Old Beaupre Castle
Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
Photo: Gareth James, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: FruitMonkey (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 ยท Simon Rowe from Barry, Wales, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- Cadw
- Condition
- Partial ruin
- Access
- Free, open access
- Nearest station
- Llantwit Major, 3.1 miles (straight-line)
- Note
- Fortified Tudor manor with Renaissance porch; free; field walk
Pinpoint
Cowbridge CF71 7LT
Opening Hours
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| 1st April - 31st March | 10am-4pm |
Last entry: 30 minutes before closing
- Closed
- Closed 24, 25, 26 December and 1 January
Checked against the official page on 13 August 2026.
A fortified Tudor manor with an unexpectedly grand Renaissance porch, reached only by a walk across several fields rather than a car park at the door - there's no exhibition or furnished rooms, just the building and information boards. Reviewers treat the difficulty of finding it as part of the appeal, a genuinely quiet site well off the main routes.
At a glance
Worth the trip
The Renaissance porch, a surprising flourish of classical detail on an otherwise plain Tudor manor, according to reviewers who single it out.
Before you go
Wear waterproof shoes for the walk across the fields, and note parking is extremely limited (two to three cars in a layby); allow about an hour and expect to navigate stiles rather than a marked path.
What visitors say
Old Beaupre Castle reviews · 4.3 / 5 across 142 Google reviews
Reviewers consistently describe this as a rewarding but somewhat tucked-away ruin, reached by a short walk across several fields with only room for two or three cars nearby.
Several specifically call out the battlement walk and views as worth the effort of finding it, and entry is free; a couple of visitors note there's little in the way of exhibits or furnished rooms, just information boards.
“Lovely little walk across 3 fields to reach Old Beapre.Only space in layby for 2 cars . Quiet piece of history. Well worth an hours visit.”- Mark Hier, visitor review
Within reach of Cardiff (11 miles), Bristol (36 miles) - see what else is nearby.
History
Basset family · c.1300
The original L-shaped manor was built around 1300 and owned by the Basset family for centuries. Intensive remodelling during the 16th century, starting with Sir Rice Mansel and completed by Richard Basset, added the impressive outer gatehouse (1586) and Renaissance porch (1600). The castle declined after the English Civil War, and the Basset family relocated to New Beaupre in the early 18th century.
Adapted from this castle's Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Practical notes from visitors
Quoted from individual Google reviews, not verified with the operator - treat as a steer, not gospel, and check before you travel.
- Parking
- “Only room for upto 3 cars in the nearest recommended parking.” - H Matthews
Common questions about Old Beaupre Castle
Where is Old Beaupre Castle?
Old Beaupre Castle is in Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, at Cowbridge CF71 7LT.
Is Old Beaupre Castle free to visit?
Yes - Old Beaupre Castle is a free, open-access site with no ticket booth, looked after by Cadw. There may still be a charge for nearby parking, and open-access arrangements can change, so it's worth a quick check before you travel.
What is the highlight of visiting Old Beaupre Castle?
The Renaissance porch, a surprising flourish of classical detail on an otherwise plain Tudor manor, according to reviewers who single it out.
Is Old Beaupre Castle a ruin or still intact?
Old Beaupre Castle is a partial ruin - Fortified Tudor manor with Renaissance porch; free; field walk.
