Scotney Castle visit on a cold day

Old Scotney Castle on a freezing day.

We are life members of the National Trust so try and get out to see as many locations in a year as possible. One of the highlights that always brings us back to make repeat visits is the Christmas decorations - different in every house each year but also different between each of the great houses and often reflect their individual histories.

We wanted to visit Scotney Castle before they took down the decorations on the 4th January, as we had not been able to get there before Christmas. As always with Scotney Castle we had to book a slot in the car park - they do this to keep numbers down else I imagine it would be over run.

What we were not expecting is that the lake around the old castle would be completely frozen over giving it a magical extra edge of otherworldliness.

We had a fantastic afternoon out and highly recommended!

Old Scotney Castle from the hill above. Old Scotney Castle from the hill above.

Old Scotney Castle from the North West side with frozen lake. Old Scotney Castle from the North West side with frozen lake.

Wide shot of Old Scotney Castle from the North West side with frozen lake. Wide shot of Old Scotney Castle from the North West side with frozen lake.

Zoomed look at Old Scotney Castle from the North West side with frozen lake, tower, house and ruins. Zoomed look at Old Scotney Castle from the North West side with frozen lake, tower, house and ruins.

Old Scotney Castle from the first island looking to the tower and lake on the west and south sides. Old Scotney Castle from the first island looking to the tower and lake on the west and south sides.

Old Scotney Castle fortified house with bay windos and joined to the tower. The larger house ruins to the left. Old Scotney Castle fortified house with bay windos and joined to the tower. The larger house ruins to the left.

Looking from the East from inside the ruins of the old house at Old Scotney Castle. Looking from the East from inside the ruins of the old house at Old Scotney Castle.

East wall of the old ruined house at Old Scotney Castle. East wall of the old ruined house at Old Scotney Castle.

looking back from the west side of the outer island leading to the Old Scotney Castle island. looking back from the west side of the outer island leading to the Old Scotney Castle island.

Old Scotney Castle Boathouse on the outer island. Old Scotney Castle Boathouse on the outer island.

Old Scotney Castle boathouse door. Old Scotney Castle boathouse door.

View of Scotney Castle from the footbridge over the lake from the western most point of the lake. View of Scotney Castle from the footbridge over the lake from the western most point of the lake.

Old Scotney Castle from the south with New Scotney Castle in the background to the left up on the hill behind it. Old Scotney Castle from the south with New Scotney Castle in the background to the left up on the hill behind it.

Old Scotney Castle from across the lake from the east with a massive oak bare of leaves on the island in front of the old ruins. Old Scotney Castle from across the lake from the east with a massive oak bare of leaves on the island in front of the old ruins.

Scotney Castle ice house - a conical heather cover brick vault with sky blue wooden porch and heather roof providing access. Ice taken from the lake could be kept here for a year or more. Scotney Castle ice house - a conical heather cover brick vault with sky blue wooden porch and heather roof providing access. Ice taken from the lake could be kept here for a year or more.

New Scotney Castle which was built in the 19th Century as the old castle was damp and decayed. New Scotney Castle which was built in the 19th Century as the old castle was damp and decayed.