Visit Skenfrith Castle in Wales

Last updated on 15 October 2024

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A visit to Skenfrith Castle in Wales is a must if you’re in the area

Living in the Cotswolds in England meant that the Welsh border was so close we often popped over into Wales for the day. One such day we decided to visit Skenfrith Castle, in Monmouthshire.

Despite its run-down attire and the lack of roofing or interior design (haha), the ruins of this 13th century castle did me well for my first castle visit in the UK. It’s amazing to think people actually lived in places like that so many years ago. New Zealand history could never.

Quick history of Skenfrith Castle

Skenfrith Castle dates back to the Norman Conquest of 1066, and it was built to secure the route between Wales and Hereford, in England. It was likely built by William fitz Osbern, Earl of Hereford, and is actually part of a trio of castles/fortifications that were built in the Monnow Valley. The other two are White Castle and Grosment Castle, which, alas, I never got to.

Between the years of 1186 and 1187, the castle was rebuilt and gifted to a royal official named Hubert de Burgh, and it is his castle, rather than the original, that is there for the public. There were actually a bunch of different owners, by the sounds of things, but when de Burgh finally got a bit more control of it, he completely rebuilt Skenfrith using stone, adding in round towers and a central keep. It used to have a moat, but it has been filled in, and now has grass surrounding it.

Fast forward to the 19th century and the Three Castles were sold to Henry Somerset. Eventually, a lawyer took ownership, did some conservation work, and donated Skenfrith to the National Trust. By 1936, the castle was placed under state care, and today, it is managed by Cadw as a protected listed building, making sure that it’s still preserved and okay for visitors for years to come.

You can read more about that here.

Skenfrith today

I love UK history like this. New Zealand is so, well, new. Our history doesn’t go back nearly as far, so when you can literally stand in the midst of history like this … it’s incredible.

These days, the ruins (mostly) stand on large lawns, which are perfect for picnic lunches, and there is a great spot for swimming in the river, if it’s warm enough. While there isn’t too much to do around the castle, it does make for a great spot for relaxing for a few hours or setting up for the day, and simply getting away from the hustle and bustle of the towns and cities.

Doctor Who at Skenfrith Castle

As a big fan of Doctor Who, you can probably imagine my excitement when I learnt that an episode was filmed at Skenfrith Castle. In 2010, an episode called Amy’s Choice was released, and you can see some of the film set images here. Obviously I had to take a photo (above right) in the place where the actors had been.

When can you visit Skenfrith Castle?

Skenfrith Castle is a National Trust location, and you can visit it at any time of the year. Be careful around the river if it’s just rained.

Where is Skenfrith Castle?

Skenfrith Castle is located near Abergavenny, in Monmouthshire, Wales, NP7 8UH. It’s about 6 miles northwest of Monmouth, 12 miles northeast of Abergavenny, on the B4521.

Have you been to visit Skenfrith Castle before?

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Other castles to check out in Wales