Castles · Mid Wales
Castell y Bere
In or near Abergynolwyn.
Castell y Bere — castle in Gwynedd, Wales.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–3 h
- Nearest railway station
- Abergynolwyn · 2.2 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Castell y Bere, the nearest railway station is Abergynolwyn, located 2.2 km away. Entry is paid, and accessibility is limited for wheelchair users. The postcode for sat-nav is LL36 9TP.
About
Castell y Bere is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Records date its origin to 1221. Heritage designation: scheduled monument. Owned by Cadw. Managed by Cadw. Wikidata describes it as: "castle in Gwynedd, Wales". Coordinates: 52.6583°, -3.9711°.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2021
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
From Cadw
Architectural ingenuity and natural advantages combine in a must-visit Welsh-built fortressIt may be remote. But it’s a magnet for all castle lovers. Strung along a jagged rocky outcrop in the Dysynni Valley at the foot of Cader Idris, Castell y Bere is especially good at evoking the spirit and atmosphere of Wales’s native castles. Built by Welsh ruler Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great) to protect Gwynedd’s southern frontier, construction began in 1221 with the castle remaining in use until 1294.
Read more on the official property page.
From the Wikipedia article
Castell y Bere is a Welsh castle near Llanfihangel-y-pennant in Gwynedd, Wales. Constructed by Llywelyn the Great in the 1220s, the stone castle was intended to maintain his authority over the local people and to defend the south-west part of the princedom of Gwynedd. In 1282, war with Edward I of England resulted in the death of Llywelyn's grandson, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, and Castell y Bere fell to English forces. Edward I expanded the castle further and established a small town beside it. In 1294 the Welsh leader Madog ap Llywelyn mounted a major revolt and the castle was besieged and apparently burnt. Edward did not repair it and it became ruined. Today it is in the hands of Cadw and operated as a tourist attraction.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
Architecture
]] Today the ruins of Castell y Bere still stand on a rocky outcrop, with protective ditches cut into the stone on the south and east sides. The entrance to the castle lies on the west side, where the barbican, probably built by Edward I, contains two gate towers, overlooking the stone steps approaching the inner gate. The north tower is an apsidal, or "D-shaped", design that is characteristic of Welsh castles of the early 13th century. What is today the middle tower was originally the southernmost part of the defences, but now leads through the Edwardian ditch yard to the south tower, another apsidal design that once contained spacious accommodation. Both the apsidal towers lacked…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 52.6583, -3.9711
- District
- Gwynedd
- Parish
- Llanfihangel-y-Pennant
- Postcode
- LL36 9TP
- Parliamentary constituency
- Dwyfor Meirionnydd
- Established
- 1221
- Nearest railway station
- Abergynolwyn — 2.2 km
- Opening
- Mo-Su 10:00-16:00
- Official site
- cadw.gov.wales
Sources
- wikidata: Q1048693 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Castell y Bere (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Awyrlun o Gastell y Bere yn Hydref 2024 - Aerial image of Welsh castle Castell y Bere near Tywyn, Gwynedd, Wales 50.png (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Graveyard monument at the Church of St Michael
Memorials & monuments · 0.5 km
Llanfihangel-y-Pennant
Historic churches · 0.5 km
Foel Cae'rberllan
Mountains & hills · 0.9 km
Pont Ystumanner
Historic bridges · 1.0 km
Pont Pennant, or Pont Ty'n-y-fach
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Nearby
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Pont Pennant, or Pont Ty'n-y-fach
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Monument to Mary Jones, with vestiges of her early home, Ty'n-y-ddol
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Where to eat & stay near Castell y Bere
Places to stay
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Castell y Bere?
- Castell y Bere is in Mid Wales, United Kingdom (postcode LL36 9TP), in the parish of Llanfihangel-y-Pennant.
- What is Castell y Bere?
- Castell y Bere — castle in Gwynedd, Wales.
- How do I get to Castell y Bere?
- The nearest railway station is Abergynolwyn, about 2.2 km away. Drivers can use postcode LL36 9TP.
- When was Castell y Bere built?
- Built or established in 1221.
- Who runs Castell y Bere?
- Castell y Bere is operated by Cadw.
- Is Castell y Bere a listed building?
- Castell y Bere is officially recognised as scheduled monument listed.
- Does Castell y Bere charge admission?
- Castell y Bere typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
- How do I get to Castell y Bere?
- The nearest railway station is Abergynolwyn, about 2.2 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode LL36 9TP.