Top 4 Castles around Welsh St. Donats

See also https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/llanblethian-castle Quentin's Castle, also known as Llanblethian Castle was probably built by English nobleman and military commander Gilbert de Clare in the early 14th century, the most notable remnants of this castle are its huge, twin-towered gatehouse and high stretch of curtain wall on the north of the site. In the centre of what was once a large fortress is an earthen mound with the remains of a thick-walled building on top of it, which may be all that’s left of an earlier keep. Links to Caerphilly Castle too - see plaque in the gatehouse.

Despite the name and its medieval origins, Old Beaupre is really more manor house than castle. Built in two stages, the older part was constructed around 1300 while a major renovation in the 16th century by the Bassett family produced some of its most impressive remaining features. These include the well-preserved three-storeyed gatehouse and striking porch, decorated with columns inspired by the architecture of ancient Greece and bearing the family’s heraldic crest carved in stone

Lllanblethian is a quaint and picturesque village that sits above the River Thaw in the Vale of Glamorgan. It's an ancient village, outdating the nearby market town of Cowbridge, and hosting a number of beautiful historic buildings. The village is home to St Quentin's Castle, a 14th-century castle perched upon a hill, a church that dates back to the 12th-century dedicated to St John the Baptist, and an early 18th-century great house that sits along the river.

St Fagans is an affluent village situated to the west of Cardiff in South Wales. The village is home to St Fagans National Museum of History, Wales' most popular heritage attraction that beautifully showcases the history of Welsh life. Whilst in St Fagans, a visit to the museum is a must. There are endless fascinating places to discover inside the grounds, including an old sweet shop, a chapel, a Workmen's Institute, a set of traditional cottages laid out in their original style, and a late 16th-century manor house and gardens. It is free to enter the grounds, and you can check out the opening times here https://museum.wales/stfagans/visit/

Hensol Castle is a magnificent Grade I-listed building in the scenic Vale of Glamorgan. The 400-year-old castle is nestled in breathtaking grounds featuring a pond and pontoon and immaculate gardens. Whilst the castle is today mostly used for events and weddings, you can still stroll past and admire it in all its grandeur. It is also open to the public for a pre-booked gin tasting experience and delightful afternoon tea.

A FANTASTIC DAY OUT .Wear COMFORTABLE SHOES 👞. AS A LOT OF WALKING INVOLVED.

If you are lucky you can buy honey or make jewelry yourself at the small craft market.

A medieval castle dating from the 13th century previously existed on the site. By 1536 it lay in ruins. By 1563 the site had been sold to a Dr John Gibbon. A new house was built on the site either by Gibbon or by Nicholas Herbert, who bought the site from Gibbon in 1586. Part of the D-shaped medieval boundary fortifications remain, forming a wall around the current house. Sir Edward Lewis of The Van, Caerphilly, bought the house in 1616 and the interior dates partly from then and partly from after 1850, when it became the summer residence of the Windsor-Clive family. The property was part of the estate of the Earls of Plymouth and, in 1833, was inherited by Lady Harriet Clive who proceeded to restore the building. The sequence of terraces in the gardens was created for the Windsor-Clives in 1865–6 and extended in the early 20th century. The house became a convalescent hospital for soldiers during World War I, with the banqueting hall containing a ward of 40 beds. In 1947 the Windsor-Clives gave the house and grounds to the Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales and the grounds subsequently became the site of the Welsh Folk Museum, now St Fagans National Museum of History. St Fagans Castle became a Grade I listed building in 1977. The lead water cistern in the courtyard of the castle is Grade II* listed, while a number of features in the gardens are listed as Grade II.