Find places to visit in Britain by name, location, type of attraction, or other keyword.
This listings directory of over 950 entries is being phased out.
It now excludes places and things of interest in North East England.
These can be found in ABAB’s Places.
Tap/Click ‘find listings’ for a detailed search – or just have a browse.
The first Montgomery Castle was built in the 1070s by Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Shrewsbury, Earl of Arundel and one of King William I’s most powerful supporters. It was a motte and bailey castle, built in wood at Hen Domen, a short distance from the modern town, but was replaced by a stone castle on a rocky hilltop overlooking modern Montgomery between 1223 and 1234. The town developed beneath this far more formidable fortress. Hen Domen fell into disuse, its earthworks still visible on private land adjacent to the modern village of Hendomen.
The Welsh leader Owain Glyndŵr attacked and destroyed the town in 1402, but the castle remained until the Civil War and the Battle of Montgomery that took place just to the north east of the town in September 1644, a major defeat for the Royalist cause. The castle survived, but was slighted in 1649.
Though in ruins, the castle’s impressive defences can be appreciated and the views over the town and the valley of the River Camlad are terrific.
There is a car park at the top of the hill (unnamed road) next to the castle, but though it is steep the walk up from town is more rewarding. The post code is therefore for the Dragon Hotel, where it is possible to park outside in the Market Square.
Montgomery
The small, peaceful, town of Montgomery sits just inside the Welsh border, looked over by its medieval castle and surrounded by lovely countryside. It is mostly Georgian, but was once a walled medieval frontier town. There are few shops or pubs, but, in addition to the castle, there is an interesting church, St Nicholas’, a wonderful museum, the Old Bell, a surprising number of other fascinating features and a decent hotel, the Dragon. The church includes an astonishing Elizabethan canopied tomb and in the churchyard is the Robber’s Grave – where the grass was alleged not to have grown for a hundred years. The museum has a fascinating collection and features exhibitions about the town, castle and the Battle of Montgomery that took place during the Civil War. One not to be missed shop is Bunners, a traditional ironmonger that stocks almost everything and which is a warren of rooms and displays. The Castle Cafe in Broad Street is recommended too. Visit Montgomery to relax and walk in the countryside with red kites soaring overhead. Offa’s Dyke, the eighth century defensive earthwork that roughly follows the border between England and Wales today, is a very short distance to the east of town.
Harlech Castle was built in a spectacular position atop a sheer rocky crag, the peaks of Snowdonia behind and the Irish Sea (now a little distant) lapping in front. Thanks to the ‘Way from the Sea’, a path of 108 steps cut into the rock face, besieged defenders could be kept supplied by ship, as indeed they were during the siege of Madog ap Llewelyn in 1294-5. The castle took seven years to build under the guidance of master mason James of St George, who was also responsible for three of Edward I’s other castles in North Wales - Conwy, Caernarfon and Beaumaris; together, the four are a designated World Heritage Site.
Harlech Castle fell to Owain Glyndŵr, the last native Welsh Prince of Wales, in 1404, becoming his headquarters until 1409, when it was recaptured by the English. The Lancastrians held the castle during the Wars of the Roses, until surrendering to the Yorkists in 1468; during the English Civil War it was held by Royalists until, in 1647, the garrison surrendered to Parliamentary forces.
The multivallate Iron Age hillfort of Garn Fawr on the Pencaer/Strumble Head peninsula dominates the surrounding landscape, which is peppered with prehistoric remains. At 699 feet (213m), Garn Fawr is the highest point on the peninsula and there are spectacular views from the top. The craggy terrain was formed more than 440 million years ago by intrusive vulcanicity, giving Garn Fawr a tor-like appearance. Drystone walls link rocky outcrops to form boundaries and ramparts. There is also a WW1 lookout post on the summit, from which the nearby smaller fort of Garn Fechan to the east is easily visible. There is an easy walk to the fort from a car park and a shortish circular route takes you around the landscape, past another feature, Ysgubor Caer, and an abandoned cottage that once belonged to the artist John Piper. Extend your walk to the promontory fort of Dinas Mawr.
Post code is for guidance only. Take a minor road north from Harmony to the car park.
Goodwick
Foel Trigarn is a famous multivallate Iron Age hillfort and landmark in the east of the Preseli Hills. Experts have identified 3 main enclosures as well as at least 227, possibly 270, sites of Iron Age dwellings. Ditches can be clearly made out by a layman. Though Foel Trigarn is thought to have been a major centre of population, possibly the headquarters of a tribal leader, it is not considered likely that these dwelling sites were all occupied simultaneously, but over many centuries. In short, this was probably a prehistoric village. Three enormous cairns on the summit give the hill its name. These are believed to be communal Bronze Age burial mounds. Because they are believed not have been plundered, it has been concluded that those that lived on Foel Trigarn venerated their ancestors and that the hill may well have been a sacred site. Both Iron Age and Roman artefacts have been found.
Post code approximate. Access by foot only wearing suitable clothing. Parking in a layby on a nearby road.
Eliseg's Pillar is the broken shaft of a 9th century inscribed stone that was probably originally topped with a cross. It gives the valley and nearby Valle Crucis Abbey their names. The stone was erected by Cyngen, prince of Powys, in memory of his great-grandfather, Eliseg. Illegible now, Eliseg's Pillar once documented the family tree of the kings of Powys back to the Roman Emperor Magnus Maximus (Macsen Wledig) and proclaimed Cyngen's right to rule. It stands on a Bronze Age mound, further emphasising the ancient roots of the king's power.
There is no convenient place to park to view Eliseg's Pillar. There is a hotel more or less opposite - it might be possible to borrow a space in their car park and walk back. Beware of the road, though, it is busy and there is no path.
With a dramatic background and probably built by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth ('the Great') early in the thirteenth century, the ruins of Dolbadarn Castle are dominated by a massive round-towered keep, still standing up to 50 feet (15.2m) high, with walls up to 8 feet (2.4m) thick. Access to the keep was via a removable staircase at first floor level. The castle occupies a strategic location guarding the Llanberis Pass and was seized by an English army under the Earl of Pembroke in 1282, following which it was abandoned and pillaged for building materials. It is possible it was used again during the revolt under Owain Glyndwr in the late 14th/early 15th century.
Dinas Mawr promontory fort is reckoned to date from the Iron Age and was probably the stronghold of a clan leader. It is situated on the west of the Pencaer Peninsula, generally known as Strumble Head, jutting out into the Irish Sea. The location is stunning, but not for those of a nervous disposition, especially in bad weather. Dinas Mawr is accessible along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path or via a footpath off a minor road. However, laymen will need to look for evidence of the fort. A ditch is clearly visible on the headland between what were stone ramparts and traces of at least one hut circle can be made out just inside the ramparts. Most of Dinas Mawr comprises a towering lump of rock, however, with severely restricted space for settlement to the east and the south of the crag; the top, surely, would have been too inhospitable. Immediately beyond Dinas Mawr is the islet of Ynys y Ddinas. Though a good defensive position, there is no fresh water and it is speculated whether the fort had some ceremonial or ritual purpose, for it cannot have been of much long-term use, or in the event of a prolonged siege.
Goodwick
Dinas Bran Castle, or Castell Dinas Brân (Crow Castle in English), is a legendary ruined fortress built on the site of an Iron age hillfort. The medieval castle was probably built in the 1260s by Gruffudd ap Madog, Lord of Powys Fadog. However, to prevent it falling into English hands, the Welsh burned it to the ground shortly afterwards and, by 1282, it had been abandoned. Part of it was later used as a dwelling and it was apparently home to a Myfanwy Fychan in the 14th century, for whom the poet Hywel ap Einion Llygliw (c1330-1370) wrote a love poem - Myfanwy Fychan of Castell Dinas Brân. There are many legends and stories associated with Dinas Bran - it was the castle of Bran, hiding place of the Holy Grail - etc. The site is only accessible by foot and is about 1,000 feet (307m) above sea level.
The ruins of Criccieth Castle perch dramatically on a headland and tower over the small town of Criccieth. This was originally a Welsh castle, begun by Llywelyn the Great in the 13th century, but it was added to over time - and frequently changed hands between the Welsh and the English. It is dominated by an enormous gatehouse and, allegedly, the scorches made by the flames that finally destroyed it in the 15th century can still be seen on the stonework.
If your favourite attraction is not listed yet, and you have a good quality digital photograph of it that you are able to freely send, please get in touch.