Bannerman Castle Reviews

My husband and I saw Dracula. There was confusion regarding when to board the ferry. It takes two ferry trips to move everyone who is there to see the play. So, there is a 6pm and a 7pm ferry. The communications via e-mails and texts were confusing and I called to confirm when I should get there; a half hour before the ferry leaves.
It is also confusing to find the dock for the ferry, more signs would be great. We parked at the train station for free, but we drove around for awhile to find the right place.
Except for a long wait to board the ferry, the boat trip was nice.
There was a huge hill of stairs to get to the castle, which I did not expect, as they were not mentioned on the website. The stairs were not a big problem when we arrived, even though it was getting dark, but later when it was dark and raining, they were dangerous. We were told to use our phone lights, but it was pouring.
The play itself was mostly well done. There was a scene set up behind most of us which was difficult to see if you couldn't turn your head enough, as seating was tight and on uneven ground. There was a snack bar with a decent assortment of drinks (no alcohol ) and snacks. Once the play was over, our 7pm group had to wait an hour for the ferry to return. The return ferry trip was a bit wet, but uneventful. If I were to return to the castle I would be sure to get on the early ferry so I could get better seats for the play and get off the island first. All of the staff were very friendly.

The beautiful, updated garden by the main house. Enjoyed this half day excursion from Beacon to Bannerman Island. Gorgeous views and appreciated hearing the interesting history. What vision the Bannerman had! Restoration will be fun to watch. Great family experience.

Great trip via boat to the island. Time on island 90 minutes. Guides were well informed and had interesting details about the island and it’s former tenants. Due to most buildings not secure, we could not get close. Only able to go into first floor of the residence. Boat ride was smooth and staff was informative about the sites on the boat trip.

The boat ride was pleasant, the crew very friendly. The small island is located on the pristine lake where NYC water came from. Guided tour was interesting and educational. The garden and landscaping are beautiful with all sorts of wild flowers. The place was an arsenal and a summer home built by an eclectic arms dealer. There’s very limited snacks for sale on the island. If you need to eat on the trip, it is advisable to bring your own food.

We have been to several events on Bannerman Island over the last few years. Each visit has been wonderful! It is cool to see how the Bannerman Castle Trust has worked to continue the preservation efforts as more and more of the island and castle become open to explore. The boat ride from Beacon is peaceful, the captain and crew are very knowledgeable about the history of the area. Steve and Margaret, two of the tour guides, are just so sweet and have so much to share about the history of the island. If you are able to get tickets to one of the events (they sell out fast!), I highly recommend the experience.

This was a scenic and relaxing afternoon visiting a very interesting historical site. The tour guides were knowledgeable and informative. The island grounds provided awesome views of the castle and the Hudson River. The gardens were gorgeous. The boat was easy to access with parking in the adjoining commuter lot. The excursion left on time and was punctual to the island and back.

This was something we’ve wanted to do for a long time and for the most part, was nice. We had 2 kids with us (9&11) so sitting and listening to history for 10-15 minute clips multiple times was a little much for them. We would have liked a shorter guided tour (maybe one specifically for people with kids could be designed?) and more time to walk around on our own. Also on the upper trails there was a ton of broken glass.

This place is a hidden gem in the Hudson River. The trip was perfect; easy to get to from Grand Central train station in NY. Instructions are super clear on their website about how to arrive at the ferry from Beacon train station and the tour schedules.

It’s fantastic to tour around the Hudson River, the staff is super friendly, and once you get to the island, it’s a small oasis in the middle of the water. Tho history of the castle is excellent, the staff is knowledgeable, and they love responding to questions. There is a restroom and refreshments on the island as well.

The duration of the trip is perfect, 2.5 hours total, including the boat rides!

The only recommendation I would give is for the staff in the boat and tour guides to use microphones because, at times, it’s hard to hear what they say.

We had a great day touring the island and getting lots of information about the history of Bannermans. There was plenty of time to take photos and look around. Wear good walking shoes or sneakers, bring some bug repellent. We packed some water and snacks. We took the small ferry over from Newburgh, (because after that we were taking the River Rose tour, right next to each other.) I'm looking forward to going back this summer and bring more out of town guests. I have a book on Bannermans and it was nice to match up the photos in the to what you are actually seeing while there. They are doing a wonderful job on the restoration, fixing and supporting crumbling walls as well as working on the gardens to restore the. The staff are very friendly and do a great job!

Everything one would want to know or see about this place can be found online. While our guide had extensive knowledge, the visuals he used were a joke. Some 14 x 20 poster boards with faded worn pics held up for 20 people to see. The house that was occupied by the family is an empty shell. Oh and don’t forget snacks are available to buy - a few boxes of candy and some drinks. The trails are pretty rough but very short. The volunteer efforts on the gardens show promise.
This is NOT an excursion for kids. Doubt anyone under 20 would be interested.

A delightful adventure on one the magnificent Hudson. My friend and I particularly enjoyed the Third Saturday tour at 11am, which was self-guided and included live music by a wonderful keyboardist, whose music enhanced our time on the island. The trails were well marked out, the brief introductory lecture told us everything we wanted to know and the new plantings were lovely. Sturdy walking shoes are necessary--and so is a walking stick if you have balance issues; the terrain is rocky and hilly. We brought sandwiches--and got to eat them at picnic tables near the musician; felt like being at really unusual private club! The views of the river are spectacular, both from the boat and from the island. And learning about how and why the castle/armory came to be there made the adventure even more fascinating.

If you like history and a quick visit than this for you. We did the boat cruise from Beacon and we left right on time. The worker and Captain were very nice. The boat ride only took about 20 minutes and once we got there we were met by our tour guides. You never leave your guide and it is an hour and a half tour. No staying on the island for leisure or doing your own thing. And that was fine. There is nothing on the island except the castle. The tour was fast and interesting and our guide was super sweet. The castle is falling apart, but the architecture is still lovely between the details and color. It's a shame it wasn't well kept by the family that owned it before the state. Go on a nice day if you can and get ready for a lot of stairs, hills and bugs. But we really enjoyed the trip and the history and you can't beat a boat ride on the Hudson! Also if you sit on the boat near the edge you will get wet!

I utilized these reviews a lot when planning my trip, so I felt it was only fair to write a review of my own!

First off, there was a bit of confusion in the lead up to the day of our trip. I tried to call the castle’s phone number twice and email once and received no responses on either line, so our group just decided to get to the meeting point early and hope for the best. There are no tickets, you just show up with your name on the reservation and they will let you on the boat. It’s about a 10-15 minute boat ride.

Once you get to the island, there are stairs with lights to guide you up to where the play takes place. At some points during the play, it was very windy and giant tree nuts were falling onto the audience’s head, which was not great but it’s nature so there’s not much that can be done about that. Seats are also not very comfortable, but they sell seat cushions for $5 a person. The play takes place outside and is on an island, so wear layers! We went in mid-September and a heavy sweatshirt was good enough.

We were on the second boat, so we had our island history lecture after the play. Not ideal because everyone was very tired, but I understand why they have to schedule it that way, and I was still happy to hear the history.

Overall, this was a very cool and unique trip for our family! The boat ride over was during sunset so there were great views. The setting of the play on top of the island was awesome as well. I also think $72 per person was great value for the trip. I would definitely come back and visit the island again for any of their other tours!

Great day at Bannerman. Captain Justin and Marie did a great job onboard. Cannot say enough about our tour guide Wes. What a great guy. Full of information, funny, and really loves what he does. We lucked out with perfect weather. We will be back again next summer to explore more of their events. Really unique place.
If you are thinking about going, just book it and go.

Great views and scenery. Interesting history. Captain John and Abby our tour guide were awesome. A nice mix of time on the tour and time to roam the island yourself

Our group of 11 was visiting Beacon for a birthday and this was a morning well spent! The boat ride was scenic and gorgeous and learning about Bannerman history was so engaging. Thank you for the hospitality and Adam did an amazing job with our guided tour. Would 1000% recommend :)

Awesome way to spend the day! Mary, our guide was great, very informative, knowledgeable, and personable. Neil came along on parts of our tour to give us even more great historical facts about the island & castle. BEAUTIFUL views, all around great experience! Thank you so much! I hope to be back soon!

Went to see Dracula on Thursday 09/22/2022.The ferry ride over was nice one of the crew members gave us a interesting historical tidbits about the area. The island is beautifully landscaped. We were supposed to get a quick tour before the show. We started with the tour with an excellent lady guide. She left midway and man took over for the rest and frankly he was awful. The Play was outdoor next to the residence which was lovely. The Play was cute and the stage was done well. It was unfortunately very very windy which made viewing the play not optimal. There was much grumbling from the audience. It was pretty chilly. I would recommend dressing appropriately in the fall with layers when going to the island. They are doing a great job of restoration.
I will definitely go again,

Bannerman Castle is a short ferry ride from Beacon. The island and castle are fascinating and the tour is memorable.

Amazing and relaxing trip.Very friendly crews and knowledgeable guides Great for a short day trip from NYC

We had a great visit starting with our boat team of Jay and Justin - the "J" team. Jay provided an interesting narrative as to what we were seeing on the way, along with some humorous comments, ably seconded by Justin, who got us there in a smooth trip on the Hudson. On arrival we were greeted by our tour guide, whose name I think was Lindy or Lindsay, who gave us a thorough background to what we were seeing before setting us free to wander for the remainder of the time.
The remains of the castle and residence - the whole "scene" - were such a curiosity for the area, and the story is so quirky; we were very pleased to have gone on this expedition.

I booked a tour for November online, totaling $111, and was told that they are actually closed and that I will get NO REFUND AT ALL despite this being THEIR ERROR. If your website is wrong then you need to fix it and give me tickets for another day when you are actually open!! I am blown away that a refund is "not an option" and they were flippant about being completely responsible for this. They basically stole over a hundred dollars from me. I am livid with these people.

Perfect night on the Hudson River. The boat ride over, mini tour with historical background. And then an outdoor play that was excellent. All around fantastic.

Very much a let down. No one paid attention to this site until 1993, and 2 of it's the walls of Bannerman Castle have already fallen. We took a boat from Beacon as part of a tour. Guide on the boat only spoke to people who asked questions, instead of sharing the great trivia of the hudson valley to all passengers. Tour guide at the actual castle location was great, sharing the history of the person who built this "castle" which was just an armory to hold his cache of weapons from being an international arms dealer. Good place to take pics. This whole trip could be much better, especially for the amount of money they charge.

Helpful and amazing staff and tour guides!
The boat guys were funny and interactive, and also very courteous.
The island tour guides were thorough and very friendly!

Everything about this tour was delightful - the short boat ride, the rich history of this corner of Hudson we learned about from a very knowledgeable guides, the sweeping views from and off the island! Highly recommend!

Booked a movie night on Bannerman. Couldn’t have went on a better night. Perfect weather, boat ride over was nice. Learning about the history was interesting. Then sitting on an island , next to a castle , under the stars ( seen 2 shooting stars) eating popcorn, watching a movie.. Perfect date night for husband and I. Would definitely recommend.

Everything about the storied history of Bannerman Island and Castle is interesting. Well worth the trip and tour.

The trip is family friendly. Drive or take the metro north to Beacon. The dock is right by the train station. A nice six hours summer vacation away from the city.

Very unfortunate that Bannerman Castle doesn’t give refunds or exchanges.
So, better not get sick or have any type of emergency , because you’ll be out of money and out of luck.
Terrible policy.

It's surprising this place isn't more famous considering the back story: a wealthy Scotsman whose empire springs from the buying/selling of military surplus purchases an island in the Hudson River to store munitions and builds a folly castle for that purpose. The large shell of the original castle is just one of several structures on the island, but all are in ruins.

The boat ride from Beacon, NY, is a pleasant jaunt, and the guided tour around the island makes you wonder what this must have looked like in its heyday. The tour is strenuous and not a Sunday walk in the park, and visitors don't really get any alone time to wander, which you can't help but want to do.

This was our third visit to the island over the past 12 years. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and the tour is reasonably priced. The included photos are from our first visit--the castle has suffered additional damage since these were taken.

It was a great experience . Love the boat ride to the island and the captain and staff crew was really nice. Once we got to the island our guided tour Steve was very pleasant and knowledge of the history and was open for us to ask questions . After the tour end it they faces some time to walk the island on our own and take some pictures. There’s a small shop with tables and umbrellas and you can purchase some snacks and drinks. Overall is a great place to go and visit with beautiful views. After we got back from the tour we visited downtown Beacon and had lunch there and did some walking on Main Street which is only a 5 minutes drive.

Great day! Terrific tour! Our guide was knowledgeable and knew everything about the history of the island and the castle! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

The views from Bannerman Island itself are beautiful, but this event was so fun. Not only was it informative, but it was also breathtakingly beautiful. The staff was amazing at every step Of the way, both attentive and humorous. The food at the concession stand hit the spot as well! The Only tip I would give is to be mindful that the time on your ticket is the time you can dock the boat, so do not assume first come first serve. And pack layers as it gets chiller as the evening continues. We would absolutely do this again and multiple times if we can!

We went to the Always Patsy Cline musical! Definitely a great performance by Jessica Welch! The band and other performers were excellent as well. Our performance left the Beacon dock at 6pm so we had a walking tour prior to the performance. Great interesting information and walk.

We decided on a whim to visit the castle tour. It was lots of fun as a quick Day trip and we also timed it to enjoy the music festival in Beacon afterward. It was a nice 20-minute ferry ride with Moose and Steve, a brief intro, and a leisurely walk around the small island on an interesting guided tour with Mary and Will. It was an overcast day with light drizzle, and we went out anyway - so it was nice to be prepared with the right layers and a waterproof outer jacket. There is some significant reading inside the summer house, and it's a funky experience. The gardens are beautiful and we were treated to some passing monarchs - as they were laying eggs on the island plantings. The walkways are rugged and the steps are steep, so be prepared for walking. If you have mobility issues with climbing 75 steps and uneven surfaces, this is NOT for you.

Absolutely breathtaking! Beautiful island and Mary our tour guide was so knowledgeable and nice. We loved our time here.

I took the boat ride tour on a cool day in June. The boat ride was lovely and the history of the castle was not what I expected, but definitely taught me a lot. I'd recommend this to folks who have lived in the area and never visited as well as people who are visiting the Hudson Valley. It's a very interesting piece of history and has uniquely gorgeous views of the Hudson River. If you are taking a group it was about $40 per head so keep that in mind for cost. And although we were allowed to eat on the boat you are not allowed to eat on the grounds, but you have to take everything you brought with you on the boat on the island. Pack minimally but make sure you have hydration. The terrain isn't even and it is steep, but there are stairs. If you have children or accessibility issues, keep that in mind before you decide to go. Lastly, they have movie nights on the island which sounds like a lot of fun! Especially in October during Halloween!

This was a fabulous excursion and perfect day trip opportunity. It was unique, interesting and a wonderful chance to spend time outdoors both on the water and on the island. Everyone associated with the excursion was friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend and would go again!

My friend and I went on the 3:30pm cruise to the island. It was a beautiful day, couldn’t have been more perfect. We had a wonderful tour guide on the island, Elizabeth.
If you have ever been curious about the “castle” in the Hudson River, this is a great way to see it.

It was lovely to be able to visit this island and our tour guide was very friendly and seemed to know plenty of the history however the time alloted for the tour is extremely short. You're told it's a 2.5 hour tour but that is very misleading because they include the 30 min to and from the island as part of it. By the time you make it to the residence which is a self guided tour museum you only have a few minutes to look around before you are ushered back to the boat for the next tour coming in. The tour guide we were assigned, I think also made poor use of the time we had. Although very nice and knowledgeable, she took a little too long in the stops we did make. First she had us stop.for a while by the steps coming up from the boat to give us a history lesson on the name of the island which is great to know but could have been explained as we walked. We also went to our first stop only to back track the same way we came to our second stop to once again back track once again to where our first stop was. It wasn't a very efficient way to conduct the tour and use of our time. At the second stop she just lingered for so long. I think she could have walked us along and continued her history lesson to allow us more time to see and explore. Our tour never got the chance to explore any of the open areas open to the public on the islands after the tour guide was done because their was no time. I had to rush through two thirds of the very small museum because we just had to go. I understand from the tour guide that they were asked to shorten the tours sometime ago. I also understand that there is only a single boat that seats 44 people to and from the island. I am sure they are trying to maximize on however many tours they can squeeze in a day to help with funds for the Bannerman Trust but it's also unfair not to have an opportunity to really be able to explore the museum and island. The island itself is lovely and seeing part of the remaining castle was also enjoyable but for all the reasons above I rated my visit a 3. My hope is that they extend the allocated tour time a bit and have the tour guides develop a strategy to use the time more efficiently.

Loved seeing the once-distant castle up close! Be sure to wear good footwear suitable for uneven ground. This is a giant rock and footing is sometimes uneven. It is worth your time to climb up and see the structures up close. The rehabilitation is a work in progress, so this may require a few more trips back. Highly recommend!

We had a beautiful weather day to take the boat trip to Bannerman Island. The boat captain and mate made the trip humorous and quick. (It was ok to bring food on the boat but not on the island.) The island info/history tour was given close to the "castle." Physical access to the castle is not permitted. We were able to get interesting pictures. We were told we had time to walk on the red and blue paths around the 6 acre island. We had plenty enough time to do the two hikes plus a trip to the Wee Bay. Proper shoes/boots were encouraged and in my opinion necessary for Wee Bay along with physical agility. I found the walking and water views relaxing. It is a trip I am glad that I finally went on. (I live local) I will encouraged visitors to go on it as it is "different" but once is enough for me.

Bannerman Island offers a unique and engaging experience for visitors. The ferry ride to the island is scenic and adds a sense of adventure to the journey. Once there, the gracious hosts provide a warm welcome and insightful tours of the historic ruins. The concession stand on the island is a pleasant surprise, offering tasty snacks and refreshments that enhance the visit. The combination of fascinating history, beautiful views, and friendly service makes Bannerman Island a memorable destination.

Overall, an enjoyable experience. We learned a lot of interesting things about the history of the place from Adam who was truly excellent as a guide/docent. However, I agree with other reviewers that it was not quite a “tour.” Of the 1.5 h or so we had on the island, almost 60m was spent on an extended history lecture by Adam and less than 30 min on exploring the island and the grounds on our own. I wish we had at least 45-50 mins for exploration of the grounds, and much less time spent on the history presentation. On the boat, the captain/associate captain tried to give us some additional information about the area, but we couldn’t hear anything because they didn’t use a microphone. So that part was rather useless. My suggestion would be to move at least 15 min of Adam’s (or other guides’) materials to the boat ride (using a proper microphone), and then break the rest of the lecture/presentation into 2 pods of 15 min at 2 different locations: one inside the residence and the other in front of the arsenal, so that we can have a fuller narrated experience of the whole site. I also thought that it was too much to ask us to be there 30 min early, just to have us wait 15+ min under the sun to get checked in. Arriving 15-20 min early should be more than enough for a timely departure.

We wanted to see this castle ruins but didn't have the time to fit in the scheduled boat trip. So we drove 4.5 miles south from Beacon along Rt 9D to a rail trestle called "Breakneck Ridge" on Google Maps(near and across the "Sugarloaf Mountain Trailhead, Wilkinson Memorial Trail."
I followed the upward gravel trail 50' to the closed rail trestle and proceeded 50' more to the Island's information sign. Adjacent was a steel platform positioned for a good view of the island and its ruins from about 500 yards. Please see my pictures.

Really enjoyed this day trip from New Jersey! I can’t really say anything new or different than the other reviews in here: nice people, nice overview, nice amount of time, beautiful everything! And I went on a rainy Sunday afternoon! Would do again! Would take friends!
You should go!

Short boat ride to the island.
Once there, interesting close-up of a once majestic structure which has fallen into disrepair.
Locals are looking for $$ for some restoration.

We did the tour on a beautiful Saturday. Boat guys did a nice and safe tour on the way over. Thank you to the J Team of J and J! Lovely island to support in the middle of the Hudson. Beautiful gardens.

Our experience with the tour was excellent from beginning to end. The ride to the island had nice views and the captain made our trip interesting. Our tour guide on the island (Mary) was very pleasant and knowledgeable. We were slightly disappointed that we couldn't go in the castle, but when seeing it we understood why it would be impossible to enter! The grounds are beautiful and the views spectacular.

A beautiful day to spend an interesting interactive afternoon on the water and learning the history of the island surrounded by butterflies. What could be better?

Save you money. The boat ride over wasn’t bad. However when we got there the tour guide gave us a tour and then we could “explore” on own. Nobody can get near the castle, which I honestly was looking forward to but due to liability you can’t even get close to it which nobody tells you beforehand. And for the price we paid it is not worth it in my opinion.

A great way to spend a day! Cool history of the Hudson River and the characters who roamed this area during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars

A lovely, well orchestrated tour. Boat ride to the island was beautiful and educational. Our captain and his first mate had a ton of knowledge about the area and were very engaging.
The tour guide on the island did an excellent job. The history of the island was interesting and enlightening.
All said an done the cost and time was well worth it.

Boat ride was great and very informative. Tour was very interesting and grounds are beautiful. Overall our whole party enjoyed the time there.

We took the boat from Beacon. It's a short 20 minute boat ride to the castle. Our tour guide was Barbara. She had lots of photos to give us visuals of what everything looked like back in the day. We got lucky and Eleanor who lived in the house as a kid was on our tour. She told us so many great stories about life on the island. I could have listened to her for hours! The gardens are beautiful. The views are spectacular! I am a local to Fishkill and this was my first time. I loved the history in my backyard! A must see if you are visiting or a local like me!!!

This was actually my second visit but if you're in the area, this is definitely worth visiting. Beautiful place to explore with an interesting history.

Staff on ferry were friendly. Ferry guide provided history and some anecdotes of area, not too much so we could enjoy the views and cruise, too. Our guide on Bannerman Island was excellent. Provided a lively and informative account of the person who built Bannerman, as well as, key history of the island and preservation efforts. Provided some free time to roam a bit, too. Very good experience. Better for adults or families with older children (at least age 10) than really young ones.

Interesting island with a rich history going back to the revolutionary war — includes stories of spies, gambling, and prostitution. Bannerman an arms dealer later purchased the island in 1900 because his Brooklyn storeroom of gunpowder and ammunition was becoming too dangerous for the city — creating this Scottish-style castle as a warehouse on the Hudson River. In 1920, 200 pounds of shells and powder exploded in the castle, destroying a portion of the complex.

The boat ride from Beacon was pleasant. It was a nice summer activity on the water, walking the ruins, and learning about the island's history. It’s worth a trip with family and friends.

Very nice to go see and walk around the island and learn some cool facts about it. I would definitely go back with family to show them all the pretty views

Great day! Boat ride to the island with a fabulous crew and great narration on the way. The guides on the island were very knowledgeable and the views fantastic. I recommend this for couples, families with teens and a trip with friends. A great day overall and worth the trip. Save some time at the beginning or end of the day for a visit to Main Street in Beacon NY. Plenty of shops and places to eat.

Nine of us had a wonderful time at the castle. The tour guides were great. The information shared by the tour guides was very interesting. Definitely will be going back again.

Enjoyed this half day excursion from Beacon to Bannerman Island. Gorgeous views, recommend doing this trip in the fall, short hike up (has stairs and railings) and appreciated hearing the interesting history though this was a self-guided tour. What vision the Bannerman had! Restoration will be fun to watch now that I know about this gem. Stroll Beacon’s art galleries, loved @beachglass and restaurants (though not gluten free friendly) after the Bannerman Island visit. Covid precautions present everywhere.

This is a magical and fascinating historic site on the Hudson. The mysterious castle on an island that one sees from the train is even more interesting up close. From NYC it would probably be at least a half day’s commitment. Its a 20 minute boat ride to get to the island. But it is well worth the effort to experience this unique destination. Go! You won’t regret it.

The view of the castle as you approach it on the boat is amazing! 🤩 The tour guide was amazing and the boat crew (Captain Steve and Jen) were hilarious and amazing! 😁

Wonderful tour. Lots of interesting history provided by our first mate Moose and tour guide Mary. Boat Captain Justin also made the trip fun. I loved the island, especially exploring the trails. We went with my sister who was in from California. It was a great way to spend the day!

Great trip. Very interesting history and beautiful way to spend a few hours on the Hudson. You can take the tour or walk by yourself. I recommend the tour. You will still have time to walk around. The boat ride is about 30 mins at the most.

Lovely, breezy boat ride to island, and a terrific, rocky Hudson River island it is -- with beautiful gardens tended by volunteers, grand Scottish-castle architecture, in ruins alas, and great views. Docent was fabulous -- knowledgeable, articulate, enthusiastic. My only quibble: Rather than an hour's talk, enjoyable as it was, and then half an hour to stroll the island's paths, I suggest 45 minutes and 45 minutes. In general, the hour and a half on Bannerman's Island flew by.

We often catch glimpses of Pollepel/Bannerman's Castle driving by on Route 9D; finally decided to do the boat trip + tour when some friends were visiting. Not cheap, but it's something different to do. Interesting historical context, well-organized tour. The kids got a kick out of the story of Bannerman hanging out at the castle, being bored and shooting cannonballs into the Hudson. The castle itself is also very cool; unfortunately, because of structural degradation, you can't get too close to it. [Visited May 2015]

I thought it was terrific. I've been intending to go for years-so glad that I made the trip out to the island, despite the intense heat of yesterday. By doing a "boots on the island" visit, I learned many new things that I did not see on-line or in a book that I bought. Well worth it!

The dumbest tour I’ve ever taken..visiting ruins of a castle is a waste of time and money..The closest thing to the real castle was the pictures showed and stories told by the tour guide ....Also it rained and I got drenched..Not your ideal tour but the boat ride was nice..and to be charged money for seeing a bunch of bricks from afar is ridiculous, I didn’t pay money to see the Colosseum in Rome

We booked by telephone a few days before (after checking the weather forecast) and the young man was polite and very helpful and capable. We were escorted from the dock in Beacon to the island. Our host was the executive director of the Bannerman Castle Trust. He was passionate about the island and the project to restore the home and explained everything. Wear a hat if it is hot and sunny. The email was explicit concerning the time to arrive prior to departure and where the dock was located, near the Beacon metro north station. The boat ride is 30 minutes each way and lovely by itself. Explore the island with the guide and ask questions. Have fun.

Great experience!
We saw the Broadway musical show with Craig Schulman. HEROES, MONSTERS AND MADMEN. I did not know what to expect... and it totally & pleasantly surprised me. The farm fresh dinner was fabulous, that we all enjoyed outside on patio. The young tour guide was full of energy and with much information. They made soo many improvements to the property to accommodate all of us. There is a nice 2 room bathroom.

Loved this tour, guides were very knowledgeable and so interesting to learn about the history of the island and castle. We loved the boat ride over and back and our tour of the island. We also explored Beacon, which was so beautiful and so much to do , Highly recommend this tour and visiting Beacon.

The customer service was terrible. I went to make a reservation for July 28 and made it for April 28 in error. Not 5 min after I realized and reached out to customer service. I sent in total 3 emails and called 3 times. The calls go to answering service who flatly refused to help. One guy ( Rich ) said if i didn’t hear from them to call back after 3:30. So i did just to find out the reason was Rich was off duty and i had to speak to another answering service rep. I got no help from Anotia who was very rude. When their confirmation email said to contact them for any help ITS A LIE. The office didn’t even have the curtesy of contacting me. So we made a 2.5 hr trip yesterday. The boat staff was great Our tour guide was just ok. She said it was her first tour of the season and she should have spent a few minutes before organizing her tour. The place was cool to see. But all the negatives added up to a 1 * trip

An informative boat ride to the Castle was followed by a great lecture and tour of the island. The lecturer was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the castle and its inhabitants.

Very interesting history. Great tour. Beautiful views of the Hudson. Beautiful flowers add to the experience. Really enjoyed, including boat ride!

Loved the boat ride to and from the island. Great to learn all the history of the Bannerman's and the history! So much fun to take photos and walk around the area! Would love to go back and see a play one day! Is you haven't taken the tour do it, so much fun!

We loved visiting Bannerman and wonderful boat ride on the Hudson with Steve our captain. We were very fortunate to tour the island with Wesley and Eleanor , a previous resident on Bannerman for 11 years was truly a fun story teller. Gave you a real flavor of living on the island as a little girl.

What a lovely way to spend the afternoon!! The tour guides are full of “ fun facts” and kept things interesting. The ferry ride over and back was fabulous!! Being in the middle of the Hudson River provides outstanding views. The crew was friendly and knowledgeable.

Our tour guide, Jacob was the sweetest. We cannot say enough kind words about this gentle soul. He is an absolute treasure of a human! His tour really helped us discover more about this interesting piece of NY history and made us all feel inspired to learn more about the Bannermans and the island. If you’re looking for a fun, fascinating day trip outside the city, this is a must do!

The whole experience was great and exceeded my expectations! I was pleasantly surprised by how knowledgeable the tour guides were and how much I learned that day.

NY state park area which is in the process of restoration with a lush, mysterious, long, intriguing, romantic history in need of help, volunteers, and work. A must go place not well suited for individuals with physical handicaps. .

This was a great day trip from NYC. Took about 2.5 hours, which included a ferry ride from Newburgh and a very good narrated tour. Castle is very photogenic and the tour was very interesting. There's plenty of parking near the dock and there is Metro North station nearby.

John first mate & Justin boat Captain were awesome 👌
John's humor and knowledge of the the castle, Island and surrounding areas was great. The Captain's ride over the Hudson River was wonderful. Zoey our tour guide, was a book of knowledge. She didn't miss a beat with a wealth of information about the castle and the island, and she could answer any question that was presented to her.
We gave a generous donation to the garden fund upon leaving and nice tip to the first mate and Captain. I went on a 7 day cruise years ago to the Bahamas and yet this small vessel, & enchanted island tour was one of the happiest experiences of my life.
Booking online was so easy, parking was easy, the weather on Saturday August 30, 2025 was gorgeous. All around, I give Bannerman Island walking tours a 5*****star rating.

Great tour. Margaret was the best-- like she lived in that time and space. Very knowledgeable.
Justin and Mouse were great on the boat as well.

A world within itself. A unique history to an island in the Hudson River. The ferry drivers were knowledgeable and friendly. The guides were full of information. The trails were on the harder side. You need good shoes for this. The climb to the top is real. You need to be able to climb the stairs to the top from the ferry.

MUST SEE!!! If you like nature, adventure and history-it’s a no brainer. The Bannerman property is full of history and nature. One of Hudson Rivers treasure and history filled experience.

I started hiking during the pandemic and looked down on this island many times from Breakneck and Storm King. I never knew this existed before hiking. I finally took the tour. It is amazing! It is beautiful- so many volunteers put their time into gardening and restoring. Bannerman has a very interesting history and built 4 incredibly beautiful warehouse arsenals on the island. The boat crew will give you the history of George Washington in Newburgh on your ride, and the tour guides on the island will give you a complete history. It is fascinating. It is well worth doing this trip.

Lovely experience! The crew on the boat made the ride a fun experience by narrating some history and the guides on the island do a terrific job as well. Worth your money!

Great trip , the boat dock is directly across from the Beacon train station , parking and access was fine . The boat trip is short but nice , includes a bit of information about places passed in Newburgh and surrounding areas. The island was small and easy to travel , yes, there are steps but they are regular steps with rails nothing to worry about. The tour guide Mary was really informative and interesting and clearly loves her job. The tour was well done, time was available for some self exploration and then the ride back . I did not know what to expect but was more then happily surprised with the day - hoping to see more of the castle preserved in the future - it’s a gem .

We had a gorgeous day, which only enhanced our experience on the island. Boat ride, all the staff, volunteers and tour were fantastic. I highly recommend this tour. You will enjoy learning the story of Bannerman Castle, the history and how the current environment is affecting the stability of the remains. If you are challenged with tricking terrain and have a hard time climbing stairs, you may want to skip this. I say this only because many seniors in our group appeared as though they were going to pass out when they reached the top of the 76-step stairway.

We had a wonderful day touring the island! Can’t wait to go back next summer for an event! Wes was a great guide, full of history and enthusiasm!

It's not every day that you get to hike to and around such beautiful ruins. Our trip started just 100 yards from the Beacon Metro-North station, when we made our way to the water. There's not much signage, so we just sort of gravitated to where some other people were standing, and the check-in was quick. The boat ride to Bannerman's Island included a close-up look at the other side of the Hudson and a glimpse of a "George Washington slept here" site. Our guide said there is also an excellent Revolutionary War museum there. Once we arrived at the island, we made our way up the steps to the first viewing/lecture area overlooking the largest ruin. The tour is very well designed so that there are several spots where people can sit while the guide explains things and passes around old photos. The former residence at the top of the island is being restored, and is as worthy of a tour as the bigger, more impressive ruin. We enjoyed the afternoon thoroughly and thought it was an extremely well organized tour with very well-informed and informative guides. One caveat: this involves a lot of walking and stair climbing, and there is no way to get much from the outing without committing to several steep climbs. For those who can, it's well worth it! We bought a combo ticket from the Metro-North website that saved a few bucks on coming up by train from NYC.

Nice trip on the Hudson to the island. Plenty of time on the island to explore. Guides were very knowledgeable and a pleasure to interact with. We did the late trip (6-8:30) and the views at sunset were fantastic.

Informative, great crew on the boat as well as a well-informed tour guard. I would highly recommend the excursion.

It was a fantastic 2 1/2 spent. Moose was very knowledgeable on the boat ride over. Jacob was our guide on the island. Jacob was also very knowledgeable and it very interesting.

Bannerman Island is a site in the Hudson River Valley that should not be missed. The boat ride to this almost mysterious island is exciting to a first time visitor especially as you approach the island by boat. You see the ruins of the castle from a distance.

Be prepared to walk and climb. You need the where ever to walk down the steep paths along the hilly section of the island and to hike up and down the paths.

You can’t get close to the castle building as it is very unstable but you can close enough to take some amazing pictures. The gardens on the island are cared for by many dedicated volunteers and add color to all the hills around the island.

When you get to the island you start the tour with a discussion of the owners ammunition collection and business and how he designed the buildings and home on the island and a bit about the family. You then have about an hour to walk around on tour own.

Be prepared though for lots of exercise. If you do not or cannot walk up hills I do not suggest visiting. The island is not ADA assessable. You will not be able to see the best parts of the island if you cannot walk the paths. Lastly take the hour to really explore the island’s Wee Beach and Red Path. The sites you will see are amazing.

Everything about this experience was fantastic. My family and I spent the day in Beacon (excellent meal at Cooper’s), then caught the ferry for Bannerman Island. The production for Dracula was top-notch and the full moon rising only added to the atmosphere.

We had wonderful time right from the beginning till the end. Beautiful Island , great crew members and we had excellent guides who explained us history of Bannerman's Castle in details. Worth visiting.

This site is such a white elephant on the Hudson River, and there’s no way to know unless you visit it, what it’s all about.

I took my 6 y.o. and 13 y.o. on the walking tour of the Bannerman Island and none of us were disappointed. It is organized and ran on the enthusiasm of a group of people who care. The boat ride itself was a very pleasant experience. I usually suffer from motion sickness, but even in the absence of medication and presence of waves the captain insured a smooth "sailing". Great views, the level of organization and very informative friendly guides made it a very pleasant experience all around. The proceeds go for restorations, so you can see your money at work when you visit. We will most likely come back the next year! Btw, readily available free parking within the walking distance is a big plus. Also, the location of the dock is a very short drive away from the Main Street in Beacon. Shops, art galleries and variety of eateries kept us busy for a while. Make a day of it, you will enjoy it!

Though it was a rainy foggy day, the guides on the ferry as well as at the castle were so accommodating and informative. We loved the history! Would do it again and recommend to friends.

Fascinating island with beautiful views of the Hudson Valley and river
The history was so fascinating and explained very nicely by the tour guides
A unique and fun experince!

It was a great experience. The boat crew were knowledgeable and fun, especially Jay, who had lots of fun acts about the Island.
The tour guides on the island were fantastic and very knowledgeable. Beautiful grounds to explore.

This was such a cute adventure! It was so nice to learn all about the history of this island and castle. The boat rides there and back were quick (about 30 minutes each way). The tour itself was amazing! We learned so much :) Shoutout to our tour guide Adam. Definitely wear close-toed shoes, there's a lot of walking and rocky paths to explore on the island.

It was a great boat ride and tour of the island. I would highly recommend it! Good for groups and singles.

A treasure. Not what we expected. Our tour guide, Mary, was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Mary made the visit. It’s a special place— don’t miss it.

We began our journey with a short boat ride to the island, which seemed less than 30 minutes from Beacon. Our tour guide was Ken. He was awesome! Ken was a wealth of knowledge during the entire tour. He shared so much information about the island, castle and surrounding area. Ken's knowledge, witty personality and pleasant demeanor made for a great tour and super trip! I would highly recommend this day trip.

Passengers on the Hudson line of Metro North trains can catch fleeting glimpses of a castle on an island in the Hudson River. The island is situated in the midst of the Hudson Highlands. For many, myself included, the castle at its summit, and the lure of its history, is something to seek out.

The island, known familiarly as Bannerman’s Island is really named Pollepel Island. The Native Americans considered it haunted, and so, avoided it.

Although pollepel is a Dutch word, meaning ladle, the island likely got it’s name from local folklore, and the story of a girl named Polly Pell, who was stranded on the island, and then rescued by her future husband, sometime back in the distant past.

In the 1900, Francis Bannerman, a Scottish immigrant purchased the island for $1600 when zoning laws in New York City forced the munitions dealer to re-locate his business from 501 Broadway.

A son, canoeing on the Hudson saw the island and told his father about it. The Bannerman family purchased it and Francis began the seventeen year construction of the castle as a secure storage site to house vast quantities of munitions, war weapons, explosives and volatile ammunition. The castle became a striking site and the island’s location probably reminded Bannerman of the Scottish highlands.

Two years after Bannerman’s death in 1918, another structure on the island exploded. In 1967, a fire destroyed more of the castle. The island was then purchased by New York State. The castle is currently the property of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and is mostly in ruins.

However, the name Bannerman stuck and the Bannerman Castle Trust hosts theatrical and other events there.

Walking tours are available and the island is the site of Melissa McGill’s, Constellation art installation, a series of lights set amidst the ruins that mimic stars in the sky.

During a recent performance of Camelot by the Sugarloaf Performing Arts Center, the setting sun, high perch and scenic view provided a stunning backdrop for Lerner & Lowe’s lovely music. Staging, costumes, and an elaborate set were non-existent. It didn’t matter. The cast was talented, the setting idyllic and Lerner and Lowe never disappoint.

The island offers many options for a lovely weekend or one-day getaway. An added attraction is if you can catch a performance. Get there by taking a Poughkeepsie bound train to Beacon. The ferry dock to the island is across the street from the train station.

The tour was very interesting and informative. The boat ride was very relaxing both ways. A great job done by everyone involved.

The half hour boat ride to & from Bannerman Island on a gorgeous early fall day was sublime. Mary, our tour guide on the island, was excellent - personable, with a compelling speaking voice, a good sense of humor & broadly knowledgeable about the Bannermans & the island's history as far back as the indigenous people who lived in the area.

We took a 9:50 AM Metro North train from Grand Central & walked over to the lovely cafe at Dia Beacon for a pleasant lunch sitting out on the patio, then walked back to the boat dock in time for our 2-4:30PM Bannerman Island adventure. A 5:09PM train got us back to Grand Central before 6PM.

An easy, wonderful day trip from the city that felt like a relaxing vacation.

This is a really cool thing to do for the day. The guys on the ferry are awesome. They give an unofficial history lesson on the area that i loved. The staff on the island are wonderful too. knowledgeable and nice. The island itself is very cool to explore. *As others have said, wear good walking shoes. We covered all the trails and saw everything there was to see in the time allotted. I highly recommend this little adventure

I had a lovely time at Bannerman Castle back in late Spring! From the transportation to the walking tour, everything ran smoothly. Wes, our guide, was very informative, thorough and entertaining. He knows the place well and has a great sense of humor. He even recommended books to read at the end of the tour if people were interested in learning more about Bannerman Castle or other topics related to New York.

I certainly recommend going to Bannerman Castle. It is well worth the price of admission and makes for a perfect daytrip from NYC on the Metro North train.

Our tour of Bannerman Island was awesome. Once we got off the boat on the island, we were greeted by the tour guides. My group had Steve as our guide and he was very personable, answered questions and was very knowledgable about the history of the Bannerman family as well as the island itself. The castle was beautiful and the island itself was full of well-maintained gardens, pathways and awesome views of the Hudson.

We had an awesome time!!

The back story to the history of the island is incredibly fascinating. Loved the boat ride and the views are out of this world.

Great experience in the Hudson Valley. It started with a boat ride out of Beacon Station. Plenty of parking available in the evenings and service is prompt. Mary, our tour guide on the island, was very knowledgeable and excited sharing the history of the island. We went on movie nite and enjoyed a great movie in a nature setting. Remember to bring a sweater and wear long pants as you will definitely feel the chill from the Hudson on a 70 degree no humidity kind of nite in late summer.

See this place before climate change whisks the remains away. Unique tour of what used to be a sprawling munitions factory built to resemble a castle. Lot of interesting history (lot of drama and explosions in the past). The Bannerman family eventually sold this island to the state of New York, and it was closed down due to safety concerns. Then almost 20 years ago, the Bannerman Trust was established. Now they have tours, hold chef’s dinners, show movies, have theater events. The tour boat that brings you over (it’s about a 20 minute trip along the estuary) is clean and spacious and the captain is entertaining and kind. Our guides was a husband and wife team, very knowledgeable. There were beautiful views, lovely gardens, and Monarch butterflies everywhere (they apparently come to the island every year).

There are bathrooms on the island. There’s also a place to buy drinks and souvenirs, but cash only. Over 70 steps to get to the top of the site, so be prepared.

Great tour at Bannermans Castle today. Took family from Ireland. Beauty boat ride over to the Island. Little hike and history of the beautiful Hudson Valley.

Wonderful walking tour (great guides!) with free time to enjoy the island and views. Highly recommended excursion and perfect to pair with time in the town of Beacon!

We had been passing by this charming island and folly for years and were thrilled to find that we can now take a boat ride and walking tour. It was a lovely and informative experience and easy to coordinate. The island's trails and buildings filled our time and there are nice amenities there (bathrooms, shop, cafe). I highly recommend booking the boat ride/tour.

Practical matters: MetroNorth train takes you practically to the dock, which is fantastic! The nearest portipotty/bathroom while you wait for the boat tour to begin is in a pretty park about 500 yards north (we went straight there and parked by them for free and then drove back to the dock where we found plenty of free weekend parking available for those of us taking the boat ride. Only about 40 folks are permitted onto the island via tour at a time, and you leave with your group, which means it never gets crowded. If you go there by train, you may find 2-3 cabs at the Beacon station (East side of tracks) that can later take you up the hill to the town of Beacon, which is worth seeing and where you will find wonderful eating and shopping options. We took the 11am tour and had a very fine lunch later at the Roundhouse in town.

This is a very nice trip during fall. You will see great views of Hudson river and a small but beautiful island with castle ruins, owner's residence, and several trails. Allow half a day.

My friend and I purchased tickets for the self guided tour with live music. The musician was excellent. She reminded me of Norah Jones. The boat ride to the castle was smooth. They have life jackets on board. Some of the walking on the island was difficult especially since it rained before and while we were there. The remnants of the Bannerman Island Arsenal cannot be toured. The Arsenal is what you see as you approach by boat. There are various placards around the island to give you information about what you are seeing. There is a concession stand on the Island. The cutest staging area where they do plays and show movies as well. Overall a fun experience.

On a whim, I decided to make a trip to see this Castle after reading about it from an email newsletter. I am very happy that I did. The day was crisp, sunny, and cloudy, which made for some spectacular photos. The 25min boat ride over was just as interesting as the castle tour, being filled with the guide offering history tidbits about the area. The approach to Bannerman Castle is impressive and the steps up from the boat to the 'top' of the island were not horrible at all. My group's tour guide, Mary, was excellent. She was not boring, and it didn't appear to me as if she were 'on-script' at any time. She was also concerned about leaving enough time for us to explore the island on our own, while gently reminding us about staying on the marked trails. While I understand the need for turnover to get as many people to see this small wonder, I really wish I'd had more time to take everything in. Having said that, though, I'd unequivocally recommend Bannerman as an adventure for a day.

Saw photos of this place and expected a lot more for the price. $40 is too much money for the quality of the tour. You take a boat to the island. Climb up a series of steps and the tour guide walks you to two spots and talks for about an hour. You can’t actually go to the castle structure. And after the lecture there isn’t much time to explore the island. The experience should cost like $20-$25, not $40

I loved my evening tour of Bannerman Island! The scenery from the ferry boat was spectacular. The boat tour guide was funny and gave us a lot of information. Steve, our island guide, gave us a ton of information on the Bannerman family and business. The steps were broken up with stops and the gardens were beautiful. The family home at the highest point, which is now a small gift shop, had absolutely gorgeous views. We want to come back to one of their dinners, movie nights or theatrical presentations. I highly recommend this tour!

Highly recommend this excursion when in the Beacon area. The boat ride was lovely and the staff on board were not only knowledgeable but also fun! The staff giving the tour of Bannerman Castle were equally knowledgeable and gave an excellent tour. The amount of time to explore the island after the talk was perfect too!

A great way to spend Mother's Day! Our tour guide, Adam did a great job. They were so knowledgeable about the history of the island. It is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon. Snacks are available on the island and nice clean bathrooms.

Nice get away from the city for an afternoon, remarkable gardens with energetic and knowledgeable guides. the cost is a little pricy but it includes a 30 minute each way ferry and helps to defray the cost of property upkeep and maintenance of the varied and numerous gardens

Everyone in our group enjoyed the entire trip from the boat ride with the Crew, who were informative and funny to our tour guide Mark who was knowledgeable and very informative. My 12 yr old grandson and I did the Loop and enjoyed the grounds and chatted with fellow travelers as well. We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves

We saw Nunsense the musical performed on Bannermans Island. It was a unique experience and a great show. Such a beautiful and exotic surrounding for the Arts. I would go back for another show or even a movie night. There are many Nunsense sequels in the Concord Theatricals catalog. I hope this troupe comes back and works their way through them. The cast had great chemistry. I wouldn't mind the Nunsense Christmas show in July either.

This was a great visit. We rode the boat to the island with a large group of people celebrating a birthday with a pirate theme. It seemed like a big group (of which our group of 4 was not a part) but everyone had fun and enjoyed the trip. When we arrived on the island they broke us into groups with our own guides, and we walked around the island learning the history of Bannerman, the buildings on the island and the general area. Our guide was a former teacher so he knew his history and could answer the questions of the curious. On the way back we were talking with the captain of the boat saying we were planning wine tasting, and he suggested a nearby winery which was beautiful and had great wines, Benmarl. It was all around a good experience, and although there was a fee, it went to preserving the island so we appreciated that.

Last time I went was over 20 years ago, the improvements to the whole Island is fantastic!!! So much easier to get around! Last time it was row, row, row you boat!
The captain gave tons of historical information!!!! But he also touched my heart!! He saw a young explorer and told him how to understand the equipment on the boat and even let him steer!! ( while he kept an eye on him) That kid was ssssoooo excited!
Bannerman's Island has so many improvements!! I will definitely be going back !! And the GHOST stories!! I have to go back! Thanks for a great time!! Great job to the tour guide!!

I booked this tour to spend a fun day outdoors for our anniversary and was not disappointed. The weather was beautiful, the boat ride was pleasant with friendly crew. You can tell immediately upon arrival that there is a system to ensure guests get on and off the island safely and efficiently. Our tour guide Adam did an incredible job of explaining all the history which we found truly interesting. The time allotted was perfect. Take their advice and wear sneakers. The trails are narrow and rocky. My only wish was that the boat would have circled the island so we could see all sides.

this experience exceeded our expectations — the lovely boat ride leads into a tour that is the perfect length to be informative, but not to get boring. however to set your expectations, most of the ruins are off limits. the free time to roam the island is a lovely walk through gardens and lush greenery (bring a snack and wear your hiking shoes!) accompanied by gorgeous river views. the staff are friendly and knowledgable, and it's clear they have a passion for what they do. I hope to return soon!

Had a wonderful afternoon on Bannerman Island. Tour was very interesting and boat trip from Beacon good.

Great crew! Both educators who really cared about the history and ecology of the Hudson Valley. Mary was an amazing guide on the island. Knew lots of secrets and naughty little tidbits. Very entertaining from beginning to end.

Wow!! Absolutely worth touring. It's a nice half hour boat ride to/from the island. The tour path is easy to walk, thought the trail up to the highest point on the island is a bit challenging. Chairs are set up at the 3 stops/viewing points along the tour. The Bannerman's summer home opened two years ago after being rehabbed and you can walk through it now. Our tour guide, Rowan, was excellent and extremely informative. Highly recommended.

The guide was absolutely great and very competent, the tour is interesting and the island is extremely intriguing. Go and support the castle, it is so worth it!

A leisurely boat ride followed by a hike to Bannerman's Castle is a great way to relax and enjoy the day. Fun facts are given along the way in the boat and on the hike. Keep in mind,you cannot enter the "castle" but you can tour the residence. Make sure you bring your camera.

A great 20-minute boat ride to the island, followed by an informative tour of the castle and island. Beautiful weather added to the experience. All those we came in contact with were friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable.

Great time!
From Justin and Jay on the boat ride, with some history lessons given, to the tour and the movie, all staff were friendly, knowledgeable and made you feel so welcomed.
If you want to learn about Bannerman Island, this is the way to do it!

The visit started with an awesome boat ride to the castle with the J crew, who shared the history of the region and took the time to point out sights and geographical features. Upon arriving at the castle we were given an expert, informative and very interesting tour all around the island. The castle and summer residence were fascinating and the grounds were beautiful with lovely gardens everywhere. We loved that there was a small gift shop with snacks and beverages, and tables to sit at outside after the tour so we could enjoy the day. The view from everywhere was amazing. We will definitely be bringing friends back to see this unique attraction.

If you're in Cold Springs, a Bannerman Castle is a must visit. The Castle sits on an island on the Hudson. To get to the Castle, you have to pay for the tour or you can kayak to the island. As you pull up to the island, you get a really amazing view of the Castle. It is breathtaking. Once there, if you are on a tour, you will explore the island with a guide who knows the history. The tour is not for the faint of heart. There are 72 steps up to the top at the beginning of the tour and in some spots the terrain is uneven. If you want to tour the island, I would suggest signing up as early as possible because the tours sell out quickly. All tour proceeds go directly into continuing the restoration effort of the island. The money you will pay to go on this tour is money well spent.

This was a great experience enhanced by the 2 crew men on board the boat. The castle was as expected from a bombed out shell but nevertheless a GREAT EXPERIENCE.

This tour was very cool. It was so nIce to be able to get a closer look at the old castle that you see in the middle of the hudson! Definitely wear walking shoes and bring a camera

Great way to spend time in the Hudson Valley! Easy boat trip from Beacon to the Island. Amazing site and what a view! The guide was fantastic; very knowledgeable and provide lots of historical details

AMAZING! From the moment you step on board the boat the crew and staff are super friendly. You can feel the love they all have for the island and the mission of restoring and saving this important part of our Hudson Valley history. From the boat ride to the tour to the musical production A+++ from start to finish.

We live across the river and always commented about going over to the Island. We are so happy we did! The grounds are beautiful and the guides both on the boat and on the island were great!

Finally got the chance to visit Pollepel Island home of the Bannerman Castle. A rich history and some interesting facts about the family and the origin of why the castle was built in the first place. Our guy was extremely knowledgeable of all facets of the history of the castle. Even a Bannerman flew in from the UK and was part of our group. Great day!!! Must see. Worth the price of admission.

J and J were in charge of our trip. The J who did all the talking was informative, funny, polite. Perfect weather, smooth trip, punctual. The tour guide on the island was entertaining.

Great choice for a tour on a beautiful summer day on a very busy Sunday afternoon in the beautiful Hudson Valley. Tour of Bannersmen Island was fantastic. Tour guide Pat was outstanding. Will definitely go back and highly recommend to others.

This castle was built in 1900 as a safe storage site for arms by Frank Bannerman, and a separate house where the family lived. The stored arms and ammo ignited and caused a horrific explosion in 1920. Today it is owned by the state of NY.
The castle is located on Pollepel Island in the Hudson River. We had a 30-minute ferry ride to the island and an hour that included a tour with free time. When arriving there are many steps up from the water to the path where the tour begins - but stopping points along the way up, so steps are easy.
Overall a good visit.

Visiting the castle and island is a great experience. It is only accessible through a guided tour. The tour is worthwhile. It is about 1.5-2 hours and provides a ton of history and stories about the island.

Wesley was a very informative guide. Many inside facts and knowledge were shared in the presentation. The boat captain and crew navigated through the pop up rain storm without a problem.

TL;DR: You can't get anywhere close to the ruins, you're just walking through weed-covered rocks. Your views of the "castle" are no better than they are from the river banks.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The river trip is pleasant, then once you're docked it's 72 steps up to the top of the ridge and the gathering point. You have an hour and a half on the island before the boat comes to take you back. You'll be done in 45 minutes.

The blue trail takes you past the ruins of the armory, but you're never closer than 100' to them. There are a few signs—and perhaps a tour guide—passing along more myths than facts about the island's history and the building's construction (mostly destruction). Then it's a short hike uphill past a nicely manicured garden to the Bannerman's house. Quick-painted plywood floors, boarded-up windows, crumbling masonry, a closed second floor, and a few stored spotlights—that's the house. Then you go out to the gift shop (it's a snack stand with postcards and books), then across a bridge back to the gathering point.

The yellow trail takes you up the hill to the highest point on the mountain. There are no steps, so elderly & shaky-footed take heed. You're walking on craggy rocks. The high point gives you a good view of Washington's HQ on the Newburgh side of the river, then it's a weed-covered narrow gravel trail down and around to get back to the gathering point.

Bathrooms are two dimly-lit composting toilets (read: fancy buckets of sawdust, just far enough removed that you don't see it... but you smell it), so enjoy that.

There's a third trail that takes you down to the shore on the far end of the island. It was somehow more precarious than the yellow trail up to the high point, so we skipped it.

The pictures make this place look interesting and exciting, and they really sell the idea of walking through ruins. In reality, there is very little to do here.

Once and for all, can we please stop with "tours" of places that take you nowhere near what you're there to see?

Super fun to learn about the history! A must see! Did the Kayak tour which made it even more enjoyable for me.

Great trip! Ferry ride smooth and fun. Tour guide super nice and knowledgeable.what a sight to see. I will recommend this trip to my friends and family

Great excursion! Drove up to Beacon from NYC explicitly to do this tour. The 30-minute boat ride to the island is entertaining in itself (return trip does not take as long; they just head straight back). Guided tour is interesting and gives just the right amount of history, then you have ample time to explore.

Wonderful experience. Clean boat with good guide and captain. Tour on the island was perfect - lots of history and just the right time “on your own”. A unique history of the Hudson Valley that was well worth the trip.

The Caste is an easy 25 minute boat ride. The tour guides on the island were superb. A wonderful way to spend a morning.

Take a boat from Beacon, New York to visit this odd island with its crumbling ruin of a castle and mansion. Built on the fortune made by Bannerman selling surplus arms in the early part of the last century, the place is at once a folly and a historical experience. The gardens have been recently and lovingly restored, making the experience delightful on a warm summer day.

Wonderful experience all around. Jacob was our tour guide and shared stories that I'm sure you can find on Wikipedia. A big shout out to the J crew for the extra entertainment on the boat, and a safe ride back to shore in some unexpected weather.

I’ve been wanting to visit Bannerman Castle, since I passed it heading upstate on Amtrak. What a very cool place! The castle, the gardens, the views. The men on the ferry ride were very informative and what’s not to like about a ferry ride. I do have to give kudos to them. Before we were getting on the ferry, there was a 911 boating emergency a few hundred yards off the dock. They zipped out there and helped rescue a little sailboat that was sinking. Good guys. Our tour guide, Mary, was also wonderful. Very informative and knew all of the history of the castle and the area. It was a great day!

We had a terrific experience on our boat ride and walking tour. The boat staff were pleasant and the tour was very informative. Beautiful sites and plenty of photo opps!

My favorite part of this trip was learning from our guide Mary. We didn't sign up for a guided tour, but Mary offered to take us anywhere we wanted to go on the island so we went just about everywhere. And at every place, she had wonderful and interesting information to share. She made the experience for us. Thanks Mary!

I’m not a huge fan of day-trips, but this one really amazing! First of all, the ferry ride to the castle is beautiful! The driver of the boat was very friendly and we had a great time. Getting of the boat was very easy and we were greeted by a very enthusiastic and friendly tour guide. Walking around the island and seeing the castle is so beautiful. The gardens are really a site to be seen and getting the whole history of the castle and the island is super cool. At the top of the island you can go inside a old house were people once lived! They have a few little shops/venders near the house and they also have bathrooms on the island. It was a truly great experience and I would recommend it!

just watching from the shore stokes the imagination. Like our own little San Simeon on the Hudson! Need to find tour so I can actually visit.

Beautiful location and being lovingly cared for and the grounds restrored. Interesting history and fascinating and thorough tour

The 2.5 hour tour was well worth the money for a look at this pretty island with an interesting history. Our tour guide was informative and personable, and the boat ride to the island was pleasant. This is a hidden gem well worth checking out.

Note - there are 70 plus stairs to climb and I'd therefore recommend against bringing very young children/strollers.

A nicely organized tour back into the past. Very educational. John, our boat captain, had a great sense of humor. The staff was very pleasant and helpful. Terrain of the foot paths was somewhat rocky for those not so sure footed. Wear "hiking" shoes/boots if possible. So sorry the fall foliage was muted due to the summer drought. A wonderful day overall.

Wonderful boat ride with fantastic crew to a beautiful island. Definitely wear shoes for moderate hiking to be able to explore. Tour guide was also great. Next time I want to try the dinner or kayak trip.

What an amazing experience. I went with my 11 year old son and we loved it. The ferry ride was great; the crew was nice and funny. The tour of the castle was amazing. The tour lady was extremely knowledgeable and made it fun. We loved everything about it.

Complete waste of money. The only thing that was worth it was the boat ride. It is a complete mess and very dangerous to walk around. It’s false advertising to say it’s a castle. It’s a shell of what was once a munitions storage facility. No real paths to walk on. Don’t waste your money and time.

A quick boat ride is always a fun way to start a tour. Once at the island you are met by the incredibly knowledgable tour guide. An excellent balance of history and fun with some beautiful scenery make this a great tour.

nice boat ride, great narrative on the way to the island, friendly staff, great narrative from Mary, wonderful views, great paths. wish we had packed a lunch, great place to have one. little disappointed that you can not get close to the ruins, but did understand why. Great short day trip.

The correct name for this should be "Pollepel Island home of the Bannerman Castle".

When I went on a hunt to create a bucket list of places I wanted to visit and see NYS, - this place was on my priority.

1st of all it's not every day you get to see ruins in NYS. It's a great place to visit with your friends or family. Even if you're single - you'll have a blast too, especially if you enjoy history.

Love the fact that only 40 people can visit this place on a single boat ride that takes you on the island and then the same group will be broken down in 2 groups as guides will take you to the island while storytelling you about it's history.

We brought 11 and 7 year olds with us and they both absolutely loved it there.

When the tour was completed and we were given a ride back to the City of Beacon, NY we went to explore that city. Then we went to Main Street, which had many restaurants and cozy, rustic stores.

I really suggest this trip to anyone, but do note you must plan this way ahead as tickets are very limited and this gets booked really quick.

Had this sight on my list for years and finally just carved out a fall Saturday to travel a couple hours north to tick it off my bucket list. Everything was well run, from the boat ride (co-captain gave some history en route) to the guide on the island. Some free time followed before the return boat.

This is a great day trip from NYC, especially in autumn with all the leaves turning. The tour guides are friendly and knowledgeable and, once the tour is over, let you explore the island. The boat staff are also great fun and tell interesting anecdotes on the way over. I highly recommend.

Very enjoyable tour given by a passionate and well informed young man (not good with names sorry ), the boat rides were smooth.

A lot of history there, the guides are wonderful. Very neat and absolutely gorgeous short day trip. The ride up was pretty as well.

I took my three young children for a day tour to Bannerman Island, and it was a delight. The tour guides are genuinely enthusiastic curators of the island, and very knowledgeable, but also quite flexible and willing to let people wander off to explore on their if they so wish. I'd also add here that the boat crew are fantastic: warm and very funny. I'm only keeping off one star because I wish that the price was slightly lower.

For the cost of the trip ($45) it was worth it (not worth more than that). The history of the island is interesting (yes, you can read it online but you can’t get the nostalgia online). Boat operators were very pleasant, friendly and funny. Tour guide had a very good attitude and was very informative, she made the time spent feel relaxing. Allotted time on the island was sufficient.

Been wanting to visit the 'castle' for some time now and the visit did not disappoint.
Both the tour boat operators AND the guide on the island were extremely well informed and gave us an incredible amount of history

We had a wonderful time! The staff were so knowledgeable- had time on our own as well. Nice views & a fun boat ride on the Hudson. Definitely recommend!!

This truly is an unusual experience. The boatride from Beacon is enjoyable and the approach to the island and the castle is very dramatic. The castle is magnificent but unfortunately it is very much in disrepair. It must have been incredible in its hey day. Our tour guide, Wes was wonderful. The island and the castle are clearly a labor of love for him. It is a shame NY State does not dedicate more funds to restore the castle and other structures on the island. The 90 minutes you spend on the island was slightly long for my taste. There is quite a bit of climbing and hiking around the island. In addition to the castle itself, you get to see the ruins of a castle like house where the Bannerman’s lived in the summers. Again, keep in mind, there are some poorly maintained port a potties near the dock in Beacon and then two at the island in better condition which you can use at the beginning and end of the tour. Overall a very worthwhile experience.

We took a evening cruise out to Bannerman Island, to view and learn about the Constellation Art exhibit. We picked a good evening 80 degrees, wter provided a cooling effect. Melissa McGill the Constellation artist was one of the tour guides.

We docked at the island and got to view the castle and main house. plus many gardens. I did not expect the gardens. Then back on the boat, it was now dark so we could view the constellation at a distance.

Great little adventure which combines a boat ride on the Hudson, a step back in history and a fun little jaunt around a small island with lovely gardens. It's a step back in time, very serene and picturesque.

Disappointing trip. While the boat ride was nice and the story behind the family and castle interesting, the island itself doesn't have a lot to offer. Be aware of the 77 steps to the top from where the boat docks but also, as important is the uneven terrain you need to navigate if you wish to explore the island and see the gardens. It might be a lovely evening for one of the special events, but I didn't find it to be worth the time and expense for the visit.

I’ve been to the island numerous times over the years & watched the continuing transformation being done by The Bannerman Trust. It’s a magical place with wonderful events.

The site is pretty cool, although now you can't get very close. The tour itself was okay. I would not do this as a one-off trip but I would add it to something else in Beacon.

Be advised that there is very little shelter on the island with no heating whatsoever. So if it is raining and/or cold, you need to be prepared.

We had a wonderful time , great experience and wonderful and knowledgeable tour guides they made us feel very comfortable. The boat ride was very relaxing and calming

We took a boat from a dock in Beacon and cruised to the island where the castle is located. The tour guide we met took us on a tour of the island and the newly refurbished residence of the Bannerman's. She was very informative and gave us the history of the island. There is a lot of climbing involved and people with health issued will find it a challenging. We had to climb 72 stairs to reach the summit of the island which is where the tour begins. It was a wonderful experience and we enjoyed it very much.

We took the boat ride from Beacon and were very happy with the captain. He knew a lot if history of the whole area. Then on the island our guide was fabulous, she knew the history, kept the pace and was respectful of all the guests and their abilities for walking/climbing on the rock island. Highly recommend this “stay-cation” activity.

Boat ride was nice and captain and his assistant were very friendly. Tour guide was polite and knowledgeable about the island, but there is nothing that special about the island. The tour only takes you to two different places on the island and it's mostly the tour guide talking. The rest of the time you have to explore the island by yourself. Beautiful views of the Hudson River and great photo opportunities, but not much the look at on the island. There is a small gift shop on the island but 15 dollars for a magnet is a little too much.

What a treat! We had the perfect day at The Island. We chose the guided tour. The guides were very well informed and interesting in telling the history of the island and Bannerman Family. The grounds were well maintained/gardens and walking paths. Not too strenuous, but strollers are not allowed. Some rockier paths, but if you have restrictions there is still enough to see with easy access. We had the extra delight of a live musician that day and we look forward to future events. Worth the trip, ferry ride was also enjoyable.

I wouldn’t call this a tour. More so a lecture. The boat ride was on time and smooth. When we got to the island they separated the group into 2 groups. Our group walked to a secluded area and the tour guide just spoke to us for about 30 mins straight about the history of the island. The history was interesting but we got conflicting “facts”. She told us that the kids had to be taken to school on sleds over the frozen river in the winter but then at another point told us the people only used the island in the summer time. After the lecture you have about 30 mins to explore the island which isn’t very big. No access near the ruins.

This is an interesting tour with a pleasant boat ride to the island but BEWARE: the website, as of 8/8/25 at least, was inaccurate in three respects as pertained to the Friday :30 tour: (1) There is no discernible metered parking at the train station; almost all spaces are "Permit required" or otherwise restricted before 6:00 pm on Fridays through Sundays; (2) The check-in for the boat does NOT start at 4:00 pm so no need to arrive that early; in our case it started about 4:20 pm. (3) Most annoyingly, the boat did NOT return from the island at 7:00 pm, as advertised and as the captain of the shuttle reiterated when he dropped us off, but at 7:35 pm, making us late for a dinner reservation. All these are minor complaints but easily corrected.

Our second trip to Bannerman Castle was both informative and well organized. The boat crew provided a secure trip and very interesting facts about landmarks along the Hudson shoreline. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and pleasant. I recommend visiting the Island for a tour before attending a play or other event offered there. In this way, the latter experience is less intimidating. I would have felt much more at ease going to a play on the island last year if I had experienced a tour first. The gardens are lovely but be sure you are used to hiking if you choose to explore the terrain - a bit of a workout!

Everything about the excursion was excellent...the ferry ride on the beautiful Hudson and the guided tour of the outside of the castle AND the outside and inside of the separate summer home of the Bannerman Family...Wes..our tour guide..was knowledgeable and hilarious at the same time...😀...so much interesting history...what a treasure!...well worth the money..it was my Mother's Day present and will be going back with friends!

Great experience, lovely views and friendly stuff! Boat ride took us around 20 min, live music and castle were lovely! I would recommend it!

Great experience visiting the Bannerman Castle. Crew on the boat, Jay & Justin, were great. The tour guide on the island was very knowledgeable and connected to the site. Beautiful views and interesting history. Definitely recommend.

A must see local in the Hudson Valley! There are those trying to keep the structure stable, but who knows how long that this wonderful ruin will be around.

Very enjoyable experience, especially on a nice day. the boat ride to the island was relaxing and scenic. once there we were given a 30 minute or so tour of the grounds and then had free time to explore and relax. There isn't a ton to see and you can't get close to the castle for safety reasons but it's a very interesting site and you can visit the old house which has more information about the history.

The tour guide was amazing. Wish I could remember her name but she started working at Bannerman Island when she was14 and clearly loves it. Her informative and lively tour was great. The Play Scotland Road was outstanding. The Ferry ride was fun. Outstanding experience over all

A nice ferry ride on the Hudson resulting in a informative guided tour with a terrific guide (Adam). The history of the Bannerman Storage Arsenal is an eye-opener.

This trip and tour was very well run.

Beautiful day on the Hudson River and a very interesting, historical tour of Bannerman Island. I highly recommend this. The boat ride was relaxing and beautiful. The captain took us on the south side of the island on the way back which was an added bonus. Wes was a wonderful tour guide with a wealth of knowledge on the history of this island. I would go again in a minute!

Great little trip in the afternoon. Very interesting but NOT a whole day event. Great for an end of the day (that’s what we did) activity.

Plus the captain of the boat is a total stud.

This former arsenal has an interesting history and offers some easy hiking filled with a number of historic factoids. The trust is doing a great job of restoration and deserves support.

The Hudson River somehow seems very mysterious here, and the boat ride from shore to island is a great part of the attraction. Well worth a day spent exploring no matter how you get there.

We really enjoyed going to Bannermans. Got a 45 minute tour and 45 minutes to explore on our own. It was very interesting and informational.

Fun way to spend an evening! Great ride to the island, interesting history & plenty of time to explore. Beautiful views & sunsets.

Bannerman's Island is a window into the playful imaginings in the past. It is good to see that efforts are being taken to preserve what is there. The trails are a bit rough so wear sturdy shoe and be prepared to climb steps. The evening "Constellation" tour is well worth the money. Take it if available when you are visiting.

We took a trip to Bannerman's castle to hear an art lecture. I loved hiking up the hill and looking at the beautiful landscaping and castle ruins. What an awesome view of the mountains and Hudson River. The ferry ride over was relaxing.

Have been wanting to do this tour for sometime now and so happy that we finally did. The boat dock was easily accessible with good parking and the boat crew was funny and informative during the scenic 30 minute ride to the island. The tour guides on Bannerman Island were also very knowledgeable and the history was very interesting. The island is beautifully maintained with gardens and occasional areas to rest if needed. The terrain varies from staircases, to paved pathways to uneven dirt trails so good walking shoes is a must. The views are amazing from almost all viewpoints. Altogether a fantastic tour to take!

A great trip with wonderful staff. The team on the boat (J&J) was so efficient and entertaining. An awesome team to start the trip and get us in a great mood. Once on the island, met with tour guides that knew so much history of the island and Bannerman family. An absolutely fantastic afternoon!

I have wanted to visit for years, since I first saw it in a movie. It did not disappoint. It’s absolutely magical. The grounds are beautiful ! The history of it is so interesting.

We thought the tour of Bannerman Castle was pretty cool. If you’re a history buff, or have an interest in firearms and military surplus, you will enjoy the tour. It seems like the Bannermans started the whole concept of selling military surplus. There are also interesting stories to here about the history of the island and the families who linked and worked there. Lastly, you will get to see some gorgeous views. We highly recommend the tour.

Whether you arrive by kayak, canoe, power boat or party boat, the approach to this castle on an island is an exciting and mysterious experience. Built many decades ago by the Bannermans it is a ruin, partial destroyed by an accidental munitions explosion that was felt for over 75 miles. The guided tours are the best way to go. Presently there is a remarkable art exhibit called Constellation, made of lights that go on at dusk.

My wife and I did a tour of the Island, It was so cool to take a boat ride out and see what's left of this iconic gem. Its definitely worth visiting. I wish it was preserved before it go to the state its currently in.

We were an adult family of 4. No prompt for that on here
Bannermans castle was a great day. The boat ride was pleasant. We had a guided tour and the guide was amazing. Lots of history. We enjoy all aspects of it.
72 steps that were not hard for seniors as they are broken up. No wheelchair or baby carriages allowed

Ferry and tour together in a package. Not ,much time to ourselves, but the tour was informative and entertaining.

Visited on a rainy day and it was still wonderful. The boat ride out was great! The captain was funny and the first mate told a lot of the history of the area. The tour of the island was great as well. The guides were friendly and very knowledgeable. The gardens were outstanding! I highly recommend this trip!

A wonderful day trip from Long Island. The guide was extremely informative and helpful. Loved the boat ride. The views of the Hudson River are spectacular! Be prepared for rough terrain as they truthfully say on their website. Highly recommend this excursion.

We had a wonderful time! Booked 6pm tour on a Friday night and not only got a great tour, but we were lucky to be treated to a wonderful sunset. Well worth it!

What could be better? A boat trip on the Hudson, a tour of the island, Julius Cesar and beautiful scenery. Hudson Valley Shakespeare Company staged a weekend of Julius Caesar in the ruins of Bannerman Castle on a deserted island in the Hudson River. The boat docks right next to the Beacon train station and the Clearwater sloop. Conservancy guides provide a tour of the 6.5 acre island and recount its fascinating history as a family home and munitions arsenal through several wars, explosions and fires. Views of West Point and the river valley are stunning. There are 72 steps from the dock to the castle and much of the walkways are unpaved. As when it was home to the Bannerman family, the island has no electricity or running water. Four porta-pottys are available. The 75 minute production of Julius Caesar was cleverly staged and superbly acted. It was a delightful way to spend a day. Check out other events held on the island by the conservancy to raise funds restore the ruins.

This is a must do when in the area! We had a gorgeous day and the cruise there and back and the tour of the island was fun and informative. The story is interesting but not what you’d expect.

Our guide on the island, Mark, was funny and full of interesting information. He spent time with us in three parts of the island and pointed out trails to explore on our own after his part of the tour was over. He was available to answer questions as we explored.

We were able to get close enough to the castle to get some great pictures although there isn’t much left of it. We were also able to go inside another structure that was intact. The views of the Hudson from different arts of the island were absolutely gorgeous!

Just a note to make sure to wear good shoes that grip and comfortable clothes as some of the paths to explore unguided are uneven and rocky. You can skip those if you prefer but some of the best views are from some of these short paths.

My favorite portion of the trip/tour was ability to explore the grounds. I wish there was a bit more time for that but our tour guide Adam was incredible in his knowledge of all things Bannerman.

We went to see Driving Miss Daisy the play on the island. The show was amazing. We really enjoyed riding on the boat over to the island and back. We had a really interesting tour before the show. I would definitely recommend seeing a show or going for a tour on the island. It was a really great experience.

We found the boat ride and the visit to the castle very enjoyable . The ferry captain and boat concierge ( the j team) were friendly and funny and the guides on the island were well- informed and enthusiastic. All in all , a great visit .

Tour guide Mark was highly knowledgeable and friendly. The castle ruins and the story behind them were fascinating. The best part is, they give you about 45 minutes to explore the island along its trails.

It was a great time. We had a little trouble finding the meeting spot for the boat. People were standing in front of the small sign. On the boat ride to the island, the captain told us some history of the area. It took about 20 minutes to reach our destination. We climbed 72 steps to reach the tour guide who showed us around and gave us the background and stories about the island and Bannerman castle. Very interesting. We then had about 20-30 minutes to explore before the boat came to pick us up. Wear comfortable shoes. Trails are narrow and some rocks are wobbly.

This organization has no heart or compassion. We booked a tour for 5 people, $221, on Saturday 7/15. Unfortunately a family member lost her 20 plus year battle with cancer, a terrible disease. Her funeral was 7/15 in the Boston, MA area. We couldn’t attend our tour we had to attend her funeral and support family and organization will not let us reschedule. BUYER BEWARE. If you do the tour, tell your family and friends not to die. They have a ridiculous no refund/reschedule policy. This organization lacks heart and compassion.

Took the boat to the island out of Beacon easy half hour out and back. We have seen from the train the castle but never up close. The story of the castle is very interesting.

It was a very wonderful trip. The boat ride is super fun to the castle, with many interesting facts along the ride.
The tour guide is very knowledgeable and kind, honestly, everyone there was super nice. It’s beautiful to know that there are still individuals dedicating time and effort is preserving history. You won’t regret going it’s an experience you won’t forget.

The experience was made more delightful by perfect weather. Overall from getting on the boat to go over, the island and tour and free time, and return on the boat was smooth. Of course it would be nice to get closer to the castle itself, but I understand safety. An enjoyable afternoon trip in the area. Tour guides were super knowledgeable and even the boat captain added factoids to make it a learning experience.

We went to the castle to see a movie. We had dinner in Beacon before. The boat ride to the castle is a relaxing, beautiful ride on the Hudson. The island is gorgeous. It was so much fun to tour the island then watch a movie outside. They sell lots of snacks and drinks for the movies. I would recommend it!!

A great boat ride and tour. Interesting history with time to explore abs take great pics of sunset. Affordable too. Not sure if it’s right for kids but you never know. It is cool to walk along the paths and original stairs

I've wanted to take this tour ($45) for a while now but finally got around to it recently on a lovely fall Sunday morning.

While the tour is timed at 2.5 hours...you spend closer to 1.5 hours on the island itself, factoring in the 30-minute boatride to and from the island.

There was lots of parking available as the Metro Station's parking is free on weekends.

I opted for the early 9:30am departure. I arrived around 9:05am and there were a few people there waiting. They started checking tickets and allowing people onto the boat at around 9:15am.

The boat left on time at 9:30am. Tom was at the wheel and Jen was assisting. (Forgive me if I got the names wrong) Jen gave an overview of the sites, buildings and history of the Newburgh waterfront during the 20-minute boatride to the island.

We arrived around 9:50, docked and climbed up some stairs to a waiting/dock area. We were then greeted by ___ who was our tour guide for the visit. She explained the history of the island as we made our way through the tour path...passing the castle, garden and museum.

After the tour (about 30-40 minutes), visitors can explore the island on their own. There are a few areas that are accessible but not on the tour path, such as Wee Bay. I suggest exploring those areas as you will be rewarded with some amazing views! The museum is also small, but very informative...lots of little interesting facts about the island in there. Be sure to check it out.

While the tour path itself is fairly flat, the other explorable areas are rocky and uneven. Its best to wear comfortable hiking/trail shoes if possible...otherwise, you will feel every sharp/uneven rock particalarly if wearing flat-bottomed shoes.

There is a small shop there with snacks and some souvenirs.

Bathrooms on the island. None on the boat.

The group met up at the dock at around 11:30am to take the boat back to Beacon. A group was arriving at that time...likely the 11:00am tour.

Overall I had a great time on the tour...learned a lot and captured some great views.

Be sure to leave time afterward (or before) to explore other attractions in Beacon...such as the shop-filled Main Street.

I have to agree with other reviewers...the ferry ride was entertaining and full of interesting history. Our guide on the island, Marc, was also great - full of fun facts - as were the docents in the Bannerman house. It's an easy walk and there are a few added trails you can take to explore the island after the tour. The trip is so well worth it! Yes, it's 70+ steps up from the ferry to the tour start, yes, it is NOT a real castle but an arsenal that Bannerman made to look like a castle. Fascinating stories abound about its construction and demise. If you are in Beacon - book a tour or check out their special night events - they recently hosted the movie Bride of Frankenstein and had spooky props all other the place.

Such a delightful way to spend an evening! The boat ride was great! The views in the Hudson were breathtaking! The guides were knowledgeable and friendly. Such a great story!

Fun little excursion! Just enough time to explore the island. Boat ride was enjoyable and we liked Captain Steve. Bannerman sounds like quite a character! Wear sneakers and bring snacks!

I cant say enough about this tour,
First a boat ride in the Hudson, on a great warm day. Then an excellent tour with amazing history by our tour guide, Wes.

The island is only 6 arces approx., but has a lot to offer in terms of things to see and things to learn. Very fascinating.

Looking for something different to do? Go see Bannerman's Castle, you won't regret it. Once you get over the 72 steps it's smooth sailing. Most probably going to make the trip again since we took the tour and would like to explore on our own next time. Great job by the volunteers.

To start off the boat crew of Justin and John were great! The tour itself was great. Our tour guide Adam was awesome and very knowledgeable and was very passionate.

Great day trip, nice ferry boat ride 30 mins to castle. Beautiful day added to nice day excursion. Tour guide very informative, beautiful castle with water and mountain views. I would recommend.

We go on the tour at Bannerman's almost every year and each year we hear a new story or fact that we had not learned before. You start out with a boat ride out to the island where a video gives you an introduction to the place and the family that owns it. You can take off from Beacon or Newburgh. You can also do a kayak tour which is wonderful too. Once you arrive on the island you are given a hard hat and your guide starts to tell you different stories that surround each building on the premises. If you love history or old buildings this is a great tour. I have gone with friends, family and as a couple and no matter what the age or group everyone always exclaims how beautiful it is. It's an especially great trip in fall with the leaves changing. They have a port-a-potty on the dock when you arrive but that is the only restroom. If you take the boat ride tour they sell snacks and souvenirs on the boat. It's a great spot for photographers and the site itself is beautiful but you also have great views of the river and surrounding mountains. The ferry ride is nice and relaxing. The tour is a bit of a hike through the island so you need to be reasonably fit able to do hills and stairs. They have no wheelchair or handicap access.

Everyone was super chill, from the boat staff to the tour guide. There's so much history and everyone had their own way of telling it. Bannerman Island is a great day trip to one of New York's other islands.

A very enjoyable day out on the Hudson. Truly more fun and information than we imagined. Our tour guide was excellent! They have been working as a tour guide on Bannerman since they were 14 year of age, very enthusiastic, well informed and never boring!
The boat crew was also super kind and very knowledgeable. I will definitely be back in the fall with other family members.

Whenever s quick boat ride is included in a tourist activity we expect it won’t be a great ride but the boat was nice and moved fast enough that we didn’t have to breathe any diesel fumes...and it had a roof to block the sun but open sides to enjoy being on the water. The crew included the Ex Dir of the tour group- very friendly and informative. Once we arrived on the island our tour guide Ken mixed just enough humor and anecdotes to make the history accessible and fun. It was a great way to spend an afternoon and we hope to return for a film or theatre event!

Great day trip! Excellent docent and the trip on the water was lovely (fortunately we had perfect weather). Definitely a must do in the Hudson Valley.

Great trip from start to finish. Boat crew was amazing as well as guide on the island. Interesting place. Thank you to all who keep this place running.

This was a gem. I really enjoyed the whole experience. The boat crew was knowledgeable and funny, the Bannerman Island tour guide, Adam, was a delight. You could tell much thought and excitement about the history of the island was included in the tour. Highly recommend. The story of the castle/armory is wild. Great history and drama and a fun afternoon activity.

Beautiful boat ride to the island that houses the castle. The castle itself is inaccessible but your guide will tell you all about the history. Nice to be in nature and learn a small piece of history in a very historical area.

I took the tour of Pollepel Island from Newburgh (you can also leave from Beacon) on Sunday, September 8, 2019. The 11:00 AM tour was $35.00 + $2.10 booking fee ($37.10). I purchased it online. It was a great experience and one that I highly recommend!

The tour consists of:

1. A 30-minute boat ride to the island aboard the Estuary Steward (a 44-passenger boat).

2. A guided 1.5 hour walking tour of the island. You will visit the famous Bannerman's Castle ruins (you cannot go inside), Bannerman's Garden, and Bannerman's Residence (you go inside).

3. A 30-minute return trip back on the Estuary Steward to Newburgh.

The 6.5-acre uninhabited island is technically in the town of Fishkill in Dutchess County. It is also part of the Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve.

The highlight of the island is the Bannerman's Castle ruins, an abandoned military surplus warehouse.

The terrain on the island is rough and rocky. When you arrive at the dock, you have to ascend 72 steps to get to the start of the tour. The paths are made of dirt, uneven rock, and are not maintained. They are safe, however. Just make sure you wear comfortable shoes and bring some water! There are two restrooms on the dock and two restrooms at the top of the stairs. The Bannerman's Residence also has a small gift shop.

Our tour guide was very informative. You learn a great deal about the history of the island and the Bannerman's.

The only caution is that the dock in the Newburgh Waterfront is not clearly marked. There is NO signage that says the name of the boat (Estuary Steward), Bannerman, Pollepel, etc. The dock is behind the Blu Pointe Restaurant, next to River Rose Cruises. The sign on the dock actually says, "Hudson River Adventures - Pride of the Hudson Sightseeing and Private Charters." Many of us were commenting that we hoped we were at the correct spot.

Overall this was a memorable and fun experience! I highly recommend it!

I loved the ferry ride over to the island. The crew provided some I interesting info along the way. Once on the island, we had a great tour guide. The tour was all outside and consisted of historical info about the island and the Bannermans. The grounds were beautiful, and we had time to walk all the paths after our tour. A beautiful way to spend a few hours.

A lot of fun and very informational. Really enjoyed our experience here. Great vistas as well, lots of walking on the surrounding area.

Amazing tour. Very knowledgeable tour guide able to answer questions that you have, great for any age.

Fun, informative trip to the island and castle. The ship crew kept us laughing as they pointed out the sights and historical markers. On the island, the guide was very informative and interesting and gave us time to explore on our own.

No place to purchase water at all on the boat or island although it is advertised that you can. You need water because there are lots of steep places you have to go up and down. You also can’t enter the castle, you can only look from a distance. It’s really just a tour of the island and one other small building. They pass around old 8x10 pictures to look at. I was the last to get it and instead of taking it back the tour guide asked me to hold onto it for the rest of the trip. I got stuck carrying around a giant picture for the rest of my hike. Not as described and would not recommend.

The entire experience was superb! Easy to obtain on line tickets. Easy directions to catch the ferry to the island ! Team J who took us to the island offered interesting “fun facts” about the area. Once we arrived on the island Marq gave us an excellent tour. The whole island and its history is fascinating! We will return for a movie or play in the fall. Worth the trip!

The views were terrific and the tour was informative and entertaining. The guide was so knowledgeable and fun to listen to. Being able to then explore all over on our own before the boat ride back was a fun adventure. The boat ride was smooth and a real treat and the crew were friendly. It was a great trip for the family visit.

We have heard about this place from a friend who took the Amtrak and passed this place so many times. The castle is visible from the Amtrak train coming from Cold Spring to Beacon. There are tours and events on the island at certain time of the year. You can find it online. We took the tour from Newburgh. The guide was well knowledgeable about the history of the family and the island. Ever though, the castle looks run down, I really think that if you are in the area, you must visit.

This was a great trip, from the ferry (thank you J & J) we got some history of the surrounding area and Steve the guide our group had on the Island was very engaging and informative. Unique day trip with some time to explore after the tour.

the Dracula play at Bannerman island was a good idea, especially this fall season, the actors were great BUT it fall flat ! starting with :

1) the email stated to arrive by 5:30 at the docks to take the ferry boat ride to the island for a 7pm show.
they ( at the docks ) say this was a mistake. Some people were taken on the ferry at 6pm , why they got chosen first, I don't know.
the rest of us had to wait till 6:48pm to get on the ferry. SO from 5:30- 6:48pm we waited!
2) when we finally got to the island we had to climb 3 flights of stairs ( No where did it said it was not handicap accessible.
3) of course the people on the first ferry ride got the best seats, my husband was not able to see the stage very well.
4) the lighting and sound settings where horrible, we sat in front of one of the speakers.
Did I mention it was our Anniversary !!
I wanted a special treat for my husband and it was a bust. For $62.50 a ticket, I expected a better set up and I was very disappointed.

While the real culprit was the weather, it was still a great disappointment that our scheduled tour was canceled at the last minute due to potential inclement conditions. My party of 9 family members was very much looking forward to this. Even though we had booked the tour for a Sunday and were in Beacon for the entire following week, they could not accommodate us for another daytime tour, which is what we had paid for. We received a voucher but there is really no way that I can get all my family members (who live in various places across the East Coast) back again to make use of this voucher so we've essentially lost $400+ as there are no refunds. And again, while I can't directly blame the staff, the feared inclement weather never actually materialized and we probably could have had the tour after all. Just a real disappointment.

This was a very unique and interesting experience. I admit I was expecting there to be more left of the castle, and to actually tour the castle, but you view the castle from higher up on the island. You do get to go into the residence the family built. The history and the tour guides make this a worthwhile trip though. You learn about a unique period in history and circumstances that are out of the norm. Beautiful place too - the flowers and views were gorgeous.

A lovely way to spend a fall day. The tour was enjoyable and you had free time at the end to explore. Came from LI. Lots of traffic would recommend staying overnight because the town is lovely.

We went out for movie night on the island. What a great time! On the way back one of the ladies with me realized she’d left her purse on the island. When told Capt. Justin and John, they handled the situation with kindness and assurance that they’d get the purse that night…and they did! So thankful for their help! Definitely recommend taking this boat ride and tour the island.

What a fun time! The boat captain and crew were a real hoot!

The island is gorgeous and the story surrounding it is fascinating. If you are in the area, it's definitely worth the time!

It was a great day out. The care that the staff and volunteers put into preserving the island is commendable. Such beautiful flowers/shrubbery and the views of the Hudson Valley are amazing. I had no idea about the history of Bannerman Castle and the tour guide on the island told us the interesting backstory. Jay and Jason, the boat staffers, were great. I would recommend this fun day out to anyone looking for something different to do.

I really enjoyed the visit despite the crazy intense heat of this past weekend.
The ferry across was relaxing and pretty smooth. The captain was friendly and entertaining.
The island itself was interesting and well maintained. Our guide (Jacob) was engaging and interesting and shared an interesting history with us.
The gardens here are beautiful and well maintained.
Worth the visit and a nice unique thing to do when visiting Beacon.

a visit into history with a visit to this island in the Hudson River. Bannerman's was built as a warehouse of armaments in a Scottish castle style. its ruins are interesting, and the work that the volunteers have done to clean up the island, restore the plantings and the views of the river are worth a visit.

Riding the Metro-North along the Hudson always offers beautiful views of the river, but few sights have caught my attention quite like Bannerman Castle. From the train window, its crumbling towers rise out of the river like something from a fairytale. So, what are these castle like ruins sitting in the middle of the Hudson?
That curiosity led us to the island tour. The first challenge, however, wasn’t history but logistics: finding a legal parking spot near the station. Thankfully, a quick call to the reservation line solved the puzzle, and soon we were boarding the shuttle with Jason and Jay, our knowledgeable crew. As we ferried across the river, Jay pointed out landmarks and wove stories of Newburgh’s past.
On the island, our guide Sheldon brought the ruins to life with equal parts humor and history. Bannerman Castle has no shortage of drama in its past—botched architecture, gunpowder explosions, and fires that left it scarred and in ruins.
After the tour we had time to hike to the island’s high point, rewarded with sweeping views of the Hudson Highlands. The trail was short but rocky, the kind of path where a walking stick becomes a trusted ally.
The ride back to Beacon was a pleasant end to the adventure on a hot summer evening with a gentle breeze and the setting sun lighting up the sky behind the mountains — a fitting end to an adventure that began many months before with my question from the train, "What is a broken down castle doing in the middle of the Hudson River?"

What a wonderful experience. So much more fun than we thought. Adam was amazing - the information given was outstanding along with the presentation. So worth the drive - the ferry over was also enjoyable - great crew. Thanks for a great experience.

The views were incredible. Margaret and her husband are terrific. Margaret gave us an awesome tour, and had so much information to share about bannerman island and the occupants.i would highly recommend this tour!!

We lucked out with a cool misty evening in August. The boat ride south on the Hudson was neat, but the highlight was the island tour. The history of the castle warehouse is astonishing. The castle house was also neat to see. The gardens were amazing - colorful and well kept. The view south to West Point was stunning. Highly recommend!

What a beautiful day we had Bannermans celebrating our Sons 33rd Birthday at their annual fund raiser. Consisting of a five course delicious Farm to table meal with wine. The ferry ride over was breathtaking upon arrival we were met with our tour guide who was informative & delightful. The views while dinning al fresco were incredible the 2 performers that played they out the affair were incredible just perfect for the venue.
We highly recommend going on one of their many tours you'll truly enjoy this experience.

Excellent guided tour at the island! The historical information was intriguing, well presented with pertinent photographs and well paced for plenty of time to take a self-guided tour of the summer home and walk areas of the island not covered. The boat ride to and from the island was a quick 30 minute ride. The Captain and "first mate" were curteous, competent and knowledgeable about the Hudson and the sites along the way. I have taken many guided tours in the U.S. and I found the unique history about Bannerman and his castle one of a kind. Efforts to preserve what is left should be high on NY state's tourism radar.

I reserved tickets for the Estuary Steward cruise and tour of Bannerman's Castle as a surprise for my wife's birthday. It was a perfect choice. She likes being on the water and being outdoors to see and do things. The 44-passenger boat isn't the flashiest, but it got the job done. The crew members were funny, informative and helpful. The volunteer tour guides at Bannerman (Pollepel) Island were also great. The tour was informative and entertaining and the blend of history and nature was perfect. Keep in mind that you start your time on the island with a climb up 72 stairs, and the rest of the tour has a fair amount of largely voluntary up and down walking over sometimes uneven surfaces. That said, I have a bad knee and I survived.
The price of the tour might seem a touch high, but consider that it goes to the expensive upkeep of a historical treasure - and maintenance of the boat.

Hiked the trail by the train tracks on the east side a few years ago and had to check it out just from shore...this time I was passing it by on my boat and spent a few hours here on the island - it's AWESOME!

This a a great guided tour. I've seen the castle from the shore for years and was so happy to finally see if up close! It has a fascinating history. A great way to spend a date day! The boat ride is nice and guides are great. Be forewarned-you cannot actually go inside the ruins of the armory - it's too structurally unsound. Really neat experience!

We’ve wanted to visit here for years and finally made it with a group of friends and a 7 year old. The visit started with the boat ride over hosted by Capt John who told us the incredible history of the area. The island is picturesque and magical. The history and stories were so fun. We walked the red hiking trail which was an adventure; Definitely wear sneakers for that one. We had so much fun we’d all definitely return.

Bannerman's Castle is familiar to many who ride the Metro-North trains on the Hudson Line north of Cold Spring. The tour enables you to tour the island and learn of its history while enjoying scenic views of the Hudson River and Hudson Highlands. Our tour guide Wes was entertaining and knowledgeable about all aspects of the island's history. Our tour was a mixed group as far as languages, nationalities and ages, but it all seemed to work out well. We had ample time to ask questions, take photos and even go through some of the house (which is a small building on the southwest point, not the big castle-like building seen from the train). The grounds are very pretty as volunteers have planted loads of flowers all over, tucking them along paths and making the gardens around the house absolutely gorgeous with blooms. More practical info: there are two port-a-potties on the dock, and a limited selection of snacks and cold drinks are for sale, along with some souvenirs. We boarded at Beacon where there are no facilities, and the dock is only minimally marked for the tour. There is no on-shore staff; once the boat arrives, its crew will check you in for your tour. Parking is available in the train station lots nearby.

Captain Steve and Jay made all of us feel super safe on the boat ride there and back, which I am grateful for because I personally tend to get a little nervous on boats! There was not a second I doubted their abilities. Gabby, our Island tour guide, was so informative and passionate—we learned so much from her. There was enough time after the tour to walk around on our own before returning to shore. Cold drinks and souvenirs can be purchased on the island in a little area by the lounge. There are a lot of steps and rocky terrain, so proper footwear is a must. Overall, we had a beautiful time and would recommend this tour to others for sure!

Absolutely fantastic! My parents and I had the perfect day with this adventure! Easy to find, friendly people, knowledgeable, fun, courteous, beautiful views and incredible history! Just can’t beat it!

Magical place! My wife and I were booked for the 6PM tour and at 5:30 a horrendous thunderstorm pelted the area. Luckily it quickly passed and we had a delightful cruise from Beacon, the ship's crew starting off with fascinating historical facts about the area. When we arrived we were split up into two groups of 16, a very manageable tour size. Our guide was incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgeable, a true professional. Can't recommend this tour enough. Bravo to all involved!

For 20 years we've been taking the train to Beacon/Cold Springs and wondering what that romantic castle on the river was. GREAT guides, terrific tour and now they just opened the private home atop the hill for a tour inside. Gorgeous views of the Hudson River. DO dress warm if going Sept/Oct if it's 50 degrees out dress for 30 degrees due to possible cold wind. Toss a windbreaker/fleece jacket in your bag for sure. We loved this tour! Oh and if arriving by Metro North use the bathroom on the train before you get off or it could be a while until you get to the island or tip, there is a portapotty in the public park about a 5 minute walk from the train station. There are portapotties on the island but if you arrive at noon to await boarding you won't get to island until a bit before 1.

Such a pretty place, so lovely in the Fall. I had passed by on the train before and always wanted to be one of the few visitors on the island. The story of the castle/armory was not at all what I imagined. Thanks for teaching me about the history of rhe Island as well as nearby Newburgh and Beacon.

What a beautiful way to spend a lovely Sunday afternoon. Leisurely boat ride on the Hudson with historical commentary. The arsenal is now just a facade and the small "castle" is in disrepair, but the history of the island and the man who created the buildings there is fascinating. Our tour guide, Adam, was articulate, funny, and full of facts. Tour was well-balanced with boat ride, guided visit, and free time. Wear sneakers as terrain is rocky and tree roots are exposed. Also, there are 72 steps to climb from boat to island tour. Bathrooms were clean. I'd like to return for a night concert or movie on the island. A very leisurely way to spend the day. Beacon is close by and a wonderful little city to walk, visit art galleries, and have a bite to eat. I recommend this tour.

We took the first tour of the day on September 11. The boat ride was smooth, and the weather was perfect, just as it was on that fateful September 11 twenty years ago.
The docent who guided us for the 90 minute tour was so informative, sharing many photos to help us understand what had happened on the island.
The lovely gardens were also a surprise and delight.
After having passed this place from the shore so many times, it was great to finally visit. Just sorry we had not done so earlier when we might have seen parts of the castle before some of the collapse. Still an interesting, worthwhile visit.

Amazing staff and tour. Our tour guide was so informative and enthusiastic I couldn’t believe what a great job she did in 90 degree weather no less!
My only complaint is that I wish we spent longer on the island to walk around by ourselves, the gift shop needs more of a selection of refreshments, there was only water, diet root beer and ginger ale available for drinks.
Somewhere comfortable to sit and have a refreshing drink would be nice, or a coffee.

Wonderful guided tour, very knowledge about the history of NYC and Hudson valley. Tour guide was an author and expert on the history of the island and who resided on the island throughout NYS history. Lovely boat ride and beautiful gardens to view. The Mighty Hudson River was holding the secret of the past hay day of the castle and the many people who called the prime real estate home.

First a boat ride is needed and the trust in charge of the island controls landing rights. Second, its 72 stairs in the beginning, and then some pretty rough paths after that. Its not suitable for those unable to climb or handle rocky paths. A person of average ability will have no issue. An interesting and unique story set on a rock island in the middle of the Hudson. I highly recommend.

Having seen this "castle" from the rail for years, it was so neat to visit. There are only two ways to do it: get a a boat out of Beacon, or a kayak trip. All tours are guided by passionate, informative volunteers. What appears to be a castle was in fact an armaments warehouse for Mr. Bannerman, a Scotsman who made his money salvaging scrap, from among other things, military installations. When the amount of nasties in his warehouse threatened the people of New York City he moved to this island, where, at ne point his stash blew up and narrowly avoided killing his family and workers. Sadly just around 10 years the magnificent southern facade fell after a winter of Hudson Valley winter freezing and thawing. There is still a lot to see including the home which volunteers have been restoring. They have increased the number of tours this year as tourism is starting to grow. The boat ride to the island is great - the Hudson is pretty wide at this point and the views, especially of the east side which has few buildings, natural and lovely. The walk from the boat to the rest of the island involved some steep stairs. This is not appropriate for anyone with mobility issues. (So go while you still can!) The season is short - you need to book ahead.

This was a wonderful way to spend a half-day along the Hudson River! The ferry takes about 30 minutes and we had great views. Also wonderful commentary on the history of the towns lining the river. Our Castle guide spent about an hour giving us the history of the island and the Bannermans who built the castle. We lucked out and our guide was the author of the history of the island! It was very hot so he adjusted the stopping places so that we were in the shade. There were a number of steps, but we had railings to help us along. You won't regret this trip if you like history, beautiful views, and time on the water!

I really enjoyed my time up in Beacon, NY as there is a lot to do. I was able to spend some time in town as I waited for my tour to begin.

The Bannerman Castle tour is excellent if you are into history or just want to see the most amazing views of the Hudson River. The building that faces the river, 'the castle" is actually a munitions storage facility for the family business that burned down in the late 1960's. The family summer home is higher up the hill and was small but with views of the Hudson which are amazing.

The tour takes you around the paths of the island and you get to tour outside the munitions building, which is falling down and then up the paths through the formal gardens and up to the house. The house affords the most breathtaking views of the island and on a nice day during certain times of the year, you will see the must amazing foliage.

The tour is about an hour and a half long and there is a lot of serious walking (74 steps to get up from the dock to the path), so this is not for a handicapped person. Still it is the most amazing tour and you should not miss it!

It is a very interesting property but it is poorly run. They ask you to be there to board the boat 1/2 hour prior and then make you stand in a line waiting for over 20 minutes and it was a broiling hot day when we went ---NOT FUN! The boat ride and guides on the island were good but again before boarding the boat another 15-20 minute wait standing in the heat--still NO FUN! Also no one answers phone number given on website and directions to the pier for the boat are confusing.

I read through the bad reviews and these people did not take the same tour my daughter and I did yesterday. We had a wonderful, very knowledgeable, tour guide (Margaret) who has been giving tours there for 20 years. The first mate on the boat told us what all the building we were passing were and some history of the area. There was a snack bar on the island to purchase souvenirs, snacks and water/soda. Plenty of opportunities to take pictures. Lovely gardens. Clean bathrooms. I was originally scheduled to go 2 weeks earlier but called because I was in the hospital and the owner graciously issued me a gift card to reschedule for another day. He didn’t have to, his website clearly says no cancellations. He also cannot control the weather just like a pro sports game or any outdoor event that won’t refund your money. Check the weather and be prepared. That’s on YOU! We had a great time and would return. There is also a food truck in the parking lot where you get onto the boat. If not, Sal’s Pizza is nearby and the pizza and knots are very good.

It was a beautiful day on the island. Mary our guide was pleasant and informative. I loved learning the history of the Castle.
Captain Steve and first mate Marie were helpful and Captain Steve was a hoot.
I recommend going.

My husband and I have always seen Bannerman Island on our trips on 9D along the Hudson, and we have always wanted to visit. We are so glad that we did. The crew on the boat ride over were so friendly and informative. The tour guide on Bannerman was very knowledgeable and went out of his way to make the tour enjoyable. The sights on the island and the views of the Hudson were beautiful. It is a tour worth taking.

an interesting way to combine a little hiking, a summer stroll and touring historic ruins. beware there are a lot of stairs and somewhat rustic paths and no restrooms- but worth it