Richmond Castle is located in North Yorkshire, England, on a cliff above the River Swale near the town of Richmond. Believed to be one of the oldest stone-built castles surviving today, the grey fortress gleams like gold in the morning sunshine. It was built to protect one of the Norman conquerors, Alan Rufus (Alain Le Roux), and his followers after the slaughter of the Norman garrison at York in 1069. Although nearing its millennium mark, it is surprisingly intact, since it is built primarily of stone, and it never suffered any substantial military attacks.

The most impressive and best preserved area of the castle is the Great Keep, which stands over 100 feet tall. The top of the keep is reached by climbing staircases enclosed by the 11-foot-thick stone walls. From the top there is a magnificent view of the surrounding landscape, including the town of Richmond and the River Swale. One can also see the triangular Great Court and the attached Cockpit Garden, possible location of the Castle gardens in medieval times.

The Castle's original gate was protected by a drawbridge and a moat. This entrance led to the first floor of the keep, consisting of one large room with two smaller rooms built into the thick walls. A spiral staircase from the first floor is the only access to the basement, where a vaulted stone ceiling supports the rest of the structure and provides a cool environment for the storage of food. A pillar in the centre of the basement covers a well, primary source of the castle's water. Another staircase built into a first floor wall leads to the second floor of the keep, where the Great Hall, two small wall chambers, and a latrine are located.

The Great Court is surrounded by curtain walls, some of which are now in disrepair. The east wall was defended by three towers, since it was the most vulnerable (the west wall stretches along the cliff face). Also along the wall are buildings required for castle business, such as stables, another well, latrines, workshops, bakeries, and kitchens.

In the southeast corner of the Great Court lies Scolland Hall, where the Earl of Richmond resided. It was named for Earl Alan's steward. The lower level held living quarters for servants, while the Earl himself lived on the upper floor in the Solar. The Great Dining Hall, where the Earl sat on a raised platform, is also on the upper floor. Nearby, the Gold Hole Tower provided personal latrines for the Earl and his family.