Three Castles Walk

White Castle © CWH

For four centuries following the conquest of 1066, the Normans sought to subdue the rebellious Welsh, building castles as they pushed further west into Wales. In the borderlands of Monmouthshire they built a triangle of castles to control the routes between England and Wales on this strategically important stretch of border country. The Three Castles Walk is a short circular trail linking the ‘Trilateral' of Skenfrith, Grosmont and White Castles. The scenery of this secluded corner of the Welsh borders is superb - a lovely patchwork of low hills, hidden valleys, fields criss-crossed with hedgerows and small belts of woodland.

The Three Castles Walk begins at White Castle. Named for its coating of white rendering, this awesome castle stands on a low hill protected by high curtain walls, six drum towers and a deep water-filled moat. The views from the battlements over the surrounding countryside to the Black Mountains and The Skirrid or Holy Mountain are superb. From White Castle the trail follows an ancient track used by the monks of Abbey Dore over the fine viewpoint of Graig Syfyrddin to Grosmont. Picturesquely sited on a hillside above the River Monnow, Grosmont is a charming village with an ancient castle, noble church, miniscule town hall and a welcoming inn. The trail then meanders downstream within the beautiful Monnow valley to Skenfrith Castle, which stands in a loop of the river in the centre of the village. As well as a fine castle, the village also contains a fascinating church – its fortress-like appearance reflecting its use as a refuge for the villagers during times of trouble.