Castles of The North Wales Borderlands

The North Wales Borderlands has had centuries of turbulent history as a land fought over by rival Welsh lords, Britons and Normans, English kings and Welsh princes.

Over history, the people of the region have fortified the natural strongpoints in the land, such as the rivers Dee and Clwyd and the hills of the Clywdian Range, with fortresses and castles in order to protect the people of the Welsh heartland from marauding invaders.

This has left the North Wales Borderlands with a wealth of ancient sites, some dating back thousands of years, where visitors can still see the ramparts that held brave Welshmen standing to face the approaching armies. Castles from all through the ages can be visited in the region, from the distinct remains of older style earthwork castles to the magnificent fortress at Chirk, which has been inhabited since it was built 700 years ago.

Although many of the ancient fortresses are now ruins, they are often sited on natural vantage points, perhaps on the crest of an isolated hilltop or defended by huge banks and ditches. A pleasant day and a good walk may be what is required to reach these picturesque sites, but many are very accessible such as Penycloddiau, Moel Arthur and Foel Fenlli, all of which can be found along the Offa's Dyke path. Indeed Offa's Dyke itself is a prime example of the frontier defences raised against the Welsh by Anglo Saxon kings.

Some of the most magnificent medieval castles in Britain are found in the North Wales Borderlands. Good examples include those at Flint where Richard II surrendered his crown to Henry Bolingbroke; Rhuddlan forming part of the 'iron ring' of fortresses built by Edward I in his 13th Century campaign against the Welsh; and Castell Dinas Bran, a 12th century home of Welsh princes and reputedly the resting place of the Holy Grail.

Website - Castles & Heritage

Contact Mold Tourist Information Centre
Telephone: 01352 759331 Email: mold@nwtic.com

The above is based upon text copyright 'The North Wales Borderlands' marketing area partnership and is used with their kind permission.

This article by Neil Evans of The Flintshire Tourism Association 01352 741542

Visit the North Wales Borderlands Website