"Harlech Castle" Top 5 Page for this destination Wales Things to Do Tip by Balam

We followed to signs for the Castle which take you into the newer part of Harlech which is situated under the castle on sea level. you can then park there or drive up towards the Castle but the climb is very steep. There is a small carpark just outside the castle which will probably get very busy at weekends at school holidays. There is a small shop where you pay for entry that also sells guide books and some gifts. there is also a nice gift shop just outside the carpark entrance.

Harlech Castle sits on a magnificent site high on a rock overlooking the sea with the enormous gatehouse on it's town side and is guarded by four huge circular cormer towers towers linked by a high curtain wall.
It was built for King Edward I between 1283 and 1289 by Master James of St. George.
The castle came under siege in 1294 when Madoc ap Llywelyn unsuccessfully atacked, It was next attacked by Owain Glyndwr in 1401 and became an English outpost in hostile country for 4 years untill finally being worn out by disease and desertion the castle's garrison being then bribed to surrender by Glyndwr. The Welsh leader used the castle as his home for 4 years until after a short siege in was captured by an army of a thousand men equipped with siege engines that fired huge balls up to 22" 56cm in dianeter.

During the War of the Roses Harlech held out for the Lancastrians until the 14th August 1468 when Dafydd ap Ieuan and his 'Men Of Harlech' were confronted by the Earl of Pembroke, his brother Sir Richard Herbert and their 'Saxons' and the castle fell.
During the Civil War it was held for the King untill surrendering to Colonel Mytton in 1647, unlike Rhuddlan and Pembroke it was never slighted and Cromwell used it as a jail for the Scottish captured at Dunbar.

Admission Charge:- Adults £3.80, Reduced rate £3.40.

Family Ticket:- £11.00 - admits 2 adults and up to 3 children under 16 years.

1st April to 30th June - 09.30 - 17.00 daily

1st July - 31st August - 09.30 - 18.00 daily

1st September - 31st October - 09.30 - 17.00 daily

1st November to 29th February 10.00 - 16.00 Monday to Saturday - 11.00 - 16.00 Sunday

1st March - 31st March - 09.30 - 17.00 daily

Closed 24th, 25th, 26th December, 1st January

Address: Castle Square, Harlech, Gwynedd, LL46 2YHL
Directions: North Wales
Phone: 01766 780552
Website: http://www.cadwevents.co.uk/monuments/harlech-castle