Although this magnificent 14th century building was created as a defended residence, it appears at first glance to be a very impressive 'real' castle - sizeable and solid with several towers and battlements. The Nevills were responsible for building Raby Castle, and continued to live there until it was forfeited to the Crown in 1569. It was purchased by Sir Henry Vane in 1626, and his portrait now hangs in The Library, and his descendants are living in the castle today.

A good deal of the original fabric of the castle has survived, and there were only two periods of major works throughout the 18th century. Once completed, not only had the structure been altered and extended, the moat drained, the gardens laid out and the park landscaped, but all the castle interiors had been refurbished.

Raby Castle has rather an irregular plan, with a tower projecting at the north west corner. This is known as Clifford's Tower and, standing to a height of 24 metres, with walls three metres thick, it is the largest tower of the castle. Entering the castle can appear quite daunting even today, let alone when all the unthinkable defence mechanisms were in place. Passing beneath the massive Nevill Gateway and into the courtyard, you then walk along a medieval vaulted stone passage and into the Lobby, where a portrait of the current owner, the 11th Baron Barnard, greets you.

Situated along the southern edge of the castle is probably the most striking and opulent room to be seen anywhere. The Octagon drawing room was remodelled in 1848 from an earlier circular room and is simply stunning. Crimson and gold silk provide luxurious coverings for the gilded furniture, panels of gold silk adorn the walls, and the decorative gilded ceiling is astounding. The large formal dining room next door is equally impressive, with an elaborate geometric ceiling, but the décor is more restrained and elegant.

Two quite beautiful halls were created by John Carr from the existing medieval rooms. The Entrance Hall, remodelled to allow carriages to drive right through the castle, is an amazing space with a vaulted ceiling springing off polished columns. From the old Great Hall, once accommodating 700 knights, the Barons' Hall emerged, a vast gallery incorporating the original hammerbeam roof.

Down to what was once the hub of the castle - the kitchen. This is a remarkable example of a medieval kitchen little changed in proportion since it was built in 1360, and it remained in use until 1954. Everything seemed to be on such a huge scale, the fireplaces, the sinks, the tables, and even the stone slabs on the floor.

Situated in Staindrop in County Durham, and surrounded by a 200 acre deer park, Raby Castle is one of the largest inhabited castles in England. Of course, there is a lot more to discover here, whether you visit for the architecture, the fine art collections, the history, or simply to wander through the grounds. The whole place is like a giant time capsule buried in the lush countryside of the North East.