A shattered 13th-century tower house on a ridge above the Anne Valley, reached by a flat, accessible riverside walk that the local community built from Dunhill village to the sea.
Climb the steep grassy slope to the fragmentary tower house: a ground-floor entry with a large vault under the main door, traces of a bawn wall, at least one garderobe and the remains of the spiral stair. There are sharp drops and the grass is slippery when wet, so wear decent boots.
On a slope across from the castle stand the ruins of the parish church, thought to date to the 14th century and, by local tradition, destroyed by Cromwell's forces after the castle fell. Its graveyard holds gravestones largely dating between 1753 and 1821.
A folklore account tells how Countess Giles held the castle with a gunner whose cannon fire pushed Cromwell's army back, until an argument over buttermilk instead of ale led him to signal surrender. The garrison was slaughtered, and in 1650 the castle was blown up with gunpowder so it could never be an obstacle again.
The castle is the centrepiece of this 9.5-10 km linear trail from Dunhill village to Annestown beach and back, following the River Anne through wetland, forest and marshland. It is surfaced and gently graded, suitable for buggies and wheelchairs, waymarked with yellow arrows and takes about 2.5 hours return.
The constructed wetlands beside the walk treat run-off before it reaches the coast and have become rich habitat. Keep an eye out for heron, kingfisher and otter; ducks and swans mean dogs must stay on a lead.
At the coastal end of the walk is a secluded strand popular with swimmers and surfers, with a sea arch, offshore islands and parking nearby. In summer a small shop run by the local scout group usually sells refreshments.
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