The National Trust has opened restricted areas of the Old Castle at Scotney Castle in Lamberhurst, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, for a series of special behind‑the‑scenes tours running on selected dates from early February through 27 February 2026 (the first scheduled tour is on 4 February 2026).
These 45‑minute guided, small‑group walks (maximum 12 people per session) allow visitors to step inside parts of the 14th‑century moated ruin that are normally closed for conservation and safety, including upper chambers and medieval stonework not usually accessible to the public.
The tours focus on the site’s layered history — from its medieval origins, when Roger Ashburnham built the Old Castle around 1378 (c.1378–80), to its transformation in the mid‑19th century, when Edward Hussey III partly dismantled the building to create the picturesque ‘romantic ruin’ visible from the ‘new’ house on the hill.
The Old Castle is a Grade I‑listed ruin. Tours cost £7 per person (plus normal admission) and must be booked in advance; spaces are limited and are expected to sell out. The National Trust advises visitors to dress warmly and wear flat‑soled shoes, and warns that the Old Castle is not accessible to wheelchairs because of uneven floors, steps and changes in level.
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