Visit Chepstow Castle and Get Your Cadw Explorer Pass to Visit 20 Historic Monuments in Wales

Your key to unlock Wales' greatest castles, in one ticket!

The Castles of Wales Explorer Pass offers the freedom to explore all of Cadw's historic attractions and help you get the most out of your visit to Wales. 

• Entry to 20 Welsh castles and attractions (see additional info for full list)
• Visit as many castle as you want
• Choice of either the 3 day pass or 7 day pass (the 3 day pass gives you 3 days of entrance and is valid for a 7 day period. The 7 day pass gives you 7 days of entrance, valid for 14 days)
• Save lots of money!

Book your Castle of Wales Explorer Pass by tapping 'Book' on this page. Once booked, your pass will be sent to you by email. Show this pass upon entry to all attractions either on your device or print if you prefer.

An old castle that learned new tricks

In the town of Chepstow in south Wales, stretching along the cliffs that rise above the lovely River Wye, you’ll see the ruins of a grand old castle.

Chepstow Castle is a truly ancient structure with a truly impressive past. If you're interested in the epic and bloody history of Wales, you'll want to explore its walls.

Chepstow Castle is fascinating not only for its history, but also for how it changed over the course of time.

Building first began in 1067, and under the supervision of William the Conqueror, it was completed remarkably quickly, probably because of its important defensive position.

This made Chepstow Castle one of the first Norman castles in Wales - in fact, its armoured doors are the oldest surviving castle doors in Europe, and you can see them on display safely within.

The castle frequently changed to meet the ambitions of its wealthy owners - although, given the staggering views of the river there would have been from the chambers, it's little surprise it attracted ostentatious characters!

The Port Wall and the Bulwarks Camp

Near the castle in Chepstow itself, you can also find the old town walls.

These impressive walls once rose up to 13 feet tall, and many sections of them still stand today for you to discover.

Encircling the town’s port, the town walls protected it against attacks that might have come from the river.

As if this place couldn’t get any more ancient, also near the castle you'll find the Bulwarks Camp, the site where a fort from the Iron Age once stood.

If you look carefully, you'll be able to see a ditch that encircles this grassy area, marking the enclosure which once surrounded this fort.

The kids will love imagining how it would have once looked while you enjoy stunning views over the river below.

A day in the distant past

Chepstow Castle is remarkably well preserved for its age, and this paired with its beautiful position over the scenic River Wye makes it a really memorable place to visit.

There's loads of history to discover here, and you'll want to keep an eye out for different events as well.

With plenty of choice for accommodation in the town of Chepstow, why not stay a little longer?

The nearby Chepstow Castle inn is just a stone’s throw away from the ruins - perfectly placed for a relaxing break in an ancient town.

What other Cadw attractions can I visit with the Castles of Wales Pass? 

• Beaumaris Castle, Anglesey
• Blaenavon Ironworks, Torfaen
• Caerleon Roman Baths, Newport
• Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd
• Caerphilly Castle, Caerphilly
• Carreg Cennen Castle, Carmarthenshire
• Castell Coch, Cardiff
• Chepstow Castle, Monmouthshire
• Cilgerran Castle, Pembrokeshire - please note, this attraction is closed for 2024
• Conwy Castle, Conwy
• Criccieth Castle, Gwynedd
• Denbigh Castle, Denbighshire
• Harlech Castle, Gwynedd
• Kidwelly Castle, Carmarthenshire
• Laugharne Castle, Carmarthenshire
• Oxwich Castle, Swansea - please note, this attraction is closed for 2024
• Plas Mawr Elizabethan Town House, Conwy
• Raglan Castle, Monmouthshire
• Rhuddlan Castle, Denbighshire
• Rug Chapel, Denbighshire - please note, this attraction is closed for 2024
• St Davids Bishop's Palace, Pembrokeshire
• Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire
• Tretower Court and Castle, Powys
• Valle Crucis Abbey, Denbighshire - please note, this attraction is closed for 2024
• Weobley Castle, Swansea