Ty’r Graig Castle

Ty’r Graig means House on the Rock, and the name suits the building. It stands about 200 feet above the Welsh seaside town of Barmouth, looking over Cardigan Bay towards the Llyn peninsula and Bardsey Island. Today it takes guests as a castle hotel, and its 11 en-suite rooms have views of the surrounding area.

A castle built as a home

The building was completed in 1892 as a family home for WW Greener, the famous Birmingham gunsmith, in the gothic style that was popular at the time. Greener chose its unusual shape himself: seen from above, it resembles both a castle and an open double-barrelled shotgun. He called it his beloved castle. During the Second World War the army used it as a quartermaster’s store. Because each locked room had to be checked, a peephole was drilled in each door, and the doors to the dining room and lounge still have the original holes.

The interiors

Built in the late 1890s, it still keeps the elegance of the Victorian era, with stained glass windows, wood panelling and highly decorated floors and ceilings. Hearths burn freshly felled timber, and the building adds modern comforts. Each of the 11 rooms is individually decorated and comes with tea and coffee facilities, a hairdryer, an LCD TV with Freeview and a DVD player.

Setting

The castle sits between the mountains and the sea, and the owners recommend it for a secluded or romantic break at any time of year. The address is Llanaber Road, Barmouth, Gwynedd LL42 1YN. Gift vouchers for overnight stays and afternoon teas are also available.