County guide · The Castle Rolls
Best castles in South Wales
40 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.
Map
Every castle on this list - 40 in total, 19 free to enter, 1 you can stay overnight in
Cardiff Castle
Cardiff
Norman keep, Victorian Gothic apartments, wartime tunnels
Caerphilly Castle
Caerphilly
Britain's second-largest castle; famous leaning tower and water defences
Powis Castle
Powys
Medieval fortress turned grand residence; terraced gardens
Chepstow Castle
Monmouthshire
Britain's oldest surviving post-Roman stone castle, above the Wye
Raglan Castle
Monmouthshire
Grand late-medieval castle with moated Great Tower
Laugharne Castle
Carmarthenshire
Tudor-converted castle on Taf estuary; Dylan Thomas connections; seasonal opening
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
Kidwelly Castle
Carmarthenshire
Well-preserved Norman concentric castle; Monty Python filming location
Carreg Cennen Castle
Carmarthenshire
In Cadw care; day-to-day run by farm; admission charged; clifftop cave passage
Dinefwr Castle
Carmarthenshire
NT-owned, Cadw-maintained; free; reached via walk through Dinefwr Park
Ogmore Castle
Vale of Glamorgan
Riverside Norman castle beside famous stepping stones; free
Oystermouth Castle
Swansea
Seasonal Apr-Oct; pay on gate
Fonmon Castle
Vale of Glamorgan
Now runs as Jurassic Wales dinosaur attraction plus castle
Skenfrith Castle
Monmouthshire
NT-owned, Cadw-managed; round keep by River Monnow; free; also listed under National Trust
Swansea Castle
Swansea
City-centre ruin; ground level accessible, upper levels closed
White Castle
Monmouthshire
Best preserved of the Three Castles; water-filled moat; free
Llansteffan Castle
Carmarthenshire
Headland castle above Tywi estuary; free
Montgomery Castle
Powys
Crag-top castle above Georgian town; free
Abergavenny Castle & Museum
Monmouthshire
Grounds daily; free museum in castle grounds
Craig-y-Nos Castle
Powys
Adelina Patti's Victorian castle; adjacent country park free
Hensol Castle
Vale of Glamorgan
Gin distillery tours in cellars; wedding/event venue
Tretower Court and Castle
Powys
Round keep plus adjacent restored medieval manor house
Hay Castle
Powys
Opened 2022 after restoration; daily tours
Dryslwyn Castle
Carmarthenshire
Welsh-built hilltop castle over Tywi valley; free
Grosmont Castle
Monmouthshire
One of the Three Castles of Gwent; free
Coity Castle
Bridgend
Norman castle held by the Turberville family; free
Monmouth Castle
Monmouthshire
Fragmentary; birthplace of Henry V; regimental museum adjacent
Weobley Castle
Swansea
Fortified manor on Gower; entry paid at adjoining farmhouse
St Donat's Castle
Vale of Glamorgan
School campus; pre-booked tours, open days, arts centre events
Dolforwyn Castle
Powys
Llywelyn ap Gruffudd's last-built Welsh castle; free
Llanblethian Castle (St Quintins Castle)
Vale of Glamorgan
Early 14th-century castle likely built by Gilbert de Clare, notable for its twin-towered gatehouse and surviving curtain wall.
St Quentin's Castle (Llanblethian)
Vale of Glamorgan
Twin-towered gatehouse near Cowbridge; free
Bronllys Castle
Powys
Climbable round tower on motte; free
Loughor Castle
Swansea
Small tower on Norman ringwork over Loughor estuary; free
Newcastle (Bridgend) Castle
Bridgend
Norman ringwork with fine carved gateway; free
Oxwich Castle
Swansea
Tudor mansion on Gower; open only on scheduled guided-tour days
Old Beaupre Castle
Vale of Glamorgan
Fortified Tudor manor with Renaissance porch; free; field walk
Castell Coch
Cardiff
Victorian Gothic fantasy rebuild by William Burges; fully roofed
Newport Castle
Newport
Interior fenced off; riverside towers viewable externally only