Llawhaden Castle

Llawhaden, United Kingdom

A motte-and-bailey castle is thought to have previously occupied the site  of Llawhaden Castle and the present structure was built by the bishops of the Diocese of St David in the 13th century. The castle was abandoned in the 16th century and some of the stone was removed for local building projects. The site is privately owned by the Lord of the Manor of Llawhaden and managed by Cadw.

The remaining ruins date from the early 13th century. It is surrounded by a ditch, which was designed to be only crossable by a drawbridge. The castle is pentagonal in shape and while the north-western and western sides of the castle are no longer present, the other three sides remain. The gatehouse is located on the southern side, which is formed of two drum towers and a gateway. This was also where the drawbridge would have been located to allow entrance to the interior of the castle.

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Llawhaden, United Kingdom
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Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in United Kingdom

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Julia Carbonaro (4 months ago)
Amazing castle set in a small town. It is free to enter, so just use common sense and be respectful of your surroundings. There are a lot of little rooms and corridors you can go into but don’t try climbing over the barriers because the ruins are obviously really old and you risk getting hurt. The castle is quite small and quick to see but there are plenty of footpaths around you can explore!
Sue Kohl (5 months ago)
Stunning views of the surrounding countryside, relatively short time to go around it, a couple of sheer drops to beware of if you bring children. Best thing was hearing distant cannon fire whilst standing in the tower. Apparently there's a range somewhere nearby. But how fantastic to hear it inside the tower! ??
Anthony Stevenson (6 months ago)
A very atmospheric but peaceful 'castle'. It's a little off the beaten track, but well worth a visit. From the parking bays, it's a short walk along the lane to the ruins. When we called towards the end of the afternoon there was no one else around. As we were in no rush, having explored a little, we settled down on a bench and lapped up the sunshine and listened to the buzzards and red kites. The site is very well kept. And all for free too!
Len Jones (6 months ago)
Really surprised how good this was considering it is free to visit. Quite easy to find not far from A40 and no really narrow lanes. Parking in the village and a short walk down a lane. Have paid for a lot less. If you are into old castles a really nice hour or so. Note no toilets or other facilities.
Diane Leavers (6 months ago)
Interesting remains of a castle where you can go into up some steep steps into one of the turrets. Lovely views over the countryside in a peaceful relaxing position. A couple of benches to sit on and admire the views. Free parking. Free visit. We were the only people there.
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