Visited October 2025
| Location | Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan |
| Entrance Fee | No |
| Railway Station Nearby | No |
| Parking | Yes |
| Facilities | None |
| Map |  |
Review
St Quentin's Castle in Glamorgan also goes by the name of Llanblethian Castle- it is always useful to have two names I suppose!
It is situated in a quiet area on the outskirts of the town of Cowbridge in Glamorgan. Cowbridge in iteself is a pretty town, with some impressive medieval walls, including a gatehouse which was once the entrance to the town. The castle is situated about a 15 minute walk from the centre of town, or a five minute drive. There is a car park at the site and best of all it is free to visit.
Although most of the castle is ruinous, the gatehouse to the castle is still very much the main feature. Built in the fourteenth century by the Norman Lord Gilbert de Clare, its twin towers remain two storeys high and are quite a sight as you approach from the town. The added bonus of mature trees at the site gives it an enchanted quality.
The day we went the upper levels of the gatehouse were locked- you could see the staircase and walkways on the first floor, but not get access to them. There are several intact rooms in the gatehouse too- but they were also locked and we just managed a glimpse through the window.
Once through the gatehouse the site opens up to a green space, with some intact castle walls enclosing it. There are the remains of a once-large structure, thought to have been a mighty keep, but very much ruined now.
After visiting the castle we would advise going into Cowbridge to check out the town walls. These were erected in the 13th centruy by the same Gilbert de Clare who built the castle. There is a good stretch of them still intact, with plaques on the pavement to mark where they once were in the case of the sections that have been lost. The town once had four gateways in and out, but only the sounth gatway is left today, still used as pedestrain and road access.
One of the bastion's on the wall was made into a summer house in the 18th century and the horse shoe-shape of the structure can still be seen, even though the summerhouse is long gone.
There is a lovely park behind the town walls, which are great to linger in and enjoy the formal gardens, and the expanse of grass . There is also a story-telling area, and a fish pond which might interest children ( taking all the necessary precautions by the water)
Cowbridge town has many independent shops and cafes, and there is a regualr bus service from Cardiff.
More info: CADW St Quentin's Castle
