Situated three miles north of Harrogate just off the A61 and on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, The 700 year old Ripley castle is steeped in history with magnificent grounds, lakes, Deer Park, Walled Gardens, Hothouses and Kitchen Garden.

Ripley Castle has been the home of the Ingilby family for twenty-six generations and Sir Thomas and Lady Ingilby and their five children continue the tradition. The tours around the house are informative, following the lives and loves of one family for nearly 700 years and how they have been affected by events in English history. The Old Tower dates from 1555 and houses splendid armour, books, panelling and a Priest's Secret Hiding Place, together with fine paintings, china, furnishings and chandeliers collected by the family over centuries.

There is a lovely visitors centre/shop selling a wide range of country crafts. Opposite the shop is a cafeterea, I can certainly recomend the scones and tea and the salad lunch was excellent and well worth the visit.