Peel Castle, Peel, United Kingdom

Peel Castle was originally constructed by Vikings. The castle stands on St Patrick's Isle which is connected to the town by a causeway. It is open to visitors during the summer.

The castle was built in the 11th century by the Vikings, under the rule of King Magnus Barefoot. While there were older stone Celtic monastic buildings on the island, the first Viking fortifications were built of wood. The prominent round tower was originally part of the Celtic monastery, but had battlements added at a later date. In the early 14th century, the majority of the walls and towers were built primarily from local red sandstone, which is found abundantly in the area. After the rule of the Vikings, the castle continued to be used by the Church due to the cathedral built there – the see of the diocese of Sodor and Man – but was eventually abandoned in the 18th century.

The castle remained fortified, and new defensive positions were added as late as 1860. The buildings within the castle are now mostly ruined, but the outer walls remain intact. Excavations in 1982-87 revealed an extensive graveyard as well as the remains of Magnus Barefoot's original wooden fort. The most spectacular finds were the 10th century grave of 'The Pagan Lady' which included a fine example of a Viking necklace and a cache of silver coins dating from about 1030. The Castle's most famous 'resident' is the so-called Moddey Dhoo or 'Black Dog' ghost.

User Reviews

VIVEK B.S. (3 months ago)
Worth a visit! Such a nice castle and a small town. The castle was closed but we can walked around the castle. Took us back in time and felt as if we were walking through the Viking days! We also spotted a few seals and dolphins on the back side path. There’s a nice fish and chips shop worth a bite or two! Don’t forget to walk up the hill next to the castle for some amazing bird eye views of the castle. Worth a visit when in Isle of Man.

CHOCCY BARR (8 months ago)
Peel Castle, breezy day and a good walk. Then try with the aid of the audio guide a visit here. Take your own good time as there are undulations within the grounds and don`t forget the crypt.

Rick Siffleet (8 months ago)
We visited on a fine summery August day and we were pleased that we made the effort up the stone stairs to the kiosk. Hired the hand held information doo-hicky and it was very informative and allowed you to wander around the grounds at your own pace and direction. Quite steep in places, so you will need to be quite sure-footed but if you are, it's well worth a visit. Some fine views across the bay to Peel.

Cliff Cairns (9 months ago)
Great castle can be difficult to get around, well worth the effort. the hand held information device was good, sham it did not hav a band to hang it around your neck to free your hands up to take pictures, after saying that it was very informative. it is not advisable for people with difficulty walking.

Vins Prencipe (11 months ago)
It's a very interesting place to visit and the audio guide helps you understand more in details the story of the castle and how it was used across the centuries! I'd probably recommend to buy the visitors card which gives you access to all the historical sites on the island without having to pay separate tickets which would end up costing you much more. Shout out to the employee at the entrance, very friendly and knowledgeable :)

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