Wakefield Museums and Castles

Sandal Castle Sandal Castle

Information for blind and partially visitors

The car park at Sandal Castle demonstrating its size for around 12 cars and the slight slope

Entering Sandal Castle

Sandal Castle has its own free car park. Anyone can park here. There is a slight slope from the front to back.

The car park is a solid, smooth surface (not gravel).

The gravel path around the earthworks at Sandal Castle, with the keep mound on the inner side and the steep bank on the outer side

Paths

The paths around the site are surfaced with a self-binding gravel. They can be a little uneven in places, and at times steep. 

There is a path running around the whole of the outside of the castle earthworks. From this path you can see all of the castle site, and it is accessible for most wheelchairs and pushchairs. You can also see out across the Wakefield district from behind the castle earthworks.

The path is cream in colour and contrasts well with the grass. There are no steps on this path, and several benches along it.

The whole site has substantial steep sided grass banks of up to 25ft high. In most cases the main path is at the top of this bank.

The path has a spur leading onto the bailey (slight lip onto the bridge). 

The castle bailey area is mown grass.

The site is exposed to nature and can be very windy at times.

The steep set of steps leading up to to the top of the keep at Sandal Castle

The castle keep

Access to the castle keep is unfortunately only by a long flight of steep steps. The steps up to the top of the keep have handrails on both sides.

The steps up to the keep and the bridge to the bailey are wooden decking which is semi-open (there are small, slip gaps to the ground below).

There is a series of steps down to the moat. These stairs have handrails on both sides.

A person walking a dachshund and a person walking a border collie across the bridge at Sandal Castle

Dogs

Sandal Castle is popular with dog walkers, and all dogs are welcome. Dogs are to be kept on a lead. There are bins by the car park.

The dry moat at Sandal Castle

The moat

Sandal Castle has an unusual 'dry' moat. However, in wet weather the moat can collect a lot of water! The ground can also become saturated and muddy.

Do not enter the moat when there is water in it. Swimming is not allowed. The water can be deep and very cold.

The surrounding farmland, Pugney's Country Park and views over Wakefield from Sandal Castle

The surrounding area

The site is away from main roads and surrounded on two sides by open farmland. The site is exposed to nature and can be very windy at times.

Sandal Castle is typically quieter in the winter. It can be very busy in the spring / summer season, especially on sunny days.

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