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St Catherine's Castle

fowey st catherines castle

History lovers, it’s time to ensemble! St. Catherine’s Castle is a very special slice of Fowey’s history and is part of The English Heritage Trust.

One pair of small artillery forts, St. Catherine’s Castle was built by Henry VIII in the 1530s to defend Fowey Harbour. It was modified in the 19th century during the Crimean War and again during the Second World War, when it became home to an anti-aircraft gun and an ammunition store. 

Even if you're not interested in the history here, the castle is an amazing viewpoint for visitors to Fowey. 

For a really superb day out, St. Catherine’s Castle is a short distance from the South West Coastal Path and well worth the detour for walkers. 
The impressive shell of the great 13th-century circular keep of Restormel Castle is a few miles up the River Fowey in a beautiful spot. Explore the ruins, walk through the surrounding woodland and enjoy a picnic in the grounds.

The details

  • Free entry.
  • Open during reasonable daylight hours.
  • The castle is only accessible by foot but you can shorten the journey slightly by driving to and parking at Readymoney Cove. The first section from Readymoney Cove is a gentle slope down to the beach but from there the walk includes a challenging, steep climb through woodland that can become muddy in wet weather. 
  • There are sheer drops in and around the ruins. Please take care when exploring.