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.

Main image

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.
Raglan Castle
Raglan Castle, Raglan, Monmouthshire / near Usk, Wales, UK
51.7703, -2.8501

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.

Peak summer (busiest)
July-August · 15-22°C
Most visitors arrive in summer; long daylight and mild weather but expect higher crowd levels.
Shoulder seasons (recommended)
May-June, September · 8-18°C
Milder weather and fewer tourists - good for photos and quieter exploration of the castle and grounds.
Winter
November-February · 2-10°C
Cooler, wetter conditions with shorter days; fewer visitors but some facilities may have reduced hours.

Weather & Climate near Raglan Castle #

Climate

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).

Air Quality: AQI 33 Good
Best Time to Visit
JulyMayJune
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
31°
Warmest Month
-11°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

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.

42 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
96%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

88 mm
Rainfall
4.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.1
UV Index
Low
8.2h daylight

February

February is the coolest month with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (62 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

44 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
94%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

62 mm
Rainfall
3.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.1
UV Index
Low
9.8h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (66 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

54 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
10°
91%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

66 mm
Rainfall
3.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.4
UV Index
Low
11.7h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

56 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
12°
86%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

54 mm
Rainfall
3.6 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.8
UV Index
Moderate
13.7h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (56 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

66 Good

Comfort

12°
Feels Like Cool
12°C
Temperature
16°
84%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

56 mm
Rainfall
3.4 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.1
UV Index
High
15.4h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

66 Good

Comfort

14°
Feels Like Cool
14°C
Temperature
10° 18°
84%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

57 mm
Rainfall
3.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.4
UV Index
High
16.3h daylight

July

July is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (43 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

70 Very Good

Comfort

17°
Feels Like Cool
17°C
Temperature
12° 21°
84%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

43 mm
Rainfall
3.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.3
UV Index
High
15.9h daylight

August

August is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (67 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

66 Good

Comfort

16°
Feels Like Cool
16°C
Temperature
12° 21°
86%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

67 mm
Rainfall
3.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.0
UV Index
High
14.4h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (75 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

62 Good

Comfort

14°
Feels Like Cool
14°C
Temperature
10° 18°
88%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

75 mm
Rainfall
3.1 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.7
UV Index
Moderate
12.5h daylight

October

October is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (78 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

54 Acceptable

Comfort

11°
Feels Like Cool
11°C
Temperature
14°
92%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

78 mm
Rainfall
3.3 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.3
UV Index
Low
10.5h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 4°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

52 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
10°
95%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

82 mm
Rainfall
3.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.1
UV Index
Low
8.7h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 3°C. Regular rainfall (87 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

44 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
96%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

87 mm
Rainfall
3.6 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.0
UV Index
Low
7.7h daylight

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