Castles in Wales Gazetteer (E-L)

Browse this list of castles to visit in Wales by Region (click here for a regional map) or alphabetically (start on this page).

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W

Ewloe Castle    A Welsh D-shaped design ascribed to Llewelyn Fawr, with later stone wall added by Llewelyn ap Gruffyd in 1257. Ewloe, Hawarden, Clwyd, Wales Attraction Type: Castle Location: 2 m NW Hawarden, on B5125 OS SJ288 675 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Flint Castle    The "Gateway to Wales", begun by Edward I in 1277 for his first assault on the Kingdom of Gwynedd. A square plan with detached keep, on Edward's typical massive scale. Flint, Clwyd, Wales Attraction Type: Castle Location: off A548 OS SJ247 733 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Grosmont Castle    Access to the castle is via a wooden bridge - the 14th century drawbridge no longer remains - over the empty moat. A ruined gatehouse and curtain wall partially survive along with the remains of a two-storey rectangular hall block and Gothic chimney pot. Henry III came to Grosmont in 1233 to quell a Welsh rebellion. Henry V (before he was crowned king) made use of the castle when stamping out the Glyndwr rebellion in 1405. Grosmont, Gwent, Wales Attraction Type: Castle Website: Grosmont Castle Cadw OS SO405 244 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Harlech Castle    A concentric castle begun in 1283 during Edward I's final assault on Wales. Box-like structure atop a rocky hill. Captured by Owain Glyndwr, and much later by Parliamentary troops during the Civil War. Remarkably well preserved, it is hard to imagine that this grim grey castle was painted bright white when it was built. Harlech, Gwynedd, Wales, LL46 2YH Attraction Type: Castle Location: 11 m N Barmouth, on A496 Website: Harlech Castle Phone: 01766 780 552 Cadw Location map OS SH581 312 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Haverfordwest Castle    Founded in mid 12th century by Gilbert de Clare, parts of the Norman walls remain. A curtain wall on the northwest side had walls 12 feet thick. Other ruins are two round towers, a chapel, a hall, and a dungeon. A museum and former prison governor's house is located in the ruins (medieval castle made into prison in 18th century). Haverfordwest, Dyfed, Wales Attraction Type: Castle Location: in the town of Haverfordwest (A40/A4076) on 80ft high hilltop above the River Cleddau. OS SM953 157 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Hawarden Old Castle    A Norman earthwork motte survives of an early castle that was later built in stone by Edward I c1280. A well preserved circular keep and scant remains of a rectangular tower remain from the stone castle. Hawarden, Clwyd, Wales Attraction Type: Castle Location: in a park SE of town centre on B5126 OS SJ319 653 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Hay Castle    Norman castle ruins (wall, gateway, tower) built c1200. Part of the ruins contain a bookstore. The castle was supposedly owned by Maud, wife of William de Braose. Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Wales Attraction Type: Castle Location: on B4350 OS SO229 423 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Kenfig Castle    Rubble footings in sand are all that remain of a 13th century castle with a curtain, hall, and keep. Mawdlam, Glamorgan, Wales Attraction Type: Castle Location: minor road 5 m NW Porthcawl off B4283 OS SS801 827 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Kidwelly Castle    Kidwelly Castle has an inner ward with four round towers that provided domestic rooms. Later it was added onto and become a concentric castle with walls within walls. A hall block, chapel and outer stone curtain wall were added. A twin-towered gatehouse guarded the entrance. Guardrooms, a dungeon and other rooms were located here. In the 1500's more rooms were added in both the inner and outer wards. The castle fell into decay less than a hundred years later. Kidwelly, Glamorgan, Wales, SA17 5BG Attraction Type: Castle Location: off A484 Website: Kidwelly Castle Phone: 01554 890104 Cadw Location map OS SN409 070 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Laugharne Castle    Restored Victorian garden in castle. Roses, shrubs, lawns, raised walk. King Street, Laugharne, Dyfed, Wales, SA33 4SA Attraction Type: Castle Location: on Taf River estuary. Access from A4066 St Clears. Website: Laugharne Castle Phone: 01994 427906 Cadw Location map OS SN303 107 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Llanblethian Castle    A ruined rectangular building c1200, and later ruins of walls and keep, tower and gatehouse are all that remain. Llanblethian, Cowbridge, Glamorgan, Wales Attraction Type: Castle Location: off A48 OS SS989 737 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Llandovery Castle    Small ruin on the hill of a motte, built c 1100. It changed hands a number of times between the Welsh and English. Llandovery, Dyfed, Wales Attraction Type: Castle Location: off A4069, overlooking the River Bran OS SN767 342 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Llanilid Castle    Raised ringwork and ditch of Norman wooden castle. Llanilid, Glamorgan, Wales Attraction Type: Castle Location: 2 m E Pencoed (near M4, exit 35) OS SS978 812 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Llansteffan Castle    Perched on a headland overlooking Carmarthen Bay, this ruined 12th century castle shares the history of its site with an Iron Age fort built in approximately 600 BC. Much is in ruins, but the twin towered gatehouse still looms large. Llansteffan, Dyfed, Wales Attraction Type: Castle Location: off B4312 Website: Llansteffan Castle Cadw OS SN351 109 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Llantrisant Castle    Built c1245 by Richard de Clare, the remains consist of retaining wall pieces and a round keep. Llantrisant, Glamorgan, Wales Attraction Type: Castle Location: off A4119 OS ST047 829 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Llawhaden Castle    This castle was at the centre of the bishops of St David's estates. Destroyed by Welsh in 1192, it was then rebuilt in stone in the 1200's and further reconstructed in the 14th century into a fortified mansion for the bishops. The ruins include a gatehouse, remains of a great hall, undercroft, chapel, and prison, surrounded by a ditch. Llawhaden, Dyfed, Wales Attraction Type: Castle Location: minor road off A4075 Website: Llawhaden Castle Cadw OS SN071 174 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts