Find the nearest History & Heritage
Our History and Heritage category brings all Coast Radar’s listings related to looking for something to do or a place to visit together where they offer some form of historic or heritage based activity.
Finding the best things to see and do on a day out with your family or friends is easy – simply explore the historic and heritage links below, hit the jump to my location button or use the search bar to plan your next UK and Ireland activity.
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- Castle Stalker is on its own island 25 miles north of Oban on the west coast of Scotland. It’s a romantic looking castle with the mood of the water surrounding it lending the atmosphere. The name means ‘hunter’ and originally this was a small fortified building belonging to the MacDougalls in 1320. In 1620 the castle was handed over to the Campbells as part of a wager and today it’s a family home that is only open to the public for around five weeks each year for tours. You’ll be taken to the castle by boat so no wheelchair access or large groups. The cafe is lovely and you can get a hot drink and meal before the tour.
- Netley Abbey is a ruined late medieval monastery, founded in 1239 as a house for Roman Catholic monks of the austere Cistercian order. In 1536, Netley Abbey was closed by Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries and the building was converted into a mansion by William Paulet, a wealthy Tudor politician. The abbey was used as a country house until the beginning of the eighteenth century, after which it was abandoned and partially demolished for building materials. The extensive remains consist of the church, cloister buildings, abbot’s house, and fragments of the post-Dissolution mansion.
- Caister Roman Site, the partially excavated remains of a Roman ‘Saxon Shore’ fort, including wall and ditch sections and building foundations.
- The Bowes Museum has a nationally renowned art collection containing paintings by El Greco, Francisco Goya, Canaletto, Jean-Honoré Fragonard and François Boucher. The museum also has a collection of decorative art, ceramics, textiles, tapestries, clocks and costumes, as well as older items from local history. The Bowes Museum was purpose-built as a public art gallery for John Bowes and his wife Joséphine Chevalier, Countess of Montalbo, who both died before it opened in 1892. Bowes was the illegitimate son of John Bowes, the 10th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne.
- Blaise Castle House Museum and Estate features a 19th century mansion, set in 400 acres of parkland. Discover everyday objects from centuries past, including Victorian toilets and baths, kitchen and laundry equipment, model trains, dolls, toys and period costume in the museum. You can also explore the parkland, children’s adventure playground, woodlands, as well as enjoying the cafe. The folly castle, as featured in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, is opened by volunteers on some summer Sundays. Just look out for the flag flying on top of the castle and enjoy panoramic views of the area from the castle roof. The magnificent Picture Room at Blaise Castle House Museum and Estate is hung with paintings from the museum’s collections and is licensed for civil ceremonies.
- Bateman’s is a Jacobean house, home of Rudyard Kipling. A 17th-century house surrounded by a wooded landscape. Now a National Trust property and remains much as Rudyard Kipling would have seen it, with oriental rugs and artefacts reflecting his strong links with the East.
- Bant’s Carn Burial Chamber and Halangy Down Ancient Village. The remains of an Iron Age village in a scenic location. With a Bronze Age burial mound, entrance passage and inner chamber.
- Aberdeen Maritime Museum is on the Shiprow and tells the story of this city’s dependance on the sea. This is a great day out and the kids will love it for the highly interactive exhibitions on shipbuilding, fast sailing ships, the port and fishing. This is an award winning museum and the only place in the UK where you can see displays on the North Sea oil and gas industry. Aberdeen Maritime Museum offers visitors a spectacular viewpoint over the busy harbour. The museum was expanded to create five times the original exhibition space in the 16th century Provost Ross’s House. Aberdeen’s excellent collections of maritime paintings and objects are utilised to the full in the new museum, with touch screen consoles, computer visual databases, education room and hands-on exhibits all adding a new dimension for visitors and bringing the drama of the North Sea industries such as offshore oil, fishing and shipping, to life. The complex is open six days a week with a busy programme of special exhibitions and events throughout the year. The licensed Leading Lights Café – an attraction in itself – offers fine food in splendid surroundings and a first class shop sells a wide range or souvenirs, gifts, crafts, books and music with a distinctly nautical flavour. Facilities include:Education Room Café Shop Toilet Disabled facilities Tours
- The Inveraray Maritime Museum includes the Arctic Penguin, a 3-masted Schooner built in 1911. The history of the Western Seaboard brought to life, On-board cinema with breathtaking archive film where you get to see the bad conditions of human cargoes to the new world. Children can explore Davy Jones Locker, blow the foghorn, ring the telegraph, try the Pirate’s Ghost Illusion. Gift shop, tea, coffee available.
- Dartmouth Castle built in the 15th Century to guard the narrow entrance to the Dart Estuary. Access by either foot or ferry.
- Castle Drogo is set above the Teign Gorge at a height of nearly 300 metres with spectacuklar views over the Dartmoor National Park. As well as the castle you have formal gardens and paths through the valley and gorge. The castle facilities include cafe, gift shop and plant centre.
- HMS Warrior is a 40-gun steam-powered armoured frigate built for the Royal Navy in 1859–61. She was the name ship of the Warrior-class ironclads.
