'''Eastnor Castle'''[http://www.eastnorcastle.com] is a fairy tale Georgian castle built between 1810 and 1824 from designs by Sir Robert Smirke.It sits within a 5,000 acre estate and is the family home for the Hervey-Bathursts who are the direct descendents of Earl Somers, the original owner.

Get in

Eastnor lies between the Cotswolds and the Welsh Marches. The Castle is 2? miles east of Ledbury on the A438 Tewkesbury road. '''Directions from London''' Take M4 West. Exit M4 at junction 15 (Swindon). Follow A419/A417 to Cirencester and Gloucester (Dual Carriageway). Before Gloucester exit A417 onto M5 North (towards Birmingham) at junction 11A and continue as if from North or South.

'''Directions from North or South''' Exit M5 at junction 8 onto M50. Exit M50 at junction 2 Follow A417 to Ledbury. Follow the Brown Tourist signs (Eastnor Castle) via bypass and through Ledbury Town Centre onto A449 (signed Worcester and Malvern). After 1 mile turn right again onto A438 (signed Tewkesbury and Eastnor). Entrance to Castle is after 1 mile on right hand side. ''' Nearest Train Stations''' Ledbury - 2 miles (Direct train from/to London Paddington - duration 2.45hrs) Great Malvern - 8 miles (Direct train from/to London Paddington - duration 2.30hrs) Gloucester - 19 miles (Direct train from/to London Paddington - duration 1.50hrs)

Taxis are available and pre-booking is advisable.

Get around

If you need to buy a map then the grid reference is SO 7350 3687 The estate is large ( 5,000 acres) and there are lots of walks.

See

There is a deer park and room for camping and caravans.

For 2009 these are the opening times and dates.

11.00am ? 4.30pm (last admission 4.00pm)

Easter Weekend Fri 10th, Sat 11th, Sun 12th & Bank Holiday Mon 13th April May Bank Holiday Weekends Sun 3rd/Mon 4th & Sun 24th/Mon 25th May Every Sunday from 7th June - 27th September Sunday to Thursday from 20th July - 31st August

Do

The castle has many special events including

The Big Chill festival [http://www.bigchill.net]in August.

Fishing [http://www.eastnorcastle.com/fishing.htm]

and other public events [http://www.eastnorcastle.com/events_deerpark.aspx]

Buy

There is a small craft shop [http://www.eastnorcastle.com/gift_shop.htm] and you can also buy items online.

Eat

Sleep

The Castle can be hired and there are luxury bedrooms [http://www.eastnorcastle.com/bedrooms.htm] and high quality cooking but this can only be done on a party basis and it is not a hotel.

Contacts

Eastnor Castle, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 1RL

Tel: +44 (0)1531 633160 ~ Fax: +44 (0)1531 631776