Take a New Year Walk Around Castle Howard With Matthew Wolfenden and Roxy Shahidi
Living North's columnists, actors Matthew Wolfenden and Roxy Shahidi (best known for their roles David and Leyla on Emmerdale), are exploring Yorkshire one walk at a time
Castle Howard is one of Britain’s most magnificent stately homes, nestled in the heart of North Yorkshire’s rolling countryside. Built more than 300 years ago, this grand Baroque masterpiece is surrounded by sweeping parkland, tranquil lakes, and beautifully landscaped gardens. Its opulent interiors, with fine art, marble statues, and intricate plasterwork, tell the story of generations of the Howard family. Beyond its historic splendour, Castle Howard remains a living estate and whether explored on a sunny summer’s day or dusted with winter frost, it offers an unforgettable glimpse into English heritage, beauty, and charm.
Why Castle Howard?
Matt: ‘I’d say I’m a bit of a regular at Castle Howard. They put on brilliant events throughout the year for kids, especially at Christmas and Halloween, but you’ve never been here have you Roxy?’
Roxy: ‘I know! I can’t quite believe it myself! It’s one of those places everyone talks about, and I’ve driven past the signs for years thinking, I really should go one day. Well… today’s the day.’
Matt: ‘It’s a great walk with the kids – loads of space for them to run around, and there’s an amazing playground about halfway round. It keeps everyone happy.’
Roxy: ‘That’s my kind of walk – beautiful views, a bit of history, and a playground bribe in the middle. What more do you need?’
Matt: ‘Well, I’m glad you asked! loads of films and shows have been shot at Castle Howard over the years… from the classic Brideshead Revisited to the stylish world of Bridgerton, and even the mysterious Death Comes to Pemberley. But my personal favourite? Hands down, Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties! I mean, how often do you get to say a big orange cat took over this incredible estate?’
Let’s Walk…
It might sound odd to start a walking piece in a car, but the drive towards Castle Howard is part of the experience and worth a mention. The long, ruler-straight avenue seems to stretch on forever, pulling you towards one of Yorkshire’s most spectacular views.
Laid out in the early 1700s by Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor (the same visionary duo behind the house itself), the avenue is Baroque theatre in landscape form: a two-mile statement of symmetry, lined with centuries-old trees. A journey designed to impress… and 300 years later, it still does exactly that.
Once you’ve parked and taken in that first glimpse of the great house, it’s time to swap wheels for walking boots and explore the grounds on foot.
It was a foggy, chilly morning when we arrived, so we wrapped up, leashed the pups, rounded up the kids, and set off, ready to get our blood pumping and warm up. Of course, we couldn’t resist a quick stop for a steaming coffee to thaw our fingers; and those toffee apple cakes sitting temptingly on the counter? Let’s just say we were already planning a well-earned treat at the end of the walk.
Passing the stunning Great Lake on the left, swans just visible through the eerie mist, we approached the magnificent house on the right, with peacocks strutting across the front lawn.
Next, we headed down towards the boathouse, where a rope bridge across the lake led us to a fantastic play area that blends seamlessly into the wooded surroundings – almost camouflaged. A few circuits around the adventure playground with the kids added a couple of extra miles to the walk!
Looping back around, we passed through the little white gate into Ray Wood, where a well-maintained path skirts the perimeter towards the ruins of the Temple of Venus. Turning right up a slight hill towards the Temple of the Winds (this one still stands, unlike its sister temple), we were treated to a stunning view.
By now, the sun had started to burn through the fog, casting a beautiful glow across the South Lake. The dew left from the mist sparkled in the new sunlight, making the place feel magical.
Walking past the back of the house, which is just as spectacular as the front – the imposing Atlas Fountain sat grandly, pride of place, at the centre of the rear hedged garden – we took a left into the breathtaking walled gardens, where the gardener was hard at work. We could have spent all day there; such a large and productive garden! Bountiful winter veg and vibrant flowers made for a truly colourful and inspiring sight.
After a loop around the walled garden, we returned to the café… and this time, we did indulge in one of those toffee apple cakes.
A visit to Castle Howard doesn’t just offer gorgeous walks through its gardens and grounds; the house itself is open to explore, with tickets from around £19 for the gardens or £26 for house and gardens, making it a perfect day out for walkers, families, and history lovers alike.
There’s also a four-mile circular walk that skirts the outside of the Castle Howard estate. You can still park in the main car park and enjoy the magnificent sight of the house from a distance, although you miss out on crossing the rope bridge or sliding down the spiral slide in the adventure playground. The bonus? This walk is free, as you don’t need to pay for entry to the grounds. We did both, and both are beautiful walks, but if you have kids, we’d highly recommend going into the grounds: exploring the stunning estate and, of course, sampling those stunning cakes!
