For several hundred years after the Norman conquest, the castle was one of the great power bases of the north of England.

The ruins seen today are rich in history, for this was the boyhood home of Richard, Duke of York, later Richard III.

And the place where Warwick the Kingmaker held court. The great tower is one of the largest ever built in England and formed the domestic centre of the castle. It contained the Great Hall, cellars, and kitchens. Against the outer walls were built the chambers and lodgings. But perhaps the finest feature of the keep is the view from the top, across the lovely country of Coverdale and Wensleydale; little changed since Richard III's day.

One of the best times to visit Middleham Castle is late May or June, when you can see the fairy foxglove in bloom.