Cilgerran Castle
Cilgerran is one of the most spectacularly sited castles in Wales. Its two great round towers loom high above the deep gorge of the River Teifi and the fast-flowing stream of the Plysog.
About Cilgerran Castle
Cilgerran Castle stands on a precipitous, craggy promontory overlooking the river Teifi where it merges with the Plysgog stream.
The Teifi here is just at its tidal limit, so the castle was able to control both a natural crossing point and the passage of seagoing ships. We cannot be sure when this strong site was first fortified.
First mentioned by name in 1108, a year later it was the suggested site for the abduction of Princess Nest, the spirited and beautiful wife of the Norman lord, Gerald of Windsor.
Cilgerran was captured by the Lord Rhys in 1164 but was retaken by William Marshal, earl of Pembroke, in 1204, only to be taken again by the Welsh during Llywelyn the Great's campaigns in 1215.
However, eight years later, William's son, another William, regained control, and it was probably he who built the imposing masonry castle we see today.
The site changed hands many times after the Marshal family died out. It was ordered to be refortified in 1377 as a defence against the Welsh rebels who finally took of the site in 1405.
Much of the northern side of the castle was thought to have been destroyed during the Civil War when local parliamentarians attacked the royalists garrisoned inside.
After this, the castle became one of the first tourist attractions, with visitors sailing up the River Teifi to view the 'romantic ruins'.
Amongst those 18th century visitors was none other than JMW Turner who sketched and then later painted several views of the castle. The castle is now in the ownership of the National Trust and in the guardianship of Cadw.
How to Find us
Key Information
Opening Times:
1st April - 31st March 10am - 4pm
Last admission 30 minutes before closing
Closed 24, 25, 26 December and 1 January
Open and unstaffed with no admission charge
- Free Entry
What we can offer
Dogs WelcomeAccessibility
Parking and getting to the visitor centre:
Castell Cilgerran does not have a dedicated car park, however roadside parking is available in the village with a few minutes’ walk/push of the visitor centre: Google maps view
There is a slightly sloping declining tarmac ‘no vehicle access’ lane from the Castle Square to the visitor centre.
Access from roadside parking in the village is mostly flat or with a slight gradient..
There is a free car park by the riverside which is a 15-20 minute walk through woods along an uneven sloping earth path with uneven steps, alternatively you can walk/push back up a steep car park access road then through the village. This is signposted from the village.
There is a drop off point for a single car near the entrance to the castle on Castle Square.
The nearest bus stop is on the main road 5 minutes’ push/walk from the castle entrance
The visitor centre and accessing the monument:
The path from visitor centre to the gatehouse is a short distance from over a flat even gravelled surface and wooden bridge.
The ticket office is in a wooden hut with a slightly sloped entrance with the ticket desk at the entrance and shop area to the right.
It is wheelchair accessible with standard manual door, a second door can be opened if required. One entrance / exit door.
There are two toilets onsite within the visitor centre (when the visitor centre is open). Both toilets are accessible. No baby changing facilities.
Dogs must be kept on leads at all times and non-assistance dogs must remain on the ground floor only.
Inside the monument:
The castle inner grounds are mainly laid to grass, part level and part sloping.
Much of the castle can be seen from ground level, with most of the ground level areas laid to grass. The outer ward behind the visitor centre is grassed and sloping with no defined paths.
Access to the two towers and corridors within the castle is via various narrow uneven spiral staircases, and there are some internal steps between the towers. The floor surface throughout the corridors and walk walks is uneven stone. Handrails are present on upper wooden bridges, walkways, and some of the stairs. Doorways within the corridors are often narrow.
The base of each tower is entered up two steps. Access to the moat ditch is a short descent via four uneven rock cut stone steps.
