The Castle Capital of the World!

The castle capital of the world

By High50

Not content with being home to the wildly beautiful countryside and rolling valleys, Wales also boasts Britain’s most splendid castles

There’s a reason some people refer to Wales as the ‘castle capital of the world’ as it is here that you will find over 500 striking and formidable fortresses – each with its own story to tell.  

The sheer volume of castles is thanks in no small part to King Edward I, who built on (quite literally) the work of his father, King Henry III, in the 13th century by creating an iron ring of fortifications in the north of the country, which he used to control rebel forces as he extended his hold over Wales.

Today you can find lonely castles, haunted forts, and castles so grand it looks as though they have changed little over the centuries.

Most commanding

Conwy Castle

Perched high on a rock on the banks of the estuary of the same name, Conwy in north Wales is believed by many to be one of the finest medieval fortresses left in Britain. No surprise then that it was here that King Edward I spent the most amount of money in the least amount of time. And it appears it was money well spent - the eight-towered castle received World Heritage status in 1986 (along with nearby Caernarfon, Harlech and Beaumaris, which also deserve recognition) and the views across the estuary and out to sea are simply spellbinding.

Most romantic

Laugharne Castle

What could be more poetic than a troubled writer (in this case Wales’s favourite son, Dylan Thomas, who would have been 100 this year) and the place in which he sought solitude and inspiration. For Thomas, Laugharne Castle was his escape; it was in the castle’s summer house that he was said to retire to cure bouts of writer’s block. Strangely evocative, this ancient castle, turned luxurious Tudor mansion will leave a lasting impression.

Most historic

Pembroke

This fortress, which was the birthplace of King Henry VII, the first Tudor monarch, is also the only castle in the UK to be built over a natural cave – you can even descend into Wogan Cavern via 55 steps if you feel brave enough. The castle’s strategic position atop a promontory that overlooks Milford Haven was well thought out and helped it put up a good fight against Royalist and Roundhead attackers, as well as a certain Oliver Cromwell during the Second English Civil War.

Most ornate

Powis Castle

Built by the Welsh prince Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn, who sided with King Edward I in his conquest of Wales, this castle in ‘the paradise of Wales’, which is now in the hands of the National Trust, is certainly resplendent but it is its Italian and French-style ornate gardens that really impress. The perfectly manicured terraces act as a pedestal for the pretty red brick building. Oh, and did we mention it has a medieval deer park too?

Most isolated

Carreg Cennen

You’d be hard-pushed to find a lonelier castle than this. Carreg Cennen lies of the fringes of the Brecon Beacons in Carmarthenshire and is largely ruined. It sits upon a hilltop surrounded by countryside and the castle’s owners also own the adjoining farm so it’s not uncommon to see longhorn cattle wandering among the wreckage of the one-time grand estate. A surreal experience at any time.

Most haunted

Oystermouth

Perhaps one of the lesser-known of the Welsh castles, this ruined fort is slowly being brought back to life by the Friends of Oystermouth Castle, a group that hopes to restore some of the previous grandeur to this fading facade. Ghost stories abound here in the shell that overlooks Swansea Bay and Dylan Thomas’s beloved Mumbles, a charming seaside suburb. The one that endures though is that of The White Lady who walks the castle’s walls and is believed to be the spirit of Alina de Breos, heir to the Lordship of Gower, whose husband was executed for treason against King Edward II and who herself was imprisoned in the Tower of London before living out the rest of her days at Oystermouth.