Caerphilly Castle

For two weeks only (Nov 23–Dec 9), Caerphilly Castle will be transformed into a Christmas wonderland, where guests can enjoy outdoor skating on a real ice rink...

Castle open Monday to Friday 12.00 – 4.00pm

Saturday and Sunday 10.00am – 4.00pm

Ice-rink open Monday to Friday 12.00 – 9.00pm    

Saturday and Sunday 10.00am – 9.00pm

Tickets available:  ticketsource.co.uk/caerphilly-castle-ice-rink

Like the famous cheese, the castle has long been synonymous with Caerphilly. It dominates. Hogs the limelight. Think slumbering giant awaiting a call to arms. It’s also a great backdrop for TV and film. It secured a starring role recently in the popular BBC TV series Merlin.

This stone behemoth, surrounded by a series of moats and watery islands was the brainchild of Gilbert ‘the Red’ de Clare, a redheaded nobleman of Norman descent. He also built the original Castell Coch, ‘Red Castle’, located the other side of Caerphilly mountain.

Gilbert de Clare and Llywelyn ap Gruffydd were contemporaries at war and early attempts by Gilbert to build a castle were thwarted by the Welsh prince. Gilbert eventually won through and built a mammoth stronghold using the concentric ‘walls within walls’ system of defence. He also made sure there were large and comfortable rooms to live in.

However, once the threat posed by Llywelyn was quelled by Edward I, the raison d’etre for this massive fortress changed. The castle’s condition worsened until late in the 19th century when the third marquess of Bute began preservation work. We have a lot to thank the Butes for in South Wales.

Purchase your Cadw guidebook here…