Kidwelly Castle Castle Rd, Kidwelly, SA17 5BQ Tel: 0155 489 0104. We all get our moments. But if you want a truly medieval moment, catch a glimpse of Kidwelly shrouded in early morning mist. Spine-tingling stuff. So complete and well-preserved it’s a match for any of the great castles of Wales. The earliest castle on the site was Norman and made of earth and timber. The town itself is equally ancient, established around 1115 AD. By the time the 13th century had come along the castle had been rebuilt in stone, following the half-moon shape taken by the Normans. The Chaworth family built the compact but powerful inner ward and the castle was later modified by the earls (eventually dukes) of Lancaster. Kidwelly benefited from the latest thinking in castle design. It had a concentric design with one circuit of defensive walls set within another to allow the castle to be held even if the outer wall should fall. The great gatehouse was begun late in the 14th century but it wasn’t completed until 1422, thanks in part to Owain Glyn D?r’s efforts to stop it going up in the first place. As with any old building of this nature, access will always be an issue but in replacing the timber framed footbridge at the main entrance we have created a much more wheelchair-friendly environment. The works also threw up one other unexpected bonus in the shape of a mysterious underground passage! Kidwelly Castle text content courtesy of CADW

Aberystwyth Castle New Promenade, Aberystwyth, Dyfed. 01970 612125. What little remains of the once great Aberystwyth Castle upon the summit of Pen Dinas hill is truly lovely to behold. Although little can be seen of the once magnificent Norman stone construction, a wonderful sense of history can still be felt throughout this now open-air site. Prior to Aberystwyth Castles Norman construction in the 12^th Century, Pen Dinas Hilltop was the site of a remarkably sophisticated earth and timber Iron Age fortification that was to set the precedence of this site for centuries to come. In the early 15^th Century Aberystwyth Castle was held by the famed Owain Glyndwr, and was later used as both a prison, and in the 17^th Century, as a Royal Mint. Unfortunately, over the years, due to the surrounding rough coastal weather, and stone being removed to build other town structures, all that remains of Aberystwyth Castle today are the remnants of an inner and middle wall. The castle is open all year round, is free of charge, and now plays host to a pleasant grassy children’s play area as well as splendid views across Aberystwyth and the breathtaking Ceredigion Coastline.

Dinerth Castle Aberarth, Ceredigion Just a short walk from the picturesque seaside village of Aberarth lie the ruins of the medieval castle of Dinerth, situated atop a majestic hillside heavily populated by a woodland of ancient oaks, beeches and a diverse array of native plant life. This timber castle was originally built on this site in the early 12^th Century, and throughout the following ninety years held many occupants and was indeed destroyed and rebuilt a total of three times. Dinerth Castle met its final demise in the early 13^th Century when it is believed that it was destroyed by its then current owner to prevent it from falling into the possession of a rival. Although very little can be seen today of the historic medieval timber castle of Dinerth, three individual raised areas can still be distinguished to allow visitors a glimpse into what once was, and the resident ancient woodland is truly lovely to behold. Enjoy walking around this pretty area of rural Wales, but bear in mind that there are no toilet or refreshment facilities on site, these can however be found along with many other enjoyable attractions in the popular and vibrant Welsh town of Lampeter just a short car journey away.

Upton Castle Grounds & Gardens (near Cosheston). Managed and maintained by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, these gardens are home to more than 250 species of trees and shrubs. They occupy a secluded wooded valley which runs down to a tributary of the Carew River.

Tudor Merchant's House (Tenby). This 15th- century National Trust property is the town's oldest furnished residence, authentically recreating the style in which a successful merchant of the Tudor age would have lived. It is virtually on the doorstep of the FBM Holidays headquarters.

St Govan's Chapel. This tiny and remarkable building is hidden in a fissure in the cliffs of St Govan's Head, close to the car park. It nestles at the bottom of  narrow stone steps and occupies the site of a 5th-century hermit's cell, though the age of the chapel is unknown.

Colby Woodland Garden (near Amroth). In a secluded woodland setting, this beautiful National Trust attraction hosts one of the finest collections of rhododendrons and azaleas in Wales, and open wooded  pathways make for very pleasant walks through the valley. The National Trust also owns and protects many of the most important sections of the Pembrokeshire coast, including Barafundle beach, Marloes, St David's, Porthgain and Dinas.

Foel Drygarn. A Bronze Age hill fort in the wild Preseli Hills, which are rich with legendary tales of King Arthur and the more solid remains left by early settlers, such as Neolithic burial chambers, Bronze Age cairns, stone circles, standing stones and Iron Age forts.

Gors Fawr. More than 70 feet in diameter, this stone  circle near Mynachlogddu in the Preseli Hills comprises 16 stones and 2 large outlying pointer stones.

Pentre Ifan. A Neolithic burial chamber with a large capstone in a very evocative setting near Newport.

St David's Cathedral. The most religious monument in Wales, dedicated to the principality's patron saint and built on a secluded site chosen for the original 6th-century church. Much of the cathedral as it stands today dates from the late 12th century and has been extended and altered over the centuries, and the cloisters have been restored only recently. Food is served in the refectory and there is a Cloister Gallery.

Castell Henllys Iron Age fort. Another historic National Park Authority attraction, this is set in a stunning hilltop location between Newport and Cardigan in the north of the county. The authentic roundhouses have been recreated exactly where they originally stood more than 2,000 years ago after archaeologists uncovered the old foundations. Well worth a visit, this fascinating and award-winning slice of real history is an education in itself.

 Carew Control Tower. Less than a mile from Carew  Castle, at Carew Cheriton, is a recreated RAF control tower. The airfield here saw active service in the Second World War.

Carreg Samson (near Abercastle). A coastal Neolithic cromlech in a setting which enjoys tremendous panoramic views over land and sea.

Cardigan Castle. The ruins that remain date from 1240, which means that the very first National Eisteddfod, in 1176, must have been held in an earlier castle. Today the eisteddfod is the major cultural event in the Welsh calendar and the largest festival of its kind in Europe. The present castle was destroyed by Oliver Cromwell during the years of the English Civil Wars in the 17th century. In the 19th century the town of Cardigan was one of the most important ports in Wales, with a thriving shipbuilding industry and 300 ships registered here. Export warehouses lined the busy waterfront and emigrant ships sailed to the USA and Canada. This prosperity faded with the combined effects of the development of ever-larger ships, the silting up of the Teifi estuary and the coming of the railways.

Devil's Bridge & Mynach Falls. In a very picturesque setting at the head of the Rheidol Valley, among the wooded hills of Plynlimon, Devil's Bridge is one of the most famous and spectacular beauty spots in Wales. The bridge which gives the small village its name is in fact three bridges stacked in a pile! Bottom of the stack is the original and simple medieval stone structure, built it is thought by either the Knights Templars or the monks of Strata Florida Abbey. On top of this is another stone bridge, dating from the early or mid 18th century, and on top of that is the present iron road bridge, spanning 60 feet, built in 1901 and modernised in 1983. Below Devil's Bridge is the River Rheidol, into which tumbles the River Mynach, crashing down from the narrow gorge 300 feet above and creating a much-photographed waterfall. Devil's Bridge is also famous as the eastern terminus of the wonderful Rheidol Valley Railway (to Aberystwyth).

Strata Florida Abbey. About 7 miles north-east of Tregaron, which is the most easterly town in Ceredigion and close to the source of the Teifi, is the site of the 12th-century Cistercian abbey which in its day was a centre of great influence and learning. Very little remains apart from the magnificent west door - a highly decorated Celtic-Romanesque arch. The abbey was founded in 1164 by monks from Whitland Abbey, in Carmarthenshire, and their business enterprise was very impressive: successful sheep and cereal farmers, owners and operators of corn and woollen mills, brewers and pub landlords, fish breeders and accomplished fishermen, silver and lead miners, wool exporters, and road and bridge builders. Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries closed Strata Florida in1539. Many of the last native Welsh princes are buried here. There is a small museum on site.

National Library of Wales (Aberystwyth). This magnificent classical building stands on a hillside overlooking the town and coastline. It is an absolute treasure trove - a vast and priceless collection of books, manuscripts, maps, pictures, letters, public records and many other items representing a nation's heritage. For example, you can see the remarkable Black Book of Carmarthen (the oldest known manuscript in the Welsh language), the earliest complete text of The Mabinogion (a collection of ancient Welsh folk tales), the first atlas of Wales and the earliest known Welsh photograph.