Of all the projects we’ve been involved in over the last decade, few come close to being as significant as The Lost Castle at Lowther. It shaped our thinking, pushed our capabilities, and above all, had a profound impact on its location and the wider community.
Before The Lost Castle was built, Lowther Castle welcomed just under 40,000 visitors annually. Children in theory went free, but it wasn’t particularly relevant as very few ever visited. In the years that followed its installation, those figures rose to between 120,000 and 150,000.
This is largely down to the investment in properly considered, family-focused adventure play — embedded within the site’s rich history and integrated into a remarkable wider re-landscaping plan.
Nestled within a once seldom-trodden piece of woodland deep in the historic landscape, the play was developed to celebrate the architectural features of the ruined castle, while inviting visitors to walk the distance from the castle to explore a maze of turrets, ramps, slides, walkways, climbing walls, and zipwires — offering endless possible routes and a sense of magic within the trees.
To this day, The Lost Castle at Lowther remains one of the largest timber play structures in the UK — and a true flagship project in the journey of CAP.CO.
Creating the Lost Castle at Lowther required sensitive planning, considered design, and a hardy team of builders to bring it to life.
With any project, exploring for and uncovering the correct site for play is a crucial factor. But for The Lost Castle, that approach was even more important. We wanted to ensure that all visitors and families could experience and become immersed in the magic and mystery of the estate.
Working closely with the fantastic team of gardeners at Lowther, we wove the adventure play into the wider masterplan, remapping the visitor journey through the grounds to discover a new hidden woodland clearing, rather than taking the more obvious option near the car park and visitor centre. Once built, The Lost Castle became another point along that journey, part of the fabric of the estate, rather than a standalone attraction.
The build itself posed challenges. It was the largest project the CAP.CO team had undertaken to date, and the remote woodland location meant that every piece of material had to be carried by hand to the site - 15 miles worth of timber, if laid end to end! With no access for heavy machinery, ropes and pulleys were used to lift and position the larger sections of the central tower.
At times, the Cumbrian weather prevailed, the rain fell, and the mud became thick, but the close-knit team were driven by a shared ambition to create something truly special. A good cup of tea and the occasional Greggs breakfast, helped keep spirits high and deliver a project that would shape the future of CAP.CO.
The below film was put together shortly after the completion of the build back in 2017. Made as a culmination to the project and a celebration of what was achieved.
