Entry passes · The Castle Rolls
Cadw Explorer Pass.
Cadw looks after 44 of the castles on the roll. 18 of them charge for entry - that is where this pass earns its keep - and 26 are free to walk into anyway, pass or no pass.
The pass, verified
Entry to dozens of Cadw's historic attractions across Wales. The 3-day pass works on any 3 days in a 7-day window, the 7-day pass on any 7 days in 14 - listed at £28 and £42 respectively for a single adult (prices from April 2026), with two-adult and family versions. Full details and current prices: the official Cadw Explorer Pass page.
Confirm before you buy
Pass coverage is set by the operator and can change - a handful of sites, events or seasons are sometimes excluded. Before buying, check the castles you actually plan to visit against the official covered-places list on the page linked above.
Castles where the pass matters - 18 charging for entry, best-reviewed first
Conwy Castle
Conwy
Photo: Andrew Woodvine, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Caernarfon Castle
Gwynedd
Photo: Herbert Ortner, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Beaumaris Castle
Isle of Anglesey
Photo: Traveler100, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Caerphilly Castle
Caerphilly
Photo: Balon Greyjoy, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Harlech Castle
Gwynedd
Photo: Pymouss, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Castell Coch
Cardiff
Photo: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Chepstow Castle
Monmouthshire
Photo: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Raglan Castle
Monmouthshire
Photo: Bob McCaffrey from Rickmansworth, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Criccieth Castle
Gwynedd
Photo: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Laugharne Castle
Carmarthenshire
Photo: Colin Vosper, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Kidwelly Castle
Carmarthenshire
Photo: Iphrit, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Carreg Cennen Castle
Carmarthenshire
Photo: Ken Day, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Rhuddlan Castle
Denbighshire
Photo: Julie Anne Workman, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Denbigh Castle
Denbighshire
Photo: Errol Edwards, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Tretower Court and Castle
Powys
Weobley Castle
Swansea
Photo: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Oxwich Castle
Swansea
Newport Castle
Newport
Photo: The original uploader was Owain at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Free anyway - no pass needed - 26 open-access Cadw castles
These are also in Cadw's care, but they are open-access ruins with no admission charge - a pass adds nothing here, which is worth knowing before you count them toward its value.
Dinefwr Castle
Carmarthenshire Free entry
Photo: Daniel Phillips, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Ogmore Castle
Vale of Glamorgan Free entry
Photo: Ewan Topping from Amsterdam, Netherlands, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Flint Castle
Flintshire Free entry
Photo: Gary Bealr, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Dolbadarn Castle
Gwynedd Free entry
Photo: Beep boop beep, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Cilgerran Castle
Pembrokeshire Free entry
Photo: Waterborough, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Skenfrith Castle
Monmouthshire Free entry
Photo: Davidmholmes51, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Swansea Castle
Swansea Free entry
Photo: Tiia Monto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
White Castle
Monmouthshire Free entry
Photo: Andy Dingley, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Llansteffan Castle
Carmarthenshire Free entry
Photo: Jacob Allen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Montgomery Castle
Powys Free entry
Photo: Farwestern Photo by Gregg M. Erickson, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Ewloe Castle
Flintshire Free entry
Photo: Rept0n1x, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Dryslwyn Castle
Carmarthenshire Free entry
Photo: Ben Salter, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Grosmont Castle
Monmouthshire Free entry
Coity Castle
Bridgend Free entry
Photo: John Finch, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Castell y Bere
Gwynedd Free entry
Photo: Graham, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Llawhaden Castle
Pembrokeshire Free entry
Monmouth Castle
Monmouthshire Free entry
Photo: Scribwik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Dolwyddelan Castle
Conwy Free entry
Photo: Jeff Buck, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Dolforwyn Castle
Powys Free entry
Photo: Llywelyn2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
St Quentin's Castle (Llanblethian)
Vale of Glamorgan Free entry
Photo: Chris Andrews, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Bronllys Castle
Powys Free entry
Photo: Keith Salvesen, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Loughor Castle
Swansea Free entry
Photo: Nigel Davies, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Caergwrle Castle
Flintshire Free entry
Photo: Rept0n1x, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Newcastle (Bridgend) Castle
Bridgend Free entry
Old Beaupre Castle
Vale of Glamorgan Free entry
Photo: Gareth James, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Wiston Castle
Pembrokeshire Free entry
Photo: Cadw, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped