Ahoy at the Castle – Setting Sail with Bamburgh Castle’s Summer of Swashbuckling Fun
Looking for a family adventure this summer in the North East? From high seas to high towers, Bamburgh Castle is the place to be. And at Blumilk, we were thrilled to help bring the magic of Ahoy at the Castle to life with a bold, characterful campaign that captures the imagination of young pirates (and their grown-ups) across the land.
At Blumilk, we were proud to work with the brilliant Bamburgh Castle team to craft a playful, immersive campaign for their standout family experience – Ahoy at the Castle. From concept to creative, we brought the story of the Black Kestrels pirate crew to life – and helped transform one of the UK’s most iconic castles into a destination of discovery this summer.
A Treasure Trove of Creativity
Working alongside the incredible team at Bamburgh Castle, Blumilk created a full campaign look and feel for this summer’s standout event. From the first flag unfurled to the final hidden treasure, we made sure every touchpoint felt fun, immersive, and totally “on brand” for Bamburgh.
To capture the spirit of the season, we developed a full campaign look and feel that combined bold visuals, historic atmosphere, and interactive family fun. Everything was designed to feel exciting and immersive – blending the castle’s deep heritage with light-hearted pirate flair.
Here’s what we created:
🦜 A full pirate-inspired visual identity for the campaign
🧭 A bespoke treasure map filled with puzzles, clues and “What’s Your Pirate Name?” generator
🏅 A custom-designed Ahoy Academy certificate to reward little treasure hunters
📣 Supporting social graphics and promotional adverts
🌐 A vibrant, family-friendly web page to promote the event online
Turning a Day Out into a Story
At the heart of the campaign is the legend of the Black Kestrels – a mythical pirate crew said to have hidden their last great treasure within the castle grounds. Families follow the clues, solve puzzles, and explore the site in search of gold… and glory.
Our creative team made sure every element tied back into the story — from language that speaks in ‘piratey’ tones to textures, illustrations, and tactile design touches that feel right at home in Bamburgh’s storied setting.
A Castle Full of Summer Fun
Ahoy at the Castle is part of a packed summer programme at Bamburgh. From Pirate Creatures and Ahoy Academy to meeting the Pirates of Bamburgh and Redcoats and Pirates weekends it’s a North East favourite that keeps people coming back year after year. Our campaign helps make sure new generations of families fall in love with it, too. Running over the summer holidays from 21st July – 31st August – book your visit bamburghcastle.com/ahoy-at-the-castle.
Creativity with Purpose
At Blumilk, we believe in creating work that brings stories to life and drives real results. Our partnership with Bamburgh Castle shows how the right creative strategy can turn an event into an experience, and a visit into a memory.
Planning a campaign to inspire your audience this summer?
Let’s talk – and make something legendary.
