Campaigners fear historic Welsh castle could be hidden from public

Emily Price

Campaigners have launched an appeal to protect public access to Wales’ only pageant castle after a 28-day consultation opened on plans to divert a public right of way away from the historic site.

Built in 1626, Ruperra Castle near Draethen is a significant part of Welsh history but has fallen into ruin under private ownership.

Sixteen months after deciding to divert the right of way on safety grounds, Caerphilly County Borough Council has published an order proposing to move the route around 65 metres away from Ruperra Castle and onto steep banking.

It would mean that public access to the west castle door, previously the servants entrance, would be lost forever.

The 28-day consultation closes on 23 August and if objections remain unresolved, the matter will be referred to a Welsh Government Planning Inspector, who could decide to hold a public inquiry.

Before an inspector can confirm an order, they must be satisfied that the diverted route is not substantially less convenient than the original route.

They must also consider how the diversion would impact the public’s enjoyment of the route.

The Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust is urging those who object to write to Robert Tranter who is the Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer at Caerphilly Council.

Survey

The Trust said that, because neither the existing path nor the proposed diversion can currently be accessed by the public, it has organised a walk this Saturday (8 August) from Ruperra Home Farm to the castle grounds.

The event will allow attendees to learn about the castle’s history and view the current and proposed routes from nearby vantage points. Those interested in taking part can contact the Trust via email: [email protected].

Charlotte Rogers, Chair, Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust said: “The Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust believes there is no need to divert the right of way based on a temporary safety issue, especially as planning permission has been granted to turn the outbuildings next to the castle into private flats, and the safety issue would need to be mitigated in advance of that happening.

“The safety issues have already been identified in a recent structural survey part funded by Cadw. This diversion would take walkers around 65m away from the castle behind an active horse arena and through trees, obstructing views of the castle, and impacting on future generations being able to enjoy their heritage.”

Open Spaces Society correspondent, Maggie Thomas, said: “The diverted route is substantially less convenient than the current route on hard ground. It goes on steep banking around the horse arena which would be difficult for walkers to navigate, and woodchippings could fall away leaving muddy slopes.

“The owner has already received planning permission to create new openings in the walls next to the existing openings on the right of way which have been obstructed by large metal gates for many years. If permission to divert is given, this scenario could act as a psychological deterrent for walkers.”

Ruperra Castle is a Grade II* listed building and Scheduled Monument, and one of only a small number of pageant castles in the UK. Built in 1626 by Sir Thomas Morgan, the Renaissance-style home was designed for show rather than for defence.

A public exhibition will be held at Bedwas Workmen’s Hall from 15–17 October 2026 to mark the 400th anniversary of Ruperra Castle. The three-day event will celebrate the history and heritage of the landmark building, with a programme of free talks available for visitors.

History

The building once hosted Charles I and military personnel during the Second World War, while also serving as a family home and hunting lodge.

Its derelict gardens still contain reminders of its former grandeur, including the remains of a magnificent MacKenzie and Moncur glasshouse, once among the largest and finest in Wales.

Ruperra Castle was gutted by fire in 1941 and is now at risk of collapse. The unique surrounding listed buildings include stables, a bothy and a generator house, which is home to a rare greater horseshoe bat maternity colony.

The castle is privately owned and planning permission was granted in January 2023 to turn the outbuildings into private flats, although the conditions still haven’t been met for work to start.

In 2023, the Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust submitted a petition to the Senedd calling for conservation management plans to become compulsory for scheduled monuments at risk.

The petition, which attracted more than 10,500 signatures, was recommended for debate by the Senedd Petitions Committee and received strong cross-party support.

However, the deputy minister at the time Dawn Bowden, decided not to make conservation management plans compulsory for the 14% of scheduled monuments at risk in Wales.

She instead agreed to meet with members of the Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust to discuss the situation further.

This meeting resulted in Cadw part funding a historic building record and structural survey in 2024 which identified the immediate and short term actions for the castle which still has not taken place.

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