Manorbier Castle Castle

Address: Manorbier Castle, Manorbier, Pembrokeshire SA70 7TB, United Kingdom

Website: https://www.manorbiercastle.com

Hours: Seasonal opening (generally March/April-September; hours vary). Check official site.

Admission: Adult admission typically ~£6-£10 (seasonal); check the castle website for current prices.

Manorbier Castle is a Norman medieval castle on the south coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales, overlooking Manorbier Bay. The site dates to the 12th century and retains a well-preserved keep, curtain wall and later domestic buildings.

The castle’s principal features include a stone keep and inner ward with later-range domestic buildings and a medieval chapel, arranged around a central courtyard. It occupies a defensive position above the shoreline and offers direct access to the adjacent beach and coastal paths.

Constructed in the Norman period and modified in the 13th and later centuries, the castle served as a fortified family residence rather than a major military fortress. It is historically associated with the de Barry family and with the medieval writer Gerald of Wales.

The castle stands beside the village of Manorbier in southern Pembrokeshire, close to the coast and within easy reach of the seaside town of Tenby. It is accessible by local roads and coastal footpaths.

• Gerald of Wales connection: Birthplace of the medieval cleric and chronicler Gerald of Wales, who was born at the castle in the 12th century.

What to See#

• Great keep and curtain walls: A 12th-century Norman keep and curtain wall forming the castle’s central defensive core, with later domestic ranges and a gatehouse added in subsequent centuries.
• Chapel and domestic ranges: A small medieval chapel and inner domestic buildings dating largely from the 13th century, which form the main visitor-accessible interiors of the site.

Manorbier is about 14 km south of Tenby and can be reached by car via the A4139/A477. Local bus services run from Tenby and nearby towns; allow 10-20 minutes from Tenby by road. The castle is visible from the village and coastal footpaths.

• Enter through the castle gates on foot - the approach down to the cove is worth the extra minute for photos.
• The castle is privately owned and operates seasonal opening hours; confirm times before travelling (typically spring-autumn).
• Bring a light jacket: coastal wind can be strong even in summer.