castle in the clouds

Most days, the view is spectacular. You can get to the grounds for free by going up the road north of the main entrance. This road is used by hikers using the Ossipee trails, and the large trucks hauling out the super-pure water from the bottling plant. If you see that the view is great and/or you just want to see the castle, you'll have to go in the main entrance and pay a fee. If you want to hike, here are my recommendations from the 'back road'. Drive to the top and park in the hiker's lot OUTSIDE the entry gate. It gets closed/locked at night!EASY - Waterfall Hike - starts past the trout pondMEDIUM - Mt. Roberts trail - starts beyond the stables. Great overlook 1/3 of the way up. MEDIUM LONG-Bald Knob (awesome view south to Lk. Winnipesaukee) VERY LONG-- Mt. Shaw (awesome view north to the caldera and white mtns)

Our visit to Castle in the Clouds was found by accident after having to cut short our trip up Mt Washington, due to snow and ice higher up. What a stroke of luck, this was one of our most enjoyable visits. There are lovely walks before getting up to the house, don't rush it, take your time. The house itself is relatively small compared to its name, but don't be put off, it is absolutely full of character and interest. The story of how it came to be, and the life of its owner should be made into a film. The views are outstanding, so go on a good day. The food is also good, and reasonably priced. Plan to spend all day here and you will come away feeling elated.

The Castle is a wonderful place to hike, have lunch, or just bring a picnic lunch and feed the giant Rainbow Trout! The views of the lake are amazing!!!

A bit off the beaten path but absolutely worth it! We love house museums and this one had so much to offer. Exceptionally restored. The exterior is very ecclectic and interesting. The views of the mountains and lake are spectacular and worth a visit on their own. Rooms are full of period pieces that really showcase the time. It is also not sparsely decorated but full of the familys items. It looks like they just stepped out. Painted glass windows were exquisite. It does not seem to be well advertised and we found it by chance. It would have been a shame to miss it.

Mountainside restored estate overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee. Spectacular vistas, especially during leaf-peeper season, but lovely any time. Moderate prices for moderate menu, go for the history and the view!

This has one of the most breathtaking views in all of the Ossipee Mountain Range. You can see Lake Winnipesaukee laid out in front of you along with Lake Wentworth and Ossipee Lake.The castle itself is a wonder to behold. The stone work is magnificent! There is a trout pond on the property full of huge rainbow trout that you can feed, and trails to horseback ride on. It is a wonderful place to visit for a day trip. Bring the kids, too!

We were a bit taken aback by the cost of admission, but once we saw the castle, the gardens and the amazing scenery, all was forgiven. The castle AKA museum is not only a perfect preservation of the time, it demonstrates the amazing creativity of the owner, who was clearly way ahead of his time. Leave plenty of time to explore all the rooms in detail. If you have any questions, the docents are extremely knowledgeable and more than happy to help.

We decided to do this one day on a recent stay in the area. I was shocked by the entry fee ($16.00 per person) but it wound up being worth the money - we spent several hours there. We did the short walk to the falls, toured the mansion, had lunch outdoors on the deck with a stunning view and spent time at the fish pond. Great for nature and history lovers...

wow,,,,it is so high up there,,,,what a wonderful,,beautiful home,,,the inside is just as pretty as the out,,rooms are hugh,,,,theres a gift shop down below,,and pictuers can be taken,,,the water view is awesome,,,,

This attraction was one of the main reasons for our trip to New Hampshire, and it did not disappoint. The thrills began with actually trying to navigate the road from the entry gate to the parking area; one needs to drive very carefully, but the views are spectacular. Then comes the trolley ride from the parking area to the main house; again, one proceeds very carefully and slowly, but again the views are incredible. The tour guide's explanation of the history of the house and original owner are very interesting, after which one has the opportunity to roam the house and the gardens at one's leisure. It is important not to become so involved with the interior of the house that one misses the view from the exterior; and there are beautiful views from the house windows and balconies as well. The only disappointment is the gift shop, which offers very little in the way of souvenirs; but this one issue is not enough to detract from a 5-star rating. For years I have promised myself that someday I would visit this location; I am glad I did.

I wish I could live in this house!There are gorgeous views from every window!Mountains all around and you can also see lake Winnipasauki!make sure you stop and walk to see the waterfall in the woods, it's along the drive up to this beautiful house.

this well worth the money. The views are spectacular. The Waterfall was great. The Pebble was great. The Guides were very informative. Who knew that some of technology was available at that time.

If you are visiting the Castle (well worth the view even if you aren't into old estates) do take time to check the lunch out at the Carriage House. We went today, a brisk but sunny foliage day, on the heels of a hike in the Conservation Trust land surrounding the Castle. We were able to eat on the terrace, which boasts the best view in the Lakes Region short of renting an airplane. The menu is diverse and interesting. We opted to split a warm turkey/brie/bacon/cranberry aioli sandwich and sweet potato fries. I can't say enough about how fabulous this simple fare was! Amazingly fresh, moist, and flavorful. The "fries" we're really wedges, perfectly cooked. Although this was completely sufficient for our lunch, we decided to indulge in the pineapple upside down cake - nicely presented and a great treat. Quite importantly, the service was exceptional, with the order splitting done graciously. I admit to being completely surprised by the quality of this reasonably priced experience, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend the restaurant. To notch, at the top of the mountain! The Carriage House can be accessed from the free road up, Ossipee Park Road, not the toll road to the Castle, if you go for hiking or sightseeing, and don't want to take the house tour.

Beautiful and luxurious, this was definitely worth an afternoon out of our busy schedules. I especially loved the gardens, with their mountain and lake views, and am looking forward to going back to hike the trails - met someone who said they were his favorite hiking in the entire White Mountain range. The guides were very knowledgable. The patio restaurant looked so inviting, but on this beautiful day I was happy to sit out with a picnic lunch, so I can't really comment on that...If you find yourself idling about some sunny afternoon, wanting to be outdoors, but feeling antsy, by all means this is the spot to head for! Relaxing, leisurely, yet fascinating to explore. We left here and went to Kimball's Castle, across the lake, which is a little bit older, and fallen into ruins. That was rather melancholy...so glad someone has had the foresight to preserve Castle in the Clouds and keep it accessible to the public. The place is truly a treasure!

We were recommended a tour of this area, long scary climb up to the visitors center but it was beautiful. We rode the shuttle to the castle and toured inside and out, it was a perfect day and a beautiful sight.