Castles in Wales listed alphabetically

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Beaumaris Castle

Beaumaris, Anglesey      

Tel: 01248 810361 

Begun in 1295, this unfinished castle is the last and largest of King Edward I’s Welsh fortifications. Designed by the king’s mason-architect, Master James of St George, it is a perfect example of a concentrically planned castle. Formidable defences survive, surrounded by a partly restored moat

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Caernarfon Castle

Caernarfon,  Gwynedd.

Tel: 01286  677617 

With its seven polygonal towers (including the great Eagle Tower), two gatehouses, and walls of colour-banded stone, King Edward I intended the castle to be a royal residence and seat of government for north Wales. Begun in 1283 under the direction of Master James of St George, the King's mason-architect, and continuously in Crown possession since

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Castell y Bere

Near Llanfihangel y Pennant, off B4405 6½m NE of Tywyn  

Distinctive remains of a native Welsh castle, probably begun by Prince Llewelyn ab Lorwerth (‘the Great’) around 1221.

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Chirk Castle

Chirk, Wrexham LL14 5AF

Tel: 01691 777701

A magnificent Marcher fortress, completed in 1310. The rather austere exterior belies the comfortable and elegant state rooms inside, with elaborate plasterwork, superb Adam-style furniture, tapestries and portraits. In the formal gardens there are clipped yews, roses and a variety of flowering shrubs. The beautiful 18th-century parkland contains many mature trees as well as elaborate gates, made in 1719 by the Davies brothers. After 400 years of occupation the Myddelton family still live here.

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Conwy Castle

Conwy ,Conwy

Tel: 01492 592358

Built for King Edward I between 1283-87, Master James of St George's design at Conwy remains one of the most outstanding achievements of medieval military architecture. The distinctive elongated shape, with its two barbicans, eight massive towers and great bow-shaped hall, was dictated by the narrow rocky outcrop on which the castle stands.

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Criccieth Castle

Criccieth,  Gwynedd 

Tel: 01766 522227  

Perched in an imposing position, the castle is still dominated by the twin-towered gatehouse built by Prince Llywelyn ab Lorwerth (‘the Great’). Extended by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (‘the Last’), and later remodelled by Edward I and Edward II. Site exhibition and audio-visual presentation.

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Denbigh Castle

Denbigh, Denbighshire 

Begun by Henry de Lacy in 1282, with the support of King Edward I, the site is dominated by an impressive triple-towered gatehouse, the link between the defended town and castle ward.

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Dolwyddelan Castle

Dolwyddelan, Conwy

Tel: 01690 750366   

A square stone keep, dating from the 13^th century, remains of this castle built by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (‘the Great’). The site was remodelled by King Edward I.

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Flint Castle

Flint, Flintshire

Tel: 01352 733078

Begun in 1277, one of the first castles to be built in Wales by King Edward I. Its most impressive feature is a solitary round tower, isolated from the rest of the inner ward. It features in Shakespeare’s Richard II.

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Harlech Castle 

Harlech, Gwynedd

Tel: 01766 780552

Built between 1283 and 1289 by Master James of St George for King Edward I. The castle is designed on a concentric plan with a small but powerful inner ward with an imposing gatehouse and four round corner towers. Seized by Owain Glyn Dr in 1404 and held successfully by him for four years.

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Manorbier Castle

Manorbier, Pembrokeshire

The impressive Great Hall is dotted with life-size figures. as you wander around the castle, atmospheric music helps transport you back in time.

Walled gardens, souvenir shop, access to one of Pembrokeshire's loveliest beaches.

Pembroke Castle

Pembroke, Pembrokeshire SA71 4LA

Tel: 01646 681510

Begun in 1090, this was one of the most powerful castles in all of Britain. Its natural defences include a butt of rock with steep and treacherous slopes protected on three sides by waters of the River Pembroke. Underneath, a huge limestone cavern called the Wogan is linked to the castle by a winding stair. Henry Tudor was born here in 1457. After the Civil Wars, the masonry was quarried for building materials, but much of the imposing ruin remains, including the massive, circular keep.

A small museum is open plus various events during summer.

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Penrhyn Castle

Bangor LL57 4HN

Tel 01248 353084 · Infoline 01248 371337

This dramatic neo-Norman castle sits between Snowdonia and the Menai Strait and was built by Thomas Hopper between 1820 and 1845 for the wealthy Pennant family, who made their fortune from the local slate quarries. The extraordinarily grand staircase and extravagant stone carving of the interior create an almost cathedral-like atmosphere. The castle contains fascinating 'Norman' furniture, panelling and plasterwork all designed by Hopper, and houses an outstanding collection of paintings. There is also an industrial railway museum, a countryside exhibition, a Victorian terraced walled garden and an extensive tree and shrub collection, as well as attractive walks in the grounds ,

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Picton Castle

Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA62 4AS

Tel: 01437 751326

Built in the 13th Century by Sir John Wogan, his direct descendants live in the castle today. Still retaining its medieval features in the undercroft, the principal rooms were remodelled during the 1750s.

There is a walled garden, extensive woodland gardens around the castle, a nursery with a large variety of shrubs and plants for sale, a shop with gifts and practical ideas and a restaurant.

Special events held throughout the season.

Open April to September

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Powis Castle & Gardens

near Welshpool, SY21 8RF

Tel: 01938 557018  

The world famous Garden, overhung with enormous clipped yew trees. Perched on a rock above the Garden terraces, the medieval Castle contains one of the finest collections of paintings and furniture in Wales. It was originally built as a fortress by Welsh princes and was later adapted and enriched by generations of Herberts and Clives. The beautiful collection of treasures from India displayed in the Clive Museum. Open 1 April to 29 October

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Rhuddlan Castle

Rhuddlan, Denbighshire

Tel: 01745  590777 

Begun in 1277, this was the second of King Edward I’s great Welsh fortifications. A protected river dock forms one side of the defences of this concentrically planned castle, dominated by a distinctive diamond-shaped inner ward.

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