‘Royal’ Properties in Pembrokeshire
Holiday cottages fit for kings and queens
Live like royalty at one of our cosy holiday cottages in Pembrokeshire, there's plenty of history to delve into where royals once roamed.
Roch Castle
Built-in the late twelfth century, the first known inhabitant of the castle was a Norman knight by the name of Adam de Rupe. Roch Castle was acquired by the Griffiths Roch Foundation in 2008 and opened following an extensive renovation in 2012. You can now stay in the castle with dining and celebration packages available as well.
90 Main Street
Located in the heart of Pembrokeshire 90 Main Street is only a short walk down the Main Street from Pembroke Castle. An enormous oval castle, mostly surrounded by a serene mill pond. Extensively restored in Victorian times, it’s dominated by the complex gatehouse on the outside and the huge circular keep once you’re inside. The walled town of Pembroke which grew up around the castle also contains many ancient and interesting Norman buildings. Henry Tudor (Harri Tudur in Welsh) was born at Pembroke Castle in 1457 and was a descendant of several Welsh royal houses.
Shearwater
The beautiful Shearwater sits on the Milford Waterfront. During the Wars of the Roses (1455–1485) Henry Tudor fled to Brittany, returning with a small army that landed near Milford Haven. King George IV landed at Milford Haven in September 1821.
Woodview
Located in The Rhos near Picton Castle. Set within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Picton Castle Gardens is a 13th-century castle, surrounded by 60 acres of RHS partner gardens. The castle itself is of unique design; with four symmetrically spaced half-round towers and a gatehouse entrance flanked by two narrower towers, it is based upon patterns of Irish castles of the period and is the only one of this type in the mainland UK. In 2014, Queen Elizabeth II was joined by her husband Prince Philip on a trip to Picton Castle where they had lunch at the castle’s restaurant.
Carew Cottage
A stone's throw away from Carew Castle. This enormous stone castle in a picturesque location is next to the mill pond, which powers the tide mill. The castle is ruined now but was once a powerful stronghold and a grand Elizabethan mansion. In 1212, the castle was seized by King John when he passed through Pembroke on his Irish expedition. In 1507, the royal family attended a tournament held at the castle – and on the porch of the castle is the arms of Henry VII, his son Arthur, prince of Wales and his wife Catherine of Aragon (who later became the first wife of his brother Henry VIII).
Camrose Mill
This property stands on the base of what was once a motte and bailey castle, part of the collection of strongholds built along the Landsker line between Llawhaden and St Davids. The fortress is mostly hidden under years of growth but you can still enjoy walks along the waterside across the pathways and footbridges.
Mowbray
Now a major ferry port and gateway to Pembrokeshire, Fishguard was the site of the ‘Last Invasion of Britain’ more than 200 years ago.
9 Warlows Meadow
Near to Manorbier Castle. The Norman knight Odo de Barri was granted the lands of Manorbier, Penally and Begelly in gratitude for his military help in conquering Pembrokeshire after 1003. He built an earth and timber fortification, which was gradually replaced with a stone structure. His fourth son was Gerald de Barri. Known commonly as Gerald of Wales (the great twelfth-century scholar, known as Giraldus Cambrensis) was born at the castle. Renowned today for his chronicles and descriptions of life in his time. The de Barris owned the castle until 1359, after which time ownership changed hands on several occasions, becoming the property of the monarchy in the late 15th century. By 1630 Queen Elizabeth sold the castle (then considered “ruynous … quite decayed) to the Bowen family of Trefloyne.
Trinity Cottage
Situated at St Anns Head, Near Dale, at this gorgeous property, there is direct cliff access to the tiny Mill Bay, where Henry VII reputedly landed.
2 Penally Boathouse Mews
Near to Cilgerran Castle. The famously beautiful Welsh princess called Nest was the daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, once the ruler of southern Wales. She was quite a catch for her Norman husband Gerald of Windsor, who built a splendid castle called Cenarth Bychan to keep her safe. Historians suspect this was the original stronghold on the site that became known as Cilgerran. In 1109 Nest was abducted, perhaps not entirely reluctantly, by her second-cousin Owain ap Cadwgan, who stormed the castle walls with a company of 14 men and set fire to the wooden buildings. This wasn’t Nest’s only amorous adventure. She became mistress to a number of powerful men including King Henry I, earning herself the nickname ‘Helen of Wales’ after the femme fatale of Homer’s Iliad, Helen of Troy. Cilgerran suffered heavy damage over centuries of conflict between the Normans and the Welsh princes. By the end of the 18th century, it was a Romantic ruin painted by the likes of JMW Turner and Richard Wilson. Now you can once again experience the grandeur of Cilgerran’s setting high above the River Teifi – and imagine what life might have been like for a Welsh princess 900 years ago.
Molleston Back
Located not far from Narbeth you'll find Molleston Back which is near Llawhaden Castle. A fortified Bishops Palace rather than a castle, but impressively located on high ground overlooking The Vale of the Eastern Cleddau. This would have been a grand residence rather than a more functional fortification, but very castle-like in appearance. Most likely, Llawhaden began as an earth and timber castle in the 12th century, the prize of the Norman Bishop Bernard.
Coastal Cottages Character Cottages Wales
If you're looking for the perfect character holiday cottage in Wales then explore our character and historic collection of holiday cottages in Pembrokeshire.
