A haunting, atmospheric castle, Carreg Cennen appears to have emerged out of a legend.
Take a trip to these romantic, weather beaten ruins which crown a sheer limestone crag above the river, Afon Cennen at the westernmost reaches of the National Park. Ingeniously adapted to its rocky hilltop location, its core is a high walled enclosure, protected by a succession of pits, drawbridges and gatehouses. Approach from the other direction is impossible, for the castle tiptoes on the edge of a sheer 100 m high cliff.
How to get there
OS grid reference: OL12 or Landranger Map 159 – SN669019
P – disabled also
Bus and train: Llandeilo 5km/3miles away – route 280/281. https://www.traveline.cymru/
Opening
1 April – 31 October – 9.30am – 6pm daily
1 November – 31 March – 9.30am — 4.30pm daily apart from Christmas Day
Various entrance charges apply
Facilities
Toilets including for disabled
Refreshments
Shop
Accessibility: The path from the car park to the base of the castle is a mix of flagstones, uneven stone-dust and tarmac with mixed gradients. A reasonably steep, grassy slope leads up to the castle ruins. For those unable to reach the castle itself there is a stone-dust, 1:12 path which leads to a small picnic area by the meadow with fine views of the castle.
What there is to see and do
have a look around the elaborate barbican guarded by twin towers,
take in the spectacular views,
pretend to be one of the guards in the gatehouse ready to drop buckets of water and stones on any intruders who made it past the castle’s other defences,
venture down the underground tunnel with a torch to see the natural cave once used as a storeroom and a dungeon and imagine being held captive here.