[2] The area around Wolsty was fortified during the Roman period, when a series of milefortlets were constructed beyond the western end of Hadrian's Wall to guard against incursions across the Solway Firth.

The castle would have proven formidable to raiding parties; remaining archaeological evidence has shown that there was a moat, and that the walls were over two metres thick.

[4] The castle is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as a site of "national importance".

In the 1570s, farmers at Wolsty would have had to trek to Dubmill, a little over four miles away past Hailforth and Salta, to grind their grain at the mill there.

[13] At nearby Newtown, there is a farm park and tearoom called the Gincase,[14] and Bank Mill Nurseries, a garden centre with a restaurant and play area, is located just to the north of Beckfoot.

Due to its coastal location, Wolsty receives less snowfall than the mountainous Lake District further south in the county.