Ogmore Castle

What it’s like

Free ruined stone walls to clamber over by a river, open daily from 10am to 4pm.

Ruined walls, a riverside setting and no entry fee make this an easy one to add to a day out near Bridgend. There's no ticket booth to queue at and no charge to worry about, you just turn up between 10am and 4pm and wander the ruins at your own pace. The site itself warns that climbing can lead to serious injury and there's falling masonry and uneven ground to watch for, so it's not one to let a boisterous eight-year-old loose on unsupervised.

The car park only holds about 20 cars and it's uneven underfoot, with no disabled bays. It also floods, and because it sits by the river it's affected by tides too, which is a genuine faff if you've timed a visit around high water without knowing it. Dogs are allowed on short leads on the ground floor levels.

There's not much to plan around beyond the hours. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing, and it shuts on the 24th, 25th and 26th of December plus New Year's Day. If you're cycling, NCN Route 88 passes within a couple of miles, and it's just off the B4524 if you're driving.

Facilities

Need to know

Last entry

Last admission 30 minutes before closing

Parking

Uneven car park for approx. 20 cars, no dedicated disabled spaces

Dogs

On short leads welcome to access ground floor levels

Getting there by bus or train

By bike: NCN Route No.88 (1.5 miles / 2.4 km)

• Watch your footing, the site flags slippery and uneven surfaces plus deep water nearby
• Some of the wild plants and flowers growing around the ruins are poisonous, so keep an eye on anyone tempted to pick them
• The car park floods and is tidal, so check conditions if it's been wet

Plan your visit

Featured in 2 Huddlepin lists

See all Castles, Historic Houses & Heritage in Cardiff · Things to do in Cardiff