Ewloe Castle

North Wales

26 Mar

Written By carrianne Lloyd-Ralph

Quick Info

Region: Gwynedd

Built: 1257 by Llewelyn ap Gruffudd

In the Care of: CADW

Free Parking: Yes

Dogs Allowed: Yes, but have to walk through farmland to leads are essential

Admission: Free

Postcode: CH5 3BZ

Opening Times: Daily 10am - 4pm.

Closing Times: Closed 24, 25, 26 December and 1 January

History

Ewloe Castle was built by Llewelyn ap Gruffudd in 1257. The castle was positioned to face North East towards England and the Coast Road from Chester. Some think this explains the odd location of the site. The castle was built following Llewellyn ap Gruffudd’s success in defeating his siblings in battle.

Ewloe would have been a densely wooded area back in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The Castle was erected around 1257 by the Welsh prince Llywelyn ap Gruffudd in the times of the weak reign of English king Henry III, probably in connection with the attempts to recapture the Perfeddwlad region, occupied several years earlier by the English. It was built near the battlefield of 1157, during which English forces under Henry II were defeated in an ambush by the Welsh.

What Can You See?

The vulnerable uphill flank is protected by a deep rock-cut ditch and isolates a rounded platform on which was built an apsidal keep (a famously Welsh architectural design)- this is now the most prominent feature of the ruins that can be seen today. A cross-section view is achieved due to the rear wall having fallen.

Accessibility

There is a free layby that you can park at, and the walk to the castle is a short one over a field. The castle is located in a woods though, so this may make it less accessible for those using wheelchairs.