County guide · The Castle Rolls
Best castles in South Wales
39 castles across South Wales, from Cardiff Castle's Roman-fort-to-Victorian-fantasy layers to Carreg Cennen's cliff-top ruin above the Black Mountain. On the Gower side of Swansea, Oystermouth opens seasonally from April to October, with a wall walk above the bay and entry paid on the gate. Over in Monmouthshire, Caldicot is a staffed medieval castle standing in its own country park, run by Monmouthshire County Council. Near Pontyclun in the Vale of Glamorgan, Hensol runs gin distillery tours in its cellars and works as a wedding and events venue.
Map
Every castle on this list - 39 in total, 18 free to enter, 1 you can stay overnight in
Cardiff Castle
Cardiff
Norman keep, Victorian Gothic apartments, wartime tunnels
Photo: Clint Budd, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Caerphilly Castle
Caerphilly
Britain's second-largest castle; famous leaning tower and water defences
Photo: Balon Greyjoy, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Powis Castle
Powys
Medieval fortress turned grand residence; terraced gardens
Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Castell Coch
Cardiff
Victorian Gothic fantasy rebuild by William Burges; fully roofed
Photo: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Chepstow Castle
Monmouthshire
Britain's oldest surviving post-Roman stone castle, above the Wye
Photo: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Raglan Castle
Monmouthshire
Grand late-medieval castle with moated Great Tower
Photo: Bob McCaffrey from Rickmansworth, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Laugharne Castle
Carmarthenshire
Tudor-converted castle on Taf estuary; Dylan Thomas connections; seasonal opening
Photo: Colin Vosper, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Cyfarthfa Castle
Merthyr Tydfil
1824 ironmaster's castle; museum shut for restoration, park open
Caldicot Castle
Monmouthshire
Free entry Tue-Sun Apr-Oct; country park setting
Photo: Dominic Nelson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Kidwelly Castle
Carmarthenshire
Well-preserved Norman concentric castle; Monty Python filming location
Photo: Iphrit, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Carreg Cennen Castle
Carmarthenshire
In Cadw care; day-to-day run by farm; admission charged; clifftop cave passage
Photo: Ken Day, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Dinefwr Castle
Carmarthenshire Free entry
NT-owned, Cadw-maintained; free; reached via walk through Dinefwr Park
Photo: Daniel Phillips, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Ogmore Castle
Vale of Glamorgan Free entry
Riverside Norman castle beside famous stepping stones; free
Photo: Ewan Topping from Amsterdam, Netherlands, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Oystermouth Castle
Swansea
Seasonal Apr-Oct; pay on gate
Photo: Len Williams, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Fonmon Castle
Vale of Glamorgan
Now runs as Jurassic Wales dinosaur attraction plus castle
Photo: FruitMonkey, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Skenfrith Castle
Monmouthshire Free entry
NT-owned, Cadw-managed; round keep by River Monnow; free; also listed under National Trust
Photo: Davidmholmes51, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Swansea Castle
Swansea Free entry
City-centre ruin; ground level accessible, upper levels closed
Photo: Tiia Monto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
White Castle
Monmouthshire Free entry
Best preserved of the Three Castles; water-filled moat; free
Photo: Andy Dingley, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Llansteffan Castle
Carmarthenshire Free entry
Headland castle above Tywi estuary; free
Photo: Jacob Allen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Montgomery Castle
Powys Free entry
Crag-top castle above Georgian town; free
Photo: Farwestern Photo by Gregg M. Erickson, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Abergavenny Castle & Museum
Monmouthshire Free entry
Grounds daily; free museum in castle grounds
Photo: Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Craig-y-Nos Castle
Powys
Adelina Patti's Victorian castle; adjacent country park free
Photo: Peter Morgan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Hensol Castle
Vale of Glamorgan
Gin distillery tours in cellars; wedding/event venue
Photo: TedColes at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Tretower Court and Castle
Powys
Round keep plus adjacent restored medieval manor house
Hay Castle
Powys
Opened 2022 after restoration; daily tours
Photo: Dominic Nelson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Dryslwyn Castle
Carmarthenshire Free entry
Welsh-built hilltop castle over Tywi valley; free
Photo: Ben Salter, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Grosmont Castle
Monmouthshire Free entry
One of the Three Castles of Gwent; free
Coity Castle
Bridgend Free entry
Norman castle held by the Turberville family; free
Photo: John Finch, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Monmouth Castle
Monmouthshire Free entry
Fragmentary; birthplace of Henry V; regimental museum adjacent
Photo: Scribwik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Weobley Castle
Swansea
Fortified manor on Gower; entry paid at adjoining farmhouse
Photo: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
St Donat's Castle
Vale of Glamorgan
School campus; pre-booked tours, open days, arts centre events
Photo: cowbridgeguide.co.uk, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Dolforwyn Castle
Powys Free entry
Llywelyn ap Gruffudd's last-built Welsh castle; free
Photo: Llywelyn2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
St Quentin's Castle (Llanblethian)
Vale of Glamorgan Free entry
Twin-towered gatehouse near Cowbridge; free
Photo: Chris Andrews, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Bronllys Castle
Powys Free entry
Climbable round tower on motte; free
Photo: Keith Salvesen, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Loughor Castle
Swansea Free entry
Small tower on Norman ringwork over Loughor estuary; free
Photo: Nigel Davies, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
Newcastle (Bridgend) Castle
Bridgend Free entry
Norman ringwork with fine carved gateway; free
Oxwich Castle
Swansea
Tudor mansion on Gower; open only on scheduled guided-tour days
Common questions
How many castles are there in South Wales?
This roll lists 39 visitable castles, fortresses and tower houses in South Wales. Of those, 18 are free to enter and 15 charge admission. The other 6 have restricted access.
Which castles in South Wales are free to visit?
18 of the 39 castles in South Wales are open-access sites with no admission charge, including Dinefwr Castle, Ogmore Castle, Skenfrith Castle, Swansea Castle, White Castle and Llansteffan Castle.
What is the best-rated castle in South Wales?
Caerphilly Castle is among the highest-rated castles in South Wales on this roll - 4.7/5 from 8,511 Google reviews.
Can you stay overnight in a castle in South Wales?
Yes - Craig-y-Nos Castle offers overnight stays.
Can you reach any castle in South Wales by train?
17 of the 39 sit within 1.5 miles of a railway station, the closest being Newport Castle (Newport (S Wales), 0.3 miles), Chepstow Castle (Chepstow, 0.3 miles), Caerphilly Castle (Caerphilly, 0.3 miles) and Swansea Castle (Swansea, 0.3 miles). Those are straight-line distances from the station to the castle, so the walk on the ground is longer than the figure.
Can you go inside every castle in South Wales?
Not all of them on the same terms. 6 of the 39 restrict what a visitor can see. Craig-y-Nos Castle is a hotel, so there is no way in without booking a room or a table. At Cyfarthfa Castle and Newport Castle the building itself isn't open to visitors, so you see it from the grounds or from outside. At Hensol Castle, St Donat's Castle and Oxwich Castle you get the grounds or a booked tour rather than free run of the building.