Castles in Wales

I love visiting castles when I am in Wales, my home away from home. Though not all of my family shares my love for these ancient “piles of rock” (as my Welsh husband calls them) they know that whenever we visit a new village/city/town- we WILL visit the castle, and I WILL grin like a nutcase and run around taking loads of photos.

A few years ago I decided I wanted to “collect” all of the castles in Wales- in other words, I wanted to visit them all. This page is an index of my adventures in conquering that goal.

Conwy Castle: My favorite North Wales Castle (so far!)

Making The List

It is said that there are somewhere around 400 castles in Wales, and they are in widely varying states. Some castles have people living in them, and some are no more than a notable earthworks foundation where a castle used to be. After seeing some photos of earthwork castles online, I am quite glad to know that time travel isn’t a real “thing.” I imagine that it would be very sad to travel into the future and find that your castle was gone completely, but others were thriving. When compiling my list, I decided to remove most castles that were in earthworks state. If you have any suggestions for my list- whether its an addition, subtraction, a nearby pub that is a must visit, or pretty much anything else- please leave it in the comments.

Ratings

I rate each castle on a scale of 0-5. The criteria is not scientific or objective- it is based soley on my (somewhat unconventional) perspective of what makes a castle enjoyable. What do I like in a castle? I like ruinous castles with a beautiful view. I like remains of windows and doorframes. I like it when flowers are blooming in the cracks between stones. I like it when the castle looms over a lovely village/town/city. I will always provide an explanation of my rating, along with one of these visual ratings:

The Castles

Bridgend

Candleston Castle I Coity Castle I Kenfig Castle I Llangynwyd Castle I Newcastle Castle I Ogmore Castle

Caerphilly

Caerphilly Castle I Ruperra Castle I Morgraig Castle

Cardiff

Cardiff Castle I Castell Coch I St Fagans Castle

Carmarthenshire

Carreg Cennen Castle I Carmarthen Castle I Dinefwr Castle I Dryslwyn Castle I Kidwelly Castle I Laugharne Castle I Llandovery Castle I Llansteffan Castle I Castell Moel I Newcastle Emlyn Castle

Ceredigion

Aberdyfi Castle I Aberystwyth I Cardigan Castle I Cilgerran Castle I Dinerth Castle I Gwallter Castle I Lampeter Castle I Newcastle Emlyn Castle

Conwy

Deganwy Castle I Conwy Castle I Dolwyddelan Castle I Gwrych Castle I Gwydir Castle

Denbighshire

Bodelwyddan Castle I Denbigh Castle I Dinas Brân I Rhuddlan Castle I Ruthin Castle I Twthill, Rhuddlan

Flintshire

Caergwrle Castle I Ewloe Castle I Flint Castle I Hawarden Castle

Gwynedd

Bryn Bras Castle I Caernarfon Castle I Carndochan Castle I Castell y Bere I Criccieth Castle I Dinas Emrys I Dolbadarn Castle I Harlech Castle I Penrhyn Castle

Isle of Anglesey

Castell Aberlleiniog I Beaumaris Castle

Monmouthshire

Abergavenny Castle I Caldicot Castle I Chepstow Castle I Dingestow Castle I Grosmont Castle I Llanfair Kilgeddin Castle I Llangibby Castle I Castell Troggy I Llanvair Discoed I Monmouth Castle I Penrhos, Monmouthshire I Pen y Clawdd Castle I Raglan Castle I Skenfrith Castle I Usk Castle I White Castle

Neath Port Talbot

Neath Castle

Newport

Caerleon Castle I Newport Castle

Pembrokeshire

Benton Castle I Carew Castle I Cilgerran Castle I Haverfordwest Castle I Llawhaden Castle I Manorbier Castle I Narberth Castle I Pembroke Castle I Picton Castle I Roch Castle I Tenby Castle I Upton Castle I Wiston Castle I Wolf’s Castle

Powys

Aberedw Castle I Blaenllyfni Castle I Brecon Castle I Bronllys Castle I Castell Dinas I Castell Du I Clyro Castle I Colwyn Castle I Crickhowell Castle I Cymaron Castle I Dinieithon Castle I Dolforwyn Castle I Glasbury Castle I Hay Castle I Maesllwch Castle I Montgomery Castle I Powis Castle I Rhayader Castle I Tretower Castle