There are thousands of years of history waiting to be discovered, with views encompassing the Pennines to the east and the Welsh mountains in the west. There's evidence of flint tools dating back to 3500BC, while an Iron Age hillfort was established on the site 650-450BC, the foundations of the castle we see today were built by Ranulf, 6th Earl of Chester, in the 1220s before being seized by Henry VIII in 1237. English Heritage took over running and maintaining this 'picturesque ruin' and the surrounding woodland in 1984 adding a cafe and exhibition space. Chester train station is 14 miles from Beeston Castle, local bus routes 56, 83 and 84 all stop within walking distance.