THE new owner of a County Durham castle and estate has set out his vision to bring it to life like never before.

Lord Barnard, head of Raby Estate, in Teesdale, has spoken about his passion for sharing the heritage of his family estate, including Raby Castle, near Staindrop, and is preparing to launch a series of initiatives aimed at making it more accessible to the public.

“It’s a privilege to be the custodian of such a wonderful estate,” Lord Barnard said. “We’re fortunate to be able to enjoy Raby Castle and the surrounding parkland and we want as many people as possible to experience this piece of our region’s history.”

Recent planning applications have hinted at some of the changes afoot at the castle, which was built in the 14th Century with parts dating back even further to the 11th Century.

Most noticeable to regular visitors, when they return this year, will be the fact that the ticket office at the park entrance has been removed, allowing visitors free access to the tearooms, woodland play area and gift shop.

A new ticket booth will be positioned at the entrance to the walled gardens ready for the new season, while a horsebox-style refreshments trailer, in keeping with the stables tearooms, will supply drinks and snacks for customers who wish to enjoy the new covered, outdoor seating area in the courtyard.

The tearooms and gift shop have undergone extensive refurbishment during the winter months and will reopen with a contemporary look and a refreshed menu of lunches, cakes, snacks and afternoon teas.

These are just some of the changes planned by Lord Barnard, who inherited the estate from his father, the eleventh Baron Barnard, Henry John Neville Vane, following his death in 2016.

“We have a wealth of heritage at Raby, from the buildings themselves to our historic collections of fine art, furniture and artefacts,” Lord Barnard said. “These are things we want to share with the local community, as well as with visitors from across the North-East and beyond.”

Raby Castle opens for the 2018 season on Saturday, March 24. The Raby Estate covers some of the region’s richest landscape and includes High Force waterfall, part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

As part of the estate’s ongoing commitment to local tourism, CEO Duncan Peake has recently joined the board of Visit Durham, where he will offer his time and expertise to support the development of the region’s visitor economy.

Head of leisure development, Claire Jones, who was previously managing director of the Swinton Estate, in North Yorkshire, has also recently joined the team.

Lord Barnard is hoping to open more of the castle and grounds over time, introduce new attractions and events and share some of the hidden gems that have until now remained behind closed doors.

A team of volunteers at Raby Castle has also been gathered over the winter, with further recruitment ongoing and regular training sessions are underway as they prepare to welcome returning and first-time visitors.

Lord and Lady Barnard and their three children said they are committed to creating an environment for families to enjoy.

He said: “Raby Castle is a very special place for us and we want it to be somewhere that other families and friends can explore and find the same enjoyment.”

For more information visit rabycastle.com