Skip to main content

CAP.Co develops unique play experience for Raby Castle estate

News
Cap.co Raby Castle playground CGI Rendering

New adventure playground is part of a larger project at the historic site

CAP.Co, the adventure play specialist, has created a unique children’s adventure play area inside the grounds of Raby Castle, Darlington, UK.

As the latest project in a series of high-profile installations, the playground has been exclusively designed for the historical venue by CAP.Co, designed and built by its specialist team.

Nestled in the stunning woodland of Raby Castle, this new addition creates a mix of challenge, discovery and intrigue for the young and the young at heart.

The bespoke family attraction features a fully-accessible boardwalk through Raby’s Christmas Tree Plantation, unlocking a previously inaccessible area of the grounds. Children can enjoy three-storey play towers, high walkways, tunnels and climbing walls, as well as a number of ground-level play trails and slides.

Sustainable fun

Raby Castle Logo

The playground’s construction was carefully managed to enable minimal disruption to the Christmas Tree Plantation, sustainably preserving habitats and ensuring ancient trees are undamaged during all stages of the build.

Simon Egan, CAP.Co’s managing director, comments: “We’re thrilled to be working on bringing this new installation to life, which was designed in collaboration with the wider team at Raby over the last two years.

“This carefully considered, new addition to Raby Castle, has been inspired by the historical architectural elements within the castle such as The Neville Gateway, but also the many stories associated with the estate, particularly the Rising of The North.”

The new adventure playground’s build program is scheduled to conclude in time for the Easter 2022 holidays.

Rising up

A wider scheme at Raby Castle, named The Rising, will incorporate the substantial restoration and renovation of several heritage buildings on the estate. The guest experience will be enhanced through the creation of a new café and events space, as well as a new visitor hub and beautifully landscaped communal areas.

Work on the two-year construction programme initiated with an expanded 300-space car park to benefit the new additions.

Owners of the Raby Estate, Lord and Lady Barnard, have recruited a suite of key consultants to bring The Rising to realisation, a project that will also create more than 40 new jobs at Raby Castle itself.

Lord Barnard says: “We have now entered the construction phase of this ambitious project, which will deliver wonderful spaces for families to enjoy and to further establish Raby Castle as a must-see visitor destination. Working with CAP.Co will help us to create a truly magical space for children and families to enjoy.

“We have spent the last four years planning the development, which promises to put Raby Castle on the map for visitors to the area, as well as providing a beautiful place for the local community to enjoy, all year round.”

Last year CAP.Co provided insight into its bespoke adventure play space at Stonor Park, sharing a birds-eye view of the site with drone footage.

Share this
Adam Whittaker blooloop headshot

Adam Whittaker

Adam studied Marketing and Advertising Management at Leeds Beckett University. Originally from Lancashire and now based in Norfolk, UK, you can usually find him appreciating art deco design or on a roller coaster.

More from this author

Companies featured in this post

More from this author

Related content

Your web browser is out of date. Update your browser for more security, speed and the best experience on this site.

Find out how to update