In Staindrop, preserved church history meets routes into the surrounding countryside. St Mary’s Church preserves features dating from before the Norman Conquest. Raby Castle lies one mile north of Staindrop and adds another historic destination to your visit. When planning, it is worth treating these places and the different walking options as separate highlights.

St Mary’s Church: features from the Anglo-Saxon period

St Mary’s Church is a Grade I listed building. Its surviving features from before the Norman Conquest include sections of the original Anglo-Saxon nave and its windows. Neville monuments and a medieval rood screen complement the older fabric. The church thus preserves evidence from both the Anglo-Saxon and medieval periods.

The church is open to visitors year-round. Visiting hours are normally 9 am to 5 pm in summer and 9 am to 4 pm in winter. Access may occasionally be restricted for services, weddings, funerals or necessary maintenance work. If you would like to plan your visit for a specific time, check the visiting hours in advance.

Raby Castle and its history

Raby Castle was built by the Neville family in the 14th century. The castle is associated with both the planning of the Rising of the North and the English Civil War. Its history therefore encompasses more than its construction date: these two historical connections are also among the aspects that can shape a visit.

Visitors can tour the castle’s interiors and learn about its history. Check the visiting arrangements before your trip. The Temple at Raby Castle is also a historic building: it is a folly dating from the mid to late 18th century.

Garden and playground at Raby

The Walled Garden is an 18th-century garden laid out across five acres. Its well-known features include yew hedges and the Raby fig. These details give the garden a different focus from the castle’s historic interiors: here, the emphasis is on the design and named features of the garden.

The Plotters’ Forest is a family adventure playground in a Christmas tree plantation. It was designed around existing trees and natural clearings.

Walking and cycling routes

Routes from Staindrop follow public rights of way into the surrounding countryside. Raby’s Blue Walking Route offers a different, clearly named option: the 2.7-kilometre circular route runs mostly along surfaced paths suitable for cycling. The Blue Walking Route is clearly defined as a loop; by contrast, the public rights of way from Staindrop lead into the surrounding countryside. Walking and cycling routes are available from the admissions team when you purchase an admission ticket.

A brief look at a local tradition also has its place: part of the green at the north-western end of Staindrop is set up for quoits. This traditional game involves throwing metal rings at pegs. Quoits is therefore not another walking route, but a cultural activity in its own right in the village.

Location and travel considerations

Raby Castle is on the A688, one mile north of Staindrop. Bus route 75 runs through Staindrop; from there, visitors can walk about a mile to Raby Castle. This approximate distance describes the walking route, not the walking time. Check the bus timetable before travelling if you plan to use this connection.

Staindrop is in Teesdale. Rare flora and fauna can be found in the wider region; Teesdale lies partly within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This provides a regional context for walks in the surrounding countryside, while the public rights of way from Staindrop and the circular route near Raby offer different options for spending time outdoors.

Explore more destinations: Pelton, High Etherley, Headlam, Tow Law, Sedgefield, Shincliffe, Wolsingham, Stanhope.

For the broader travel overview: Durham.