Visited May 2025
| Location | Kenfig, nr. Brigend |
| Entrance Fee | No |
| Railway Station Nearby | Pyle - 2 miles |
| Parking | Yes- on street |
| Facilities | None |
| Map |  |
Review
Kenfig is a fascinating castle to visit. It is sited in the Kenfig Nature Reserve which is to the west of Bridend in Glamorgan. The castle is all that is left on the surface of a once large medieval town; the site of many battles between the Normans and the Welsh. In the end the town ended up being under the rule of neither- as the coastal sands stared shifting inland the town gradually become submerged and had to be abandoned- by the Tudor times it was deserted. (see also Candleston Castle for similar)
But in the middle of the sand dunes, now covered in bracken and scrub vegetation- the top of the original keep rises out of a sandy mound. Below is the remains of the great hall- not so great anymore but still there- accessible through a tiny archway no bigger than a wendy house door! (so watch out for your heads)
There is also the remians of the entrance gateway, just poking out of the bracken and easily missed at this time of year when the vegetation is tall (we have been advised that the winter is a better time to visit as the stonework is visible without the greenery of the summer months)
Much of the castle is still there below the sands, and was the subject of a dig by the Time Team in 2011. There had been previous excavations in the 1920s but whatever was uncovered was quickly covered again by the constant encroachment of the sand.
These days the sand dunes are controlled by the planting of trees and vegetation, and the grazing of cattle on the site which has stabilised the shifting sand.
The remains of the town of Kenfig lie close to the castle; they are indentifable only as lumps and bumps on the landscape. Kenfig was a big town in its heyday, and the land was fertile for farming. It was land worth fighting for and the Normans refused to give up on it despite the local Welsh armies attacking it and burning it down on numerous occasions. It was always re-built and was only abandoned when fighting the sand became too much!
We started our walk to the castle at the Angle Inn in Maudlam, which does good food. We then crossed the road and walked along a sandy path to the castle, walking some of the route on a road installed by American troops who trained on the dunes during WWII. The sand is ever present on the paths but it is not too hard going for reasonable walkers- I wouldn't advise taking a buggy or pram as the terrain would be difficult.
There are many types of wild flowers established in the nature reserve, and we spotted some birds of prey soaring above us at one point. There are areas of tree groves which give a bit of variety to the landscape. The M4 runs to the side of th site, so the sound of traffic is constant but not all pervading. You don't have to be hassled by kids wanting stuff in gift shops though, so that is a bonus. So if your kids like to hear about deserted towns and hidden ruins, then Kenfig will certainly feed their imaginations!
More info: < No official website >
