Towering above the confluence between two rivers, Afon Brân and Afon Gwydderig in the Tywi Valley this castle must have been an imposing sight in its heyday during the 12th and 13th centuries.
Venture to this, one of the best castles in the West of the National Park and you’ll be rewarded with an imposing ruin on top of a rocky hillock overlooking Afon Brân. You’ll be able to appreciate how a castle, such as Llandovery was used as a pawn between Norman/English and Welsh forces, in addition to between power seeking Welsh lords, some of whom were brothers.
How to get there
P including for disabled badge holders adjacent
Bus: www.travelinecymru.gov.uk
Opening
Access free all year round.
Facilities
Toilets
Refreshments: in town
Shop: in town
Accessibility: there are steep slopes and steps up to the top of the castle mound but you can easily view the castle ruins from the adjacent car park.
What there is to see and do
the impressive D-shaped tower with its first floor garderobe (latrine);
remains of a twin-towered gatehouse;
grass – covered foundations domestic buildings like a hall or kitchen range within the bailey;
envisage how the castle, under violent circumstances, changed from the hands of its original builder the Norman, Richard Fitz Pons to the Welsh leader, Gruffydd ap Rhys and thereafter went backwards and forwards until it finally fell to Edward 1 in 1277 not before it witnessed one more episode of bloodshed in the early 1400s when Owain Glyndwr attacked it.