Bannerman Castle: How to Visit the Abandoned Castle on the Hudson - Traveling Found Love (2024)

The abandoned Bannerman Castle New York is hard to miss sitting out on Bannerman Island, officially called Pollepel Island, in the middle of the Hudson River.

If you have peered out at the Hudson River near Cold Spring or Beacon, whether on the Hudson Valley hiking trails or as you drive along the river, you have probably seen Bannerman Castle on a island and wondered what it was.

The best way of answering that question is to book a cruise and walking tour and get to Bannerman Island itself to learn more about the fascinating history of the timeworn ruins.

If you are questioning if taking a Bannerman Island tour is worth it, since you can see it from various angles and locations along the Hudson River, we would absolutely recommend it. You can never compare actually being on Pollepel Island and seeing Bannerman Castle from afar.

Get a glimpse of Bannerman Castle’s history and read a detailed description of the cruise and walking tour below.

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How to Get to Bannerman Castle

Bannerman Castle sits on Pollepel Island in the middle of the Hudson River near Beacon, New York, just a few miles north of Cold Spring. Don’t get confused, some people refer to the island as Bannermans Island but the island’s official name is Pollepel Island.

Note: To access the island you need to purchase a ticket. You are not allowed to enter Pollepel Island without one, even when you arrive at the castle on a island with your own small vessel.

There are two different ways to see Bannerman Castle up close:

1. Book a cruise which comes with a walking tour

There are two ferry ports which you can utilize to get to Bannerman Castle, one in Beacon and one in Newburgh Ferry Landing.

Since the most popular Island cruise and walking tour starts from Beacon ferry dock, we will concentrate on that way to explore the Bannerman Castle ruin and the island itself (see below).

If you are traveling from New York City the ferry port in Beacon is easily accessible by public transportation. First, hop on the Metro North on the Hudson Line to the Beacon Train Station. Once you get off the train, you walk across the parking lot towards the Hudson River and you will see a sign for Bannerman Castle Tours.

2. Arrive in your own kayak or canoe and do a self-guided walking tour

In case you are a little more adventurous (and you are fortunate enough to have your own small vessel), you can paddle to Pollepel Island yourself. There are 4 different departure locations you can choose from, depending on how long you would like your paddle adventure to last:

• Donohue Park in Cornwall on Hudson (½ hour paddle one way)
• Kowawese Unique Area at Plum Point (½ hour paddle one way)
• Scenic Hudosn’s Long Dock Park (1-1 ½ hour paddle one way)
• Cold Spring (1 ½ hour paddle one way)

Make sure to arrive at Bannerman Island at your chosen time slot. Then you will have 1.5 hours to venture the island yourself on the historic trails. You also have the option to join a 20-minute tour of Bannerman Island’s history led by a historian.

About Bannerman Castle NY

Have you ever wonderedlike us why there is an abandoned castle on a island in the middle of the Hudson River?

When visiting this unique attraction in New York, we were not onlystunned by the beauty of the castle ruins but also by Bannerman Castle’s history.

To get you even more interested in visiting and taking a tour, we will give you a quick synopsis of Bannerman Castle and its owner Francis Bannerman.

Francis Bannerman was born in Scotland and came to the United States to live in Brooklyn at 3 years old. At a young age, Francis used to collect scraps from the harbor, which turned out to be a successful business for the teenager. In 1865, he was able to open his own business called Bannermans. As the business grew and he possessed more and more goods, his store eventually made its way to Broadway in Manhattan.

He soon specialized in military gear but with so much dangerous material and ammunition in store, the city eventually required Bannerman to look for storage outside the city limits. On a canoeing trip on the Hudson River, David Bannerman (son of Francis) spotted an island in the middle of the river. It was the perfect safe storage space for all the surplus military equipment for the Bannermans. Francis purchased the island in 1900 and began building Bannerman Castle in 1901.

Without wanting to spoil too much, we can say that after Bannerman died various natural disasters like storms and fires but also vandalism and decay hit the island hard.

In the 21st century, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation purchased the island, recognizing the value of this hidden gem in the Hudson Valley. Nowadays, the non-profit organization The Bannerman Castle Trust, Inc. takes care of Bannerman Island and offers tours and various unique events.

Bannerman Castle Tour Information

Bannerman Island Cruise & Walking Tour (From Beacon,NY)

Price: Adults $40 (12+), Child $35 (0-11)
Duration: 2.5 hours
Good to Know:

• Tour is welcome to all ages
• Rain or shine tour
• No refund or rescheduling

This is the most popular tour offered to Bannerman Castle. The tour begins with a 30 minute boat ride from Beacon ferry dock to Pollepel Island followed by a 1.5 hour guided tour of Bannerman Castle ruins and gardens.

You will learn all about the island’s history, the various buildings, and of course the Bannerman family. After the conclusion of the tour, you will take the 30 minute boat ride back to Beacon.

Tours only run seasonally, usually from late April to late October/early November.

The tour will bring you around the perimeter of the Bannerman Castle ruins and surrounding areas. Since Bannerman Castle is mainly ruins, the Bannerman Island tours do not provide access to the castle due to safety concerns. Most of the ruins are being supported by large metal support beams.

Here is how to make a reservation for the Bannerman Island Cruise & Walking Tour from Beacon step by step:

1. Visit the bannermancastle.org website
2. Hover over the Activities banner on the top of the page
3. Click on Cruise & Walking Tour
4. Book the tour by choosing a date and time is applicable
5. Add how many adults and children will attend the tour
6. Complete the necessary information, add payment, and submit

You can also book a tour by calling (845) 831-1001.

Visiting Bannerman Castle by Tour Itinerary

To be honest, we are usually not huge fans of guided tours because we like to wander around at our own pace but the Bannerman Island tour was a big exception.

Not only did we like the fact that the tour was led by a Bannerman Castle Trust Historian who was extremely passionate about the rich history the Bannerman Castle has to offer. On top of that you also got the opportunity to walk the grounds on your own.

We would have loved to combine exploring Bannerman Castle with a fun kayak tour but unfortunately we don’t have our own small vessels yet, so we chose the less complicated way to visit Bannerman Island which already included the transportation from the mainland.

The Bannerman Castle tour departed from Beacon’s waterfront right next to the Beacon train station. The starting point is super easy to find due to the large sign saying ‘Bannerman Tours’.

After getting checked in with the boat crew, the tour group will load the Estuary Steward for a 30 minute cruise on the Hudson River to Pollepel Island and Bannerman Castle.

While on the boat, the crew provides some fascinating historical information about the surrounding area, including the towns of Beacon and Newburgh, George Washington Headquarters, Denning’s Point, and other features along the route.

As you approach the castle on a island, make sure to really take a look at Bannerman Castle from the water. It looks pretty incredible and definitely provides a unique perspective.

Once you reach the island, the boat will dock and the tour group will make their way up to the tour starting point, the top of a short semi-steep 72-step climb up a metal staircase..

You will have 1.5 hours to get to know the island and the Bannerman Castle ruins. On top of walking the trails during the guided tour, you will also have some free time to scout out spots you didn’t see on the tour or even come back to favorite lookouts.

Usually, the tour will split up into 2 smaller groups for the guided tour of Bannerman castle, where you learn about the history of the island and Francis Bannerman and his family. One group will start the tour immediately, whereas the other group will depart shortly after.

The guides were extremely knowledgeable and offered several visuals from different years of the island, Bannerman Castle, and the Bannerman military surplus store.

Top Tip: We prefer joining the first tour group if possible. That gives you the chance to come back to locations you might have had to rush through before during the tour.

Since the Bannerman Arsenal has had quite a bit of damage done to it over the years, the ruins of Bannerman Castle are not accessible. Therefore, during the tour you will only be able to look at the structure from a safe distance. But even to look at the ancient castle is stunning itself.

However, you will be able to walk around the grounds and inside parts of the Bannerman residence where you can find more information and pictures about Bannerman Island’s history.

As mentioned before, you will have some time before or after the guided tour to walk around the gardens and to the summit of the island at your own leisure. The island is pretty small with only 6.5 acres, so you will have plenty of time to explore the Bannermans Castle Trail and the other unnamed hiking path of the island.

Besides enjoying incredible views of the architectural gems on Bannerman Island, you also get to see splendid views of the Hudson River. One of our highlights was the viewpoint in front of the Bannerman residency. Also make sure to cross the bridge behind the restroom which leads to the highest point of Pollepel Island.

At a certain time given to you upon arrival, the tour will meet again at the starting point at the top of the metal staircase before heading back down to the boat dock to return to Beacon.

Do keep in mind that each tour will vary slightly since you will have a different tour guide on the island and different boat crew members. But one thing is for sure, you will learn a lot about the history of the Bannerman family, business, Pollepel Island, and of course the castle itself on the Bannerman Castle tour.

The Bannerman Island tour is a fun, quick, and interesting activity which is perfect for an evening in the Hudson Valley since it combines the best of the outdoors and history of the area.

Tour Tips for Visiting Bannerman Castle

• Tours of Bannerman Castle are only offered seasonally.

• Terrain on the island is not conducive to strollers and wheelchairs. It is hilly and rocky. It is best to wear comfortable shoes.

• Parking for tours are at Beacon Train Station or Newburgh Ferry Landing depending on where you are starting from.

• There are special events which occur throughout the year at Bannerman Castle on Pollepel Island, for example movie nights, farm-to-table dinners, and theatrical performances. Check the island’s website for upcoming events and make sure to book in advance.

• Arrive at the ferry dock at least 10 minutes before your tour time to check in.

• Be prepared for various weather conditions and dress accordingly. Tours happen rain or shine.

• Tours tend to sell out, especially in the fall during the fall foliage, so make sure to book in advance.

What was the most stunning fact you learned on the Bannerman Castle tour? What is your favorite spot on Bannerman Island?

Let us know in the comments below!

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