A comfortable residence in its time, built around an interior courtyard. For defence purposes, the castle had solid corner towers, small towers and portcullises. Mary Stuart was held prisoner here in 1568-69. The castle is still perfectly preserved, despite having been wrecked after the Civil War. Lovely medieval gardens line the main façade. Footpaths lead off from the castle car park, in particular Aysgarth Path, which leads to Aysgarth Falls.