Upton Castle
Pembrokeshire, Wales
Photo: David Medcalf, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: David Medcalf, CC BY-SA 2.0 · David Medcalf, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- Private owner (Barlow family)
- Condition
- Partial ruin
- Access
- Grounds only
- Nearest station
- Lamphey, 2.7 miles (straight-line)
- Stays
- Overnight accommodation available
- Note
- 12th/13th-century fortified manor with an attached medieval chapel, surrounded by early-20th-century gardens and an arboretum.
Pinpoint
Upton Castle, Cosheston, Pembroke Dock SA72 4SE
Telephone 01646 689996
Possible Opening Hours*
*Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
A twelfth or thirteenth-century fortified manor with an attached medieval chapel, set inside thirty-five acres of gardens and an arboretum developed from 1927 by Stanley Neale.
At a glance
Who to know
Stanley Neale · who developed the gardens and arboretum from 1927
Worth the trip
The arboretum - a century of planting laid out around a genuinely old fortified core.
Before you go
The castle building itself isn't open to the public - this is a gardens and arboretum visit, seasonal (April to September), with the castle seen only from the grounds.
What visitors say
Upton Castle reviews · 4.5 / 5 across 214 Google reviews
Visitors praise Upton Castle Gardens for their woodland walks, walled and rose gardens and the sculpture trail, rounded off by the teepee cafe serving home-made and local produce.
The azaleas and rhododendrons in season and the dog-friendly grounds draw particular mention.
Reviewers note the castle itself is a private home and not open to visit, so the gardens are the draw.
“Beautiful gardens and lovely relaxing teepee cafe! The sculptures were just amazing. Lovely couple of hours exploring the gardens.”- Darren Harding, visitor review
History
Malefant family · 13th century
A 13th-century castle built on a site of early Celtic Christian worship, originally known as Ucceton. The first known owners were the Norman Malefant family, who held it until the 15th century. In 1927, Stanley Neale, a Cardiff ship owner, purchased the property and undertook the landscaping of terraces and planting of an arboretum that still surrounds the fortress today.
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.
- Facilities
- “The teepee cafe sells home made or local produce often grown on site served up with good coffee and lovely service.” - Beverley Rawlings
Common questions about Upton Castle
Where is Upton Castle?
Upton Castle is in Pembrokeshire, Wales, at Upton Castle, Cosheston, Pembroke Dock SA72 4SE.
Can you go inside Upton Castle?
At Upton Castle the grounds are open to visit but the castle interior generally isn't, under Private owner (Barlow family). Check the official site for current access before you travel.
Can you stay overnight at Upton Castle?
Yes - Upton Castle offers bookable accommodation, so you can spend the night in the castle itself or within its grounds. See the Castles You Can Sleep In guide for the full list and how each stay works.
Is Upton Castle dog-friendly?
Visitor reviews suggest dogs are welcome at Upton Castle - one reviewer noted: “…drons look fantastic this time of year. Dog friendly throughout.”. Policies can vary between parts of a site and change over time, so confirm with the operator before visiting with a dog.
What is the highlight of visiting Upton Castle?
The arboretum - a century of planting laid out around a genuinely old fortified core.
