One of the best-preserved Norman castles in Wales, its towers and great gatehouse standing above the River Gwendraeth
Open to visitorscheck opening times and admission before you go
Substantial ruinsruined, but plenty survives above ground
Kidwelly Castle looks much as a medieval castle should: a ring of round towers, a huge twin-towered gatehouse, and thick walls above the River Gwendraeth. The Normans founded it around 1106, at first in earth and timber, and it was rebuilt in stone over the following centuries into a concentric castle, meaning one line of walls set inside another so defenders could fight from both. The bloodiest episode came early. In 1136 Gwenllian, a Welsh princess, led an army against the Normans here and was killed in the battle, and the field nearby is still named after her. The castle came through Owain Glyndŵr’s revolt in the early 1400s and slowly fell out of use. Cadw looks after it today, and it stands right beside the town of Kidwelly, with the Wales Coast Path running along the estuary just to the south.
