Llawhaden Castle. A Castle Built By A Bishop Called Bernard.

Llawhaden Castle or Castell Llanhuadain in the native Welsh tongue is a sprawling ruin of a castle in Pembrokeshire in southwest Wales. It and the surrounding lands were owned by the Bishopric of the Diocese of St David and was the only ecclesiastically-ruled Marcher Lordship. A motte and bailey were built by the first Norman Bishop, Bernard, in 1115 of which only the moat survives.

Dryslwyn Castle – A Proper Welsh Castle

Dryslwyn Castle is a 13th-century castle, thought to be built by one of the Welsh princes of Deheubarth. It sits upon a hill overlooking the Twi Valley and commands some stunning views, even on a cold and rainy day such as this one.

It is one of the most important structures built by a Welsh chieftain still remaining. It is an excellent defensive position and is thought perhaps to have been a fortification in prehistoric times, although no evidence of this remains.

The Beautiful, but Windy, Ogmore Castle

Ogmore Castle, or to give it it’s Welsh name- Castell Ogwr, is a 12th-century ruin near Bridgend in Glamorgan, South Wales. It sits on the banks of the River Ewenny but takes its name from the nearby River Ogmore.

It’s a blowy but very sunny day and the castle looks stunning.  There are pony trekkers crossing the river at the all-important ford heading for a ride on the beach at Ogmore By Sea.  Despite the cold, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this castle.

Construction of the castle is thought to have begun in 1106 prior to the Norman conquest. It was in use until the 19th century, latterly as a court of justice and a prison.

Why is Chepstow Castle so big?

Chepstow Castle is the oldest surviving post-Roman stone fortification in Britain. Situated in Monmouthshire in Wales on cliffs overlooking a bend in the tidal part of the River Wye, it was the southernmost of a chain of castles built in the Welsh Marches. Construction began in 1067 under the instruction of the Norman Lord William FitzOsbern. It was originally called Striguil, which means River Bend.

What’s in the Twin Towers of Cilgerran Castle?

A 13th-century ruined Norman Castle with a smashing view across the River Telfi in Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It’s all about the Round Towers here. Between around 1110–1115, Gerald of Windsor built a wooden palisade which was replaced at some point before the attack in 1165 by Rhys ap Gruffydd. He captured the castle and utterly destroyed it. He then began reconstruction using stone and lime mortar. The castle was recaptured by the English when William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, in 1204 when he drove out Rhy’s son, Maelgwn ap Rhys. Having captured the castle William Marshal began repairs but these proved futile when in 1215 Llywelyn the Great took the castle back into Welsh hands after just a single day of battle. In 1223 the castle was recaptured by Williams son William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, who began the construction of the castle in its present form. It remained in English hands until it was allowed to fall into ruin and was deserted by 1400.

Why is White Castle Not White?

Near the village of Llantilio Crossenny in Monmouthshire, Wales sits the imposing 12th-century Norman fortress of White Castle. Constructed on the foundations of its predecessor which was built of wood and earth in 1066, it was intended to protect the route from Wales to Hereford. It may have been commissioned by William fitz Osbern, the Earl of Hereford.

In 1135, King Stephen responded to a Welsh revolt by bringing together White Castle and its sister fortifications of Grosmont and Skenfrith to form a lordship known as the “Three Castles”. King John gave the castle to Hubert de Burgh, in 1201. Over the next few years, it was passed from Hubert, his rival the de Braose family, and the Crown.

Exploring The Beautiful Bronllys Castle

This Motte and Baily castle in Powys, Wales was founded c. 1110 by Richard Fitz Pons a marcher lord on the border with Wales. The original castle was built of wood but was replaced with a stone structure by Walter de Clifford sometime between 1144 and 1165 when it is reported that the tower caught fire.

Even though there are no ceilings or floors left, you can go right to the top of its tower, where there are some lovely views.

The Best Castle Location? – Llansteffan Castle

On a hill above the estuary of the River Towy in Carmarthenshire sits the magnificent Llansteffan Castle. It was built on the site of an older Iron Age Promontory Fort and has been in use for millennia, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s not only a highly defensible location, but affords some stunning views over the River Towy, and the village of Llansteffan itself. If you go to the top of the tower at the right time, you might even get to see a train in the distance.

Today, it’s all about location, and Llansteffan has got one of the best views of the sea we’ve seen from a castle. It isn’t actually the sea, it’s the estuary of the River Towy with the sea in the distance. Whatever it is, it’s beautiful.

The Biggest Castle in Wales – Caerphilly Castle

A medieval fortification built by Gilbert de Clare in the 13th century in the town of Caerphilly in South Wales. Loads of moats and lakes, it is said to have the most elaborate water defences in Britain. Occupying around 30 acres (12 hectares) it is the second-largest castle in the United Kingdom. One of its defining features is its leaning tower. The south-east tower in the Inner Ward leans outwards at an angle of 10 degrees.

Raglan Castle – Fortress or Palace?

Raglan Castle is a late medieval castle north of the village of Raglan in the county of Monmouthshire in south-east Wales.

The current Raglan castle was built between the 15th and early 17th centuries by the Herberts and the Somersets. It boasts a sizeable hexagonal Keep called the Great Tower or the Yellow Tower of Gwent. The tower was surrounded by a moat and could therefore only be accessed via a drawbridge but to reach this point one must already have negotiated the gatehouse which was itself protected by a drawbridge and twin portcullises. Beyond the gatehouse, are what was once luxurious accommodations.