One of the largest castles in England (by acreage); perched on a high crag; very impressive, but few buildings remain apart from the inner ward (Cromwellians did a major slighting job after a siege); why it was built so massively is rather problematical, since even though it dominates, it is not very strategic in location (though near the Motorway, which in turn was built along a major north/sourth route, it is well off to the side) -- a very rapatious, ambitious and devious Norman land baron was up to something unsavory.

This would have made a great refuge for a gang of bandits (like Carreg Cennan in Wales). Across the valley you can see the towers of a privately-owned Victorian castle (Peckforton), a monumental effort of a different sort. Beeston is a great castle to take a dog to.