
• The designated pedestrian route from the Village Hall to the Castle is signposted. This  is an uphill route which is steep and uneven.
• The pedestrian route  initially passes through the village on a tarmaced roadway, later becoming a mixture of gravel, stones, trodden earth and grassy pathways, which are narrow in places.
• The pedestrian route passes through St. James's Church Yard which  has step access only at it's entrance to the road outside. The Church Yard also has a large, latched wooden gate  from the church yard to the path to/from the Castle - the gate may be heavy.  
• There are a number of gates ( some of which are large and maybe heavy) along the pedestrian route to the castle.

Brief Description

Wigmore Castle is a historic, ruined, Norman castle, founded over 1,000 years ago, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book from the time of William the Conqueror. In 1071, the Castle came into the hands of  Lord Mortimer, one of the most powerful Lords of the Marches on the English/Welsh Border, and the Castle stayed in the hands of the Mortimer family for over 400 years. The Castle fell into ruin after the English Civil War .The Castle stands on a rocky spur above the picturesque village of Wigmore, near Leominster. Lovely views of the surrounding countryside can be seen from the Castle. The surrounding area of the  Castle is also described as a haven for wildlife (including many birds and home to 'Lesser Horseshoe Bats') many wild flowers and other plants.  

Address

Wigmore Castle, Wigmore, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 9UB

Email

Contact Form  for any queries on English Heritage website: Contact Us & FAQS | English Heritage (english-heritage.org.uk)

Phone

0370 333 1181.

Website

Wigmore Castle | English Heritage (english-heritage.org.uk)

Other useful information including  at: 

Wigmore Castle (castlewales.com)

Walking to Wigmore Castle | Herefordshire | England - Bing video

Directions 

SAT NAV: HR6 9UW  (N.B.. this is the location of the Visitors' Parking, situated at the Village Hall, Wigmore).

Situated:  Between Ludlow and Leominster , near Wigmore village, off the  A4110 road. Wigmore - Ludlow: 10 miles; Wigmore - Leominster: 10 miles. Nearest parking - Wigmore Village Hall. The Castle is a three quarters of a mile / 1.2  kilometres'  walk from Wigmore village accessible on foot . The footpath is  along the historic ' Mortimer Way' walking route. 

Opening Times

Free entry - open during daylight hours. 

Please Note :  Currently (as at Autumn 2021),  the Castle is only partially accessible due to ongoing repair-work by English Heritage to the steps to the Castle Keep. ,Before planning to visit, please check with English Heritage, for up-to-date information including opening times as they may be subject to change

Transport

By Train: 

• Leominster Station ( 10 miles/16 kilometres) - Facilities: Step free access to Platform 1 (to Shrewsbury). Access to Platform 2 (to Hereford) is via a footbridge with lifts. No toilets, waiting room or refreshment facilities available. 
•  Bucknell Station (6 miles/9.6 kilometres) - Facilities: The platform is accessible via an entrance with a shallow gradient. No platform staff available. No toilets, waiting room or refreshment facilities available. 
• Ludlow  Station (10 miles/16 kilometres) - Facilities: Step-free access is available to platform 1 (to Shrewsbury) from the station car park. Platform 2 (to Hereford) is accessed via a footbridge with steps or a long steep footpath from the station forecourt to a path leading through a tunnel under the railway line , then to an accessible ramped pathway to/from Platform  2. Ludlow Station has no platform staff or wheelchairs available. Ticket Office with height-adjusted accessible counter and hearing loop available. No toilets or waiting room. Refreshments are available. 

Onward travel from Leominster, Bucknell or Ludlow Stations by taxi or by  bus but please note that bus services are very infrequent and limited ( current availability as at Autumn 2021 - see below). 

• Lugg Valley 489 (1 bus twice a week on Tue and Fri only) (Leominster - Wigmore). Nearest bus stop to Wigmore Castle: Nearest bus stop - Wigmore Castle  Inn (formerly the Compasses Inn) and to Wigmore Castle Garage. 
• Lugg Valley 498 (1 bus a week on Wed only). (Bucknell - Hereford).Nearest bus stop to Wigmore Castle: Wigmore Castle Garage. 
• Celtic Travel Coaches X11 ( 1 bus a week on Mon only) (Bullth Wells - Ludlow (Assembly Rooms). Nearest bus stop to Wigmore Castle:  Wigmore - Castle Inn (formerly the Compasses Inn). 

Amenities

• Free Parking (subject to availability) at Wigmore Village Hall.
• Toilets available at the Village Hall, including a disabled toilet (with ramp access). Castle Visitors' Parking is adjacent to the Village Hall. 
• Visitor Accommodation (subject to availability) and Refreshments  including meals, tea and coffee are available in Wigmore village at the Oak Inn and  at the Castle  Inn (formerly - Compasses Inn).  
•  English Heritage also has a Tearoom  at Stokesay Castle' - approximately 10 miles away. 
• Additional visitor accommodation and refreshment facilities are also available in Leominster and in the surrounding area of Wigmore. 
• Picnics are also permitted by English Heritage in Wigmore Castle grounds.