Sandal Castle (Official)

Our contractors iBEX Technical Access Ltd started work on site today. They are setting up their compound and welfare facilities. Expect plenty of action this week as scaffold begins to arrive. We aim to complete the work to repair the bridges, steps to the Keep and Keep platform by Christmas.

Great news the barriers are coming down at Sandal Castle! Work will start on site on Monday (October 15) to repair and replace sections of the bridges, walkways, steps to the Keep and Keep platform. We aim to complete the work before Christmas so that all areas of the castle are open again to visitors. Our contractors, iBEX Technical Access Ltd, aim to keep disruption to a minimum. However, there will be reduced car parking space on weekdays during the course of the project t...o allow access for the contractor’s vehicles. The contractor’s fences will be moved back at weekends so that all of the car parking spaces are available to visitors. Site operating hours will be 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday. We’re not anticipating any weekend working but if it becomes necessary we will give advance notice. Any weekend working will begin later and finish earlier than on weekdays. Most of the castle that is currently open to visitors will remain open during the course of the works, so please continue to visit and watch the project as it progresses!
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Congratulations to the happy couple!

The castle cafe will be closed on Thursday and Friday this week as the managers are getting married! Congratulations to Paul and Lucy and we hope you have a great day! 🥂

Visitors to Sandal Castle should be able to reach all areas of the site later this year.
Work to repair the bridges, walkways and steps is now out to tender and we hope they will re-open to visitors by the end of the year.
Repairs to the monument will take place in spring 2019.
... Potential bidders who would like to tender for the bridges, walkways and steps please log onto the YORtender portal www.yortender.co.uk which is a free tendering portal used by local authorities throughout the Yorkshire and Humber region.
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The Friends of Sandal Castle and the Sandal Community Association are hosting a Medieval Family Festival on the 11th August at the West Yorkshire Sports Club. Living history, battle drills and have a go archery. Tickets are available by calling 01924 252282 or can be bought on the day.

Great views today from the castle!
Enjoy the site but please respect the monument by not climbing on the stonework or leaving litter behind. Bins are available in the car park and near the bridge.

Gloomy start to the day at the castle but blue skies on their way!

Only a few more days until the Proms at our sister site in Pontefract! If you fancy a night out this Saturday tickets are available from Pontefract Castle, online and at Pontefract library until Friday. Details are available on the Pontefract Castle website pontefractcastle.co.uk We've also booked the lovely weather so why not bring friends and family and come along?

Why not pop across to Pontefract to see the castle under siege?

Fantastic weather at the castle today! Lunch with a view!

Nothing better than a walk around the castle paths and a warming treat afterwards!

For those people who are attending this event on Good Friday, the car park at Sandal Castle will remain open until 7pm.

We do hope that everyone is having fun in the snow! But we must warn you that we do not recommend sledging down the moat sides. There are areas where burried stones at the bottom of the moat could make sledging quite dangerous. It can also be bad for the banks if done to excess.
Wrap up warm, have fun, but please stay safe.

When I was about 12 or 13 years old we used to go here & played tag ( TIGS ) on the castle & rode our bikes down the hill. The view from the top of the arch is magnificent & the climb to get on the top took skill & balls, Getting down was just as hard as climbing up.

Well worth a visit. The views from the top are spectacular on a clear day.�

We used to go a lot but it went down hill. 7 of us went on Sunday for my mother in laws birthday. Absolutely spot on. Could not fault anything. Great food and great service. I filled out a card with my email address offering 25% off. Having received nothing dispite leaving 2 positive reviews am a little disappointed. It is my wife's birthday shortly. Did you just take the tip and binned the card? I hope not but no response from my previous positive review?. You are doing an amazing service but do not offer something then not follow it up?

Visited sandal castle with my baby girl saffi for a lovely walk. As I have just moved to the agbrigg area and oh my goodness. It was amazing. So beautiful and so many nice views. I'll definitely be visiting again for some more lovely walks. Reminded me of when I was a kid loved it. ��� Xxxx

Sat and watched the sunset here and what a view. Shame about the blocked of stairs tho as it ruins the natural looks of the castle.

Me n my boys love this place lots of history to look at ���

Love it. I played here as a boy so many good memories. Now as an adult the Castle gives me new ways of enjoying it. And in more peacefull moments its a place I sometimes use to reflect

Lovely walk especially when rapeseed fields are in full bloom 😊

It's a beautiful view and a nice place for young children to run around.

Great little (private owned) cafe with nice food and friendy staff in the old visitor centre . Shame the council have no interest in anything unless its the hepworth

Would have been nice to get to top of it, but wooden bridge deemed unsafe. Climbing side of Castle far more unsafe for me and others. At least it free of charge. Views from there worth the visit.

To many kids hanging about (teenagers)and can’t gain access to a lot because bridges are closed. A bit disappointed as this is a historic site and should be better maintained and managed!

It's still a great place to view the county but what a shame that the steps have been closed. It meant my grandchildren had to clamber up tge side of the hill, great fun for them but a bit of a heart stopper for me.

The amount of litter was dissapointing as well, especially at the bottom of the well.

It's a great place to visit/picnic but surely it wouldn't cost that much to tidy it up. I accept it's a free site and that's brilliant but it's in need of some tlc right now. Hopefully it'll be better next time I go.

It's looking a bit sorry for itself, the walkways are closed off and there is rubbish everywhere, shame people can't be arsed to take their rubbish home,maybe bins should be provided, great little cafe there though is a bonus

I called in the hope of a lovely sunset but unfortunately the clouds had rolled in from nowhere. Still got a couple of really nice photos though. I like it there, I find it quite a peaceful place but it's a shame that the repairs are taking so long.

Have visited Sandal castle many times over the years it's a great space for children to let off steam. Would be a lot better if you could actually access the ruins via the bridge and stairs. The cafe is a great addition and it was very busy but I fear if the ruins remain unaccesable the cafe will suffer.

Great view Shame the carpark is closed from 3pm when it was such a lovely evening and had to squeeze on the footpath out side the gates 👎🏼

Great place to visit while out walking, great piece of history and nice views looking down from there. Sadly the council has really let this site down, it is not looked after and left to ruin, the steps and bridge to it are closed off and derelict so it is not accessible to all as it should be and it is overgrown in places. Such a shame.

As a boy this was my favourite place in the world! Was there weekend after weekend. I moved away from the area a number of years ago and was shocked a few years back when in my opinion the mound was ruined with the addition of the staircase to allow access to the top. (I accept this may be seen as a good addition by some, but to me it spoiled the overall appearance of the castle ruins).

Think how more disappointed I was when I returned this week to find the stairs and access over the bridge restricted and the whole inner moat part of the castle made unaccessable to the public - what a waste!!

My children were not allowed the enjoyment that I was given to explore the wonders of this fantastic place.

A magical place that will always be fondly looked upon by myself, however Wakefield District Council should hang their heads in shame!