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Mid Wales has castles built by Welsh princes, English kings and Norman lords, from a World Heritage Site on the coast to lonely ruins on hilltops. This four-day tour visits ten of them, from Harlech in Southern Eryri (Southern Snowdonia) down the Cardigan Bay coast and across to the border.
Harlech Castle, built by Edward I in the 1280s, stands on a rock above the dunes with Eryri's mountains behind it. It's part of the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd World Heritage Site. In the afternoon, drive south to Castell y Bere, a Welsh castle built by Llywelyn the Great in the Dysynni valley below Cadair Idris. It's free, quiet and one of the most atmospheric ruins in Wales.
Stop at the ruins of Aberystwyth Castle on the headland, begun in 1277, then drive down the coast to Cardigan. Cardigan Castle hosted the first recorded eisteddfod in 1176 and has been restored with gardens, exhibitions and a restaurant. Just inland, Cilgerran Castle stands on a crag above the Teifi gorge.
Cross Mid Wales to Welshpool and Powis Castle, a medieval castle turned grand house, with terraced gardens and a collection of treasures from India. Then visit Montgomery Castle on its ridge above the Georgian town, and Dolforwyn Castle near Abermule, the last castle built by a native Welsh prince, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, in 1273.
Drive south to Tretower Court and Castle near Crickhowell, where a round Norman tower stands beside a medieval manor house with a recreated 15th-century garden. Finish at Hay Castle in Hay-on-Wye, restored and reopened with exhibitions and a rooftop viewpoint over the town of books.
Explore the magnificent castle of Edward I at Harlech - which is inscribed on the World Heritage List. One of the most formidable and dominant fortresses in Wales. Panoramic views of Snowdonia and the sea. On site exhibition.
Deep in the mountainous heart of mid Wales, nestling at the foot of Cadair Idris, lie the ruins of Castell y Bere. An atmospheric site, it is an outstanding example of a stronghold of the native Welsh princes.
In the marvellous sweep of Cardigan Bay stand the ruins of one of Edward I's late 13th century castles. Of the seven major English strongholds he established in Wales, Aberystwyth Castle has fared least favourably in the survival stakes.
The Castle was erected in the 12th century and was the home of the first National Eistedfod in 1176. It was the overall winner of Channel 4's Great British Buildings Restoration of the Year
Picturesque remains that include a pair of highly defensible round towers dating to the first half of the thirteenth century. Earlier Norman origins.
Cared for by the National Trust since 1952, Powis Castle & Gardens includes a world-famous garden, a 13th-century castle, the Clive Museum, and a historic collection.
Montgomery Castle is a masonry castle standing on a rocky promontory above the town of Montgomery. Precipitous slopes to the north and east make this an excellent defensive site.
Discover Dolforwyn Castle, an ancient fortress nestled on a picturesque ridge above the enchanting Severn Valley near Newtown. Immerse yourself in the captivating tale of Welsh-English conflict as you explore the rich history that surrounds Dolforwyn Castle. The sweeping panoramic views from its…
Restored courtyard house with origins in the fourteenth century. Rebuilt by Sir Roger Vaughan in the fifteenth century. Recreated fifteenth-century garden. Beautiful tranquil setting.
Hay Castle sets the imagination soaring. Once a great medieval stronghold, the castle and the grounds in the welsh borderlands are alive with possibilities once again as a centre for cultural, arts and education.
| From | To | Distance * (metric) |
|---|---|---|
| Harlech Castle (Cadw) (52.8605,-4.10949) | Castell y Bere - (Cadw) (52.66124,-3.96443) | 21.82 |
| Castell y Bere - (Cadw) (52.66124,-3.96443) | Aberystwyth Castle (52.41578,-4.0849) | 25.67 |
| Aberystwyth Castle (52.41578,-4.0849) | Cardigan Castle & Gardens (52.08182,-4.66083) | 48.66 |
| Cardigan Castle & Gardens (52.08182,-4.66083) | Cilgerran Castle (Cadw) (52.05671,-4.63486) | 2.98 |
| Cilgerran Castle (Cadw) (52.05671,-4.63486) | Powis Castle and Garden (52.65056,-3.15882) | 108.17 |
| Powis Castle and Garden (52.65056,-3.15882) | Montgomery Castle (Cadw) (52.56281,-3.14934) | 8.81 |
| Montgomery Castle (Cadw) (52.56281,-3.14934) | Dolforwyn Castle (Cadw) (52.54606,-3.25092) | 6.41 |
| Dolforwyn Castle (Cadw) (52.54606,-3.25092) | Tretower Court and Castle (Cadw) (51.88386,-3.18449) | 66.48 |
| Tretower Court and Castle (Cadw) (51.88386,-3.18449) | Hay Castle | Castell Y Gelli (52.07385,-3.12634) | 19.37 |
| Total Distance * | 308.31 miles | |
| Estimated Journey Time | 9.92 hours | |
* Approximate distance by road
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