Old Beaupre Castle
ENTRY
Free
WHERE
Cowbridge
What it’s like
Free ruins to poke around after a walk across a couple of farmers' fields near Cowbridge.
You don't drive up to this one. You park up to 3 cars on St Athan Road, about 250 metres off, then walk across two or three fields on a public footpath to reach the ruins. It's a proper approach on foot rather than a car park stroll, so it won't suit a buggy or a day when the wellies stayed at home.
Once you're there it's free to get in and you're left to explore the medieval castle ruins at your own pace. There's no gift shop moment or café stop built into this one, just old stone, uneven ground and the kind of steps that make you hold a small hand a bit tighter. The steps are steep and uneven, ceilings are low in places, and there's a genuine risk of falling masonry, so this isn't one for letting a seven-year-old run ahead out of sight.
It opens 10am to 4pm and last admission is half an hour before that. Dogs are welcome on leads if you fancy bringing one along on the walk in. There are toilets on site, which is one less thing to worry about, but that's about the only facility you'll find.
It shuts over Christmas, on the 24th, 25th and 26th of December, and again on New Year's Day. Given the walk and the ruins themselves, this suits older kids who can manage uneven paths and listen when you tell them to stay off the crumbling bits rather than toddlers who want to climb everything in sight.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Older kids who can manage a field walk and uneven ruins
- Last entry
- Last admission 30 minutes before closing
- Parking
- No dedicated parking. Limited parking for up to 3 cars 250 metres away via St Athan Road
- Dogs
- Welcome, must be kept on leads
- You reach it on foot via a public footpath across farmland, not by driving up to the castle
- Watch your footing: steps are steep and uneven with low ceilings in places
- Toilets are on site but don't expect much else in the way of facilities
- Some plants on site can be poisonous, so keep an eye on curious hands
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
It's free to get in.
Is there parking?
No car park on site. There's room for up to 3 cars about 250 metres away on St Athan Road, then it's a walk across a couple of fields.
What time does it close?
It's open 10am to 4pm, with last admission half an hour before closing.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs are welcome as long as they're kept on leads.
Is it open over Christmas?
It's closed on the 24th, 25th and 26th of December and on New Year's Day.
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