Things to see and do
There’s a lot to see and do when you visit Berry Pomeroy Castle in Cornwall. From the audio tour to exploring the woodland walks around the site, as well as imagining the place in its Tudor splendor, below you can read about the highlights of Berry Pomeroy ahead of your visit.
Immerse yourself in the audio tour
Hear the stories of the previous residents of the castle, the Pomeroys and famous Seymour family as well as their servants, in an entertaining audio tour of the history of the castle. Discover the gothic tales of murder, revenge and haunting ghosts...
Follow in the footsteps of treasure hunters
The defensive Gatehouse at Berry Pomeroy Castle once had a drawbridge and gun ports in the towers. You can still see the slots overhead where objects and hot liquids were thrown down on attackers. Look out for the groove for the portcullis, which could be dropped to crush your enemies.
Find the blocked opening at the rear of the passage created by treasure hunters looking for a hidden room – with no success!
Imagine Elizabethan finery
In the 16th century, Sir Edward, Lord Seymour developed Berry Pomeroy Castle into a fine house. With large windows offering stunning views from the four floors, it was typical of Elizabethan hunting lodges.
You can still see ornate mouldings over the windows, along with fragments of carving which now lie in the courtyard surrounded by the ruins of this once-lavish mansion.
Explore the remains
You can still spot the remains of the arched loggia which led from the main courtyard to the Great Hall. This was once the most magnificent room in the castle with an extravagant plaster ceiling, marble fireplace and wall tapestries.
Now you can only imagine the grandeur of the room from the ruined walls and window openings.
Admire 15th century art
Climb the steps to the first floor of the medieval gatehouse to the high roofed chamber and you will be rewarded with some beautiful 15th-century art.
The wall painting depicts the adoration of the Magi, or the three Wise Men coming to visit the baby Jesus – one of the earliest showing a black wise man in England.
You can also see the Dominican altarpiece before crossing to the only medieval wall walk to survive almost to its original height.
Learn more about the Pomeroys and the Seymours
The Pomeroy family were once prominent landowners in Devon and they started the construction of the castle. Berry Pomery became one of the last fortresses built by a non-royal founder. See where their coat of arms was originally displayed on the gatehouse.
The most famous owner of the castle was Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector to Edward VII, Henry VIII and Jane Seymore’s son. Read more about his history here.
Find out how they cooked in the 17th century
In the South Range kitchen at Berry Pomeroy, you can see the great fireplace flanked by pastry or baking ovens in each corner.
Look up into the flue and you can see where meats were smoked. This was cutting-edge technology in its day! In the North range kitchen, you can see two fireplaces as well as a bakery with its own two ovens for cooking delicacies, alongside the buttery, the brewhouse and the laundry.
Enjoy Woodland Walks
The castle grounds are a haven for walkers with the woodlands offering a great opportunity to view the castle from different perspectives.
Follow the ‘John Musgrave Trail’ to enjoy beautiful views up to the castle from the lake. It's a great place to spot wildlife and birds as well as wild flowers. Dogs on leads are welcome too.