The Plotters’ Forest at Raby Castle
Darlington, County Durham
About The Plotters’ Forest at Raby Castle
Welcome to The Plotters’ Forest, a bespoke children’s play area that’s north of Raby Castle, nestled in a magical Christmas tree plantation. Built around existing trees and natural clearings with sustainable materials, the play equipment feels woven into the forest; an extension of the great outdoors.
Tickets include access to the 200-acre picturesque deer park where the red and fallow deer roam amongst the stunning castle backdrop.
Things To Do
Enter through the towering gateway and disappear into the dense woodland playground. Explore ground-level forest trails, then climb to high walkways and towers. Become part of a world of magic and mischief: create a cacophony of outdoor musical instruments and match pairs on the giant memory game, or strike a Plotters’ Portrait pose and cause chaos with their spinning signposts!
Visitors young and old will love getting lost amongst exhilarating views, sky-high turrets and treetop tunnels, before spreading out on the stargazing deck and slipping down the slide. Send your fellow plotters coded messages through the Talking Tubes, and spot enemies in the Mischief Mirrors. And for the very smallest rebels, there’s a dedicated toddler area: think mini turrets, climbing equipment, a slide and a chalkboard for drawing secret squiggles.
At The Plotters' Forest, they firmly believe that building a relationship with the outdoors inspires children to be resilient, curious and courageous. In an increasingly digital and risk-averse world, The Plotters’ Forest playground is a setting where little ones – and their imaginations – can run wild.
Plus, each season brings new excitement with magnificent February Half Term, Easter, May Half Term, Summer, Halloween and Christmas Trails!
Opening Times
- Monday, Closed
- Tuesday, Closed
- Wednesday, Closed
- Thursday, Closed
- Friday, Closed
- Saturday, 10:00 - 16:00
- Sunday, 10:00 - 16:00
Weekends and Holiday periods 10:00 - 16:00
Pricing & Tickets
- Child (4-15) : £8.50
- Adult (15-18+) : £9.00
- Child (0-4) : Free
Concession: £8.00
Family (2+3): £30.00
HH Member: £5.00
Book in advance for cheapest tickets
Find other attractions similar to The Plotters’ Forest at Raby Castle by visiting our attraction tickets section.
Plan Your Visit
Typical visit time 3 - 4 hours
Suitable for Kids and Adults too
FAQs
Parking
Toilets
Family Friendly Options
Food & Drink
Accessibility Information
Tickets & Bookings
Private Hire & Birthday Parties
Contact Details
Transport Information
Travelling by car?
Raby Castle is located near the village of Staindrop in County Durham, England. So, if you're travelling by car, you can use the following directions:
From Durham: Take the A167 north towards Crook, and then follow the signs to Raby Castle near Staindrop.
From Darlington: Head west on the A67 towards Barnard Castle, and follow the signs to Raby Castle near Staindrop.
From the A1(M): Exit at Junction 56 if you're coming from the south or Junction 60 if you're coming from the north. Then, follow the signs to Raby Castle near Staindrop.
Travelling by bus?
Hop on the bus from North Lodge, where you'll find the below services:
Scarlet Band Route 84 runs between the towns of Darlington and Barnard Castle via Bishop Auckland and Cockfield village.
From Durham, hop on the service 6 Arriva bus via Bishop Auckland to Cockfieldm which runs every half an hour. Then at Cockfield change to bus 84 towards Raby Castle.
Travelling by train?
The nearest train station to Raby Castle is Darlington Station. From there, you can take a taxi or a bus to reach the castle.
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