Raglan Castle
Castle Medieval Welsh castle notable for extensive curtain walls
A late-medieval castle in Monmouthshire with substantial ruins, towers and a keep; visitors explore battlements, guided tours and seasonal events on the grounds.
Raglan Castle is a late medieval fortified manor house and ruin near the village of Raglan in Monmouthshire, southeast Wales, dating mainly to the 15th century.
Construction began in the 15th century under local gentry and was expanded by the Herbert family into a grand fortified house. It was besieged and slighted during the English Civil War in the 1640s, after which it fell into ruin and has been conserved as a historic monument.
The castle sits above the surrounding farmland near Raglan village in Monmouthshire, south Wales, and is accessed from local roads serving the village and surrounding countryside.
- Management: Cadw, the Welsh heritage agency, manages the site and provides visitor information, access routes, and conservation work.
- Visitor note: The ruin is reached from the village of Raglan and has steep stone steps and uneven ground, so stout footwear is recommended.
What to See #
- Great Tower: A large rectangular keep with multiple floors and the ruined interior spaces that once contained private chambers and service rooms; the tower is one of the castle's most conspicuous surviving elements.
- Gatehouse: The fortified entrance structure that controlled access to the inner courts and survives as part of the outer defensive line.
- Great Hall: The main domestic block where the hall and state rooms were located; its footprint and fragments of walls show the castle's residential layout.
Tips for Visiting Raglan Castle #
- Check Cadw's website for opening times and any guided-tour options before you go - Raglan Castle is managed by Cadw and seasonal access or events can affect visiting hours.
- Arrive early to explore the Great Tower and outer baileys before the larger tour groups arrive; climbing the higher ruined sections rewards you with views across the Usk valley.
- Take time to walk the castle's outer defenses and garden areas - many visitors focus on the central keep and miss the well-preserved curtain walls, terraces and views that reveal the castle's full defensive layout.
Best Time to Visit Raglan Castle #
Best visited in late spring or early autumn for mild weather and fewer crowds; summer is busiest.
Weather & Climate near Raglan Castle #
Raglan Castle's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from 2°C to 21°C. Moderate rainfall (815 mm/year).
January
January is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. The wettest month with 88 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is the coolest month with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (62 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (66 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (56 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (43 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (67 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (75 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (78 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 4°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 3°C. Regular rainfall (87 mm) and mostly overcast skies.