South-west Wales itinerary: the Wales Coast Path The Wales Coast Path launched in 2012 and stretches along 870 miles of stunning landscape, passing many historic sites and places of interest along the way, including some of Cadw’s fascinating castles and palaces. If you’re in south-west Wales follow the coastal path to Kidwelly Castle and Laugharne Castle, to learn about the stories of the Lords of the Southern March and the effect their activities had on the making of Wales, or discover the extent of the wealth and power medieval bishops enjoyed at Lamphey Bishop’s Palace and St Davids Bishop’s Palace... Laugharne Castle Picturesque Laugharne Castle stands on a low ridge overlooking the wide Taf estuary, and is one of a string of fortresses controlling the ancient route along the south Wales coast. The north-west tower’s unusual stone dome roof is a towering feat not to be missed, nor are the spectacular views from the battlements. In more recent years it has become a site of inspiration for some of Wales’s literary greats. Dylan Thomas wrote his series of short stories, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog and Richard Hughes wrote his novel, In Hazard, in the castle’s gazebo. Kidwelly Castle Lamphey Bishop’s Palace Kidwelly Castle is a chronicle in stone of medieval fortress technology. This strong and splendid castle was developed over more than three A site born from the vision of the dynamic Henry de Gower, the centuries of Anglo-Welsh warfare. The half-moon shape stems from bishop of St Davids from 1328 to 1347, Lamphey Bishop’s Palace the original twelfth-century stockaded fortress, and is defended by was the retreat of choice for medieval bishops seeking solace the river Gwendraeth on one side and a deep crescent-shaped ditch from the everyday stresses of Church and State. Lamphey’s gilded on the other. In 1136 Princess Gwenllian (wife of the Welsh lord of existence came to an abrupt end when it was handed over to Henry Deheubarth) died in battle against the Normans who held Kidwelly VII in 1546. Its great hall and inner gatehouse are particularly fine at the time. If you want a truly medieval moment, catch a glimpse of architectural achievements. It is also a site of more modern history, Kidwelly shrouded in early morning mist. used as a base for RAF and US Army units during World War II. 1 A59 A565 3 26 M58 A570 7 M6 A58 6 A580 23 5 LIVERPOOL Amlwch M57 Birkenhead A5025 2 Capel 1 M62 1 Caer y Twrˆ r Hillfort Lligwy 5 7 2 6 A57 Lligwy 2 Holyhead Mountain Hut Group Tregwehelydd Standing Stone Burial Chamber Great Ormes A551 3 1 Din Lligwy Head 3 Caer Gybi Roman Fortlet Penmon Priory Prestatyn 3 2 Hut Group Llandudno Maen Achwyfan M Holyhead Benllech and St Seiriol’s Well A558 Rhyl Cross 4 e A56 4 Penrhos Feilw Standing Stones Presaddfed r Puffin Island Colwyn s e 11 5 Burial Chamber Beaumaris y 4 Bay Basingwerk M53 5 Tyˆ Mawr Standing Stone B5109 Penmon Cross Abergele A5151 A548 12 Castle Abbey 5 6 B5109 and Dovecote 6 Trefignath Burial Chamber Holy Island A5 Llangefni A55 Rhuddlan Castle A540 M56 Plas Conwy Castle Flint 9 A55 Bryn Celli Ddu and Twthill Ty Newyddˆ Burial Chamber A545 Mawr and Town Walls Castle 14 A56 Burial Chamber Bangor St Winifred’s Chapel Llanfairfechan St Asaph A55 and Holy Well 11 Barclodiad y Gawres 7 A541 A550 Burial Chamber 10 Denbigh Friary, South-west Wales itinerary: A55 A54 Lord Leicester’s Church Clwyd 7 Din Dryfol A4080 8 A470 and St Hilary’s Chapel Ewloe Castle 12 Burial Chamber Bethesda B5106 A544 A525 A51 9 Segontium Chester A49 the Wales Coast Path 8 Bodowyr A548 A549 Chester Burial Chamber Roman Fort Denbigh Castle Mold Roman Amphitheatre A5118 Chester Gwydir Uchaf and Town Walls A55 9 Castell Bryn Gwyn Llanrwst Castle Llanberis A5 Chapel A51 Caernarfon Castle A494 10 Caer Lêb Dolbadarn Capel Curig A543 A541 A41 and Town Walls Alyn A4086Castle Ruthin Dee Beeston Betws-y-Coed Castle C a e r n a r f o n Capel Garmon A534 A4085 Derwen Burial Chamber Conwy Churchyard Cross Dolwyddelan A525 B a y Wrexham A498 Castle A49 A499 A5014 A483 Beddgelert Blaenau Alwen Rug Ffestiniog Chapel Valle Crucis St Cybi’s Eliseg’s Corwen Pillar Abbey Well A525 A5 Nefyn A4212 A525 Dee Whitchurch Llangar Llangollen Penarth Fawr A497 Old Parish Church Chirk Dee B4417Medieval House Porthmadog A41 Criccieth Llyn Bala Castle Trawsfynydd A495 Pwllheli A494 A528 Harlech Bala Lake Old Oswestry A470 Castle Hill Fort A499 Oswestry Abersoch Dyffryn Ardudwy Henry de GowerBurial Chamberwas also responsible for St Davids Bishop’s Moreton Corbet Aberdaron A5 Castle Palace, the most impressive medieval bishop’s palace in Wales. The Tanat A496 Lake Vyrnwy Bardsey Cymer Abbey A49 A53 Island whole site sends shivers down the spine, evoking a period when Haughmond Abbey Dolgellau A470 religion was the order of the day and bishops were powerbrokers Severn Barmouth Pont A495 Minllyn Vyrnwy A458 Shrewsbury par excellence. TheCastell palace y Bere is lavishly decorated with finely carved A458 A5 Banwy A483 stonework. Check out the great hall, the most impressive chamber Welshpool Wroxeter Cantlop Roman City A493 Llanfair Caereinion Bridge in the palace, which createdB4405 the perfect backdrop for banquets. And Dyfi A458 A488 Acton Burnell be sure to explore the extensive undercrofts and majestic porch, an A490 Castle Tywyn A489 A470 Machynlleth entrance befitting the majesty of such an iconic building. Montgomery Castle Mitchell’s Fold Langley Stone Circle Chapel Dolforwyn Castle A49 Aberdyfi Dyfi Furnace B4386 A489 B4518 Church Newtown Stretton Bryntail B4385 While on the Wales CoastA487 Path other sites to look out for include Lead Mine Borth Bishop’s C a Llansteffan r d i g a n Castle, the Carew Cross and St Non’s Chapel. Castle Severn Clun Llanidloes A488 B a y Castle Aberystwyth A44 A483 Craven Arms Visit cadw.wales.gov.uk to discoverPonterwyd theWye stories and people behind Rheidol Llangurig Stokesay B4340 Castle our 128 historic sites. A4120 A4117 Ithon ‘Like’ Cadw on Facebook and follow @Cadwwales on Twitter or Teme Ludlow Ystwyth Knighton A4113 B4343 download our smartphoneA485 app to stay up to date. St Davids Bishop’s Palace Rhayader Wigmore A488 Castle A456 Pontrhydfendigaid B4356 A44 A487 A470 Presteigne A49 A4112 Aberaeron Strata Florida Mortimer’s Cross B4362 Water Mill New Quay Abbey Tregaron Llandrindod Wells Leominster A44 Aeron A44 A4110 Wye A482 A481 A485 B4343 A4111 A4112 A417 Aberporth B4337 B4567 Teifi Builth A480 A487 A486 B4459 Wells B4546 A438 Cardigan B4570 Lampeter Irfon St Dogmaels A465 A483 Llanwrtyd Wells Abbey A484 A475 A49 Carreg Coetan Arthur B4350 Arthur’s A4103 Burial Chamber Stone Hay-on-Wye Wye Strumble Cilgerran Hereford A438 Tywi Rotherwas Head Castle Newcastle A482 Fishguard Chapel Newport Emlyn A485 Llandovery Pentre Ifan Brecon Gaer Burial Chamber Bronllys A484 Roman Fort Longtown Cothi A40 A470 Castle A487 Llynfi B4313 Llanwrda Honddu Castle Wye W A479 A478 Talley Sennybridge Usk e s t u A465 e a Abbey A49 r dd n le Llangadog Llanthony Grosmont St Davids C C l n 4 e r A40 Brecon Castle d Priory Bishop’s Palace d te Dinefwr A4069 au B4329 s a A4215 A40 Skenfrith A487 E Dryslwyn Castle Monnow Tretower Court Castle Castle Llandeilo B4347 and Castle A40 Ramsey St Non’s Llawhaden Tywi White Island Chapel Castle Carmarthen Goodrich A466 Castle Wiston Castle A4067 Castle B4521 A48 Crickhowell Hen Gwrt S t B r i d e s St Clears A40 Carreg Cennen Haverfordwest A40 Moated Site A40 B4312 Castle B4233 B a y Broad Llansteffan Brynamman Trothy Narberth A4068 Brynmawr Haven B4341 Haverfordwest Castle Abergavenny A4115 A470 Blaenavon Monmouth Skomer Priory A4221 A4059 A465 A4136 A483 Ammanford Ironworks Castle A478 B4248 Island A4076 Laugharne Raglan Castle Wye A477 Ystalyfera Ebbw 2 A476 A40 A4075 Castle A4066 Vale Milford A477 Carew Rhymney St Briavel’s Kidwelly 49 A474 Glyn-neath A467 Haven Pendine Loughor Cross A4048 Raglan Castle 1 Merthyr Usk Castle A4046 A484 Tawe A466 Saundersfoot Cynon Tydfil A469 Burry Pontardawe A4109 A465 Skokholm A4043 48 Neath Aberdare Tintern Port A4061 Island A4059 A472 Usk Offa’s M4 A4042 Abbey Pembroke Tenby C a r m a r t h e n A4054 A449 Dyke 47 45 Pontypool Lamphey Carswell Llanelli 46 Chepstow Castle Bishop’s Palace 3 Medieval House B a y Loughor 44 Neath Abbey A4233 and Port Wall Castle 43 Afan Treorchy A472 Chepstow Caldey Island Neath Ebbw Cwmbran Runston B4295 42 Llanmelin Wood Bulwarks A4107 Blaengarw Rhymney Caerleon Chapel Weobley A483 A469 Hillfort Camp B4271 Roman Fortress Castle A4064 A4058 A48 SWANSEA Maesteg Taff 2 Swansea Port 41 M48 Parc le Breos Burial Chamber 26 Castle Talbot 40 A4061 A470 24 A4118 Margam Stones Pontypridd A468 A467 Caerwent 1 Worms Head Museum A4093 23 Roman Town A4063 Caerphilly The Mumbles 28 NEWPORT M4 21 Oxwich 38 Castle Newport 22 Port-Eynon Castle Coity 29 M4 Newcastle Castell Coch M4 30 S w a n s e a 36 Castle A48 Castle (Bridgend) Llantrisant 29a M49 32 17 B a y 37 35 Avonmouth 34 33 18a A4106 A48 St Quentin’s Castle y Portishead r (Llanblethian) a Porthcawl CARDIFF u 19 Ogmore Ewenny Tinkinswood t s Burial Chamber Castle Priory E Cowbridge M5 Penarth n Clevedon BRISTOL 20 A4055 r Old Beaupre Castle e v St Lythans Burial Chamber e A370 S B4265 Barry Stanton Drew Yatton A38 Circles & Cove 21 The journey time from Kidwelly – Laugharne is approx.