Fully booked: Ruperra Castle Open Doors 14 September 2024

Ruperra Castle has played a big part in the history of South East Wales but is currently a ruin at risk of collapse. Join the Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust at Ruperra Home Farm to find out more about its interesting past:

• Free copies of our walking map
• Archery with the Marcher Stuarts re-enactments
•  Build a Lego castle
• Refreshments
• Purchase historical books about the Castle
• Guided walk to take in views of the Castle - note that you can’t visit the Castle grounds as it is privately owned and a dangerous ruin. The walks will take in views of the Castle from public rights of way.

Both walks will start and finish at Ruperra Home Farm:

• Long walk at 11:00 (full) and 12:00 (full) – this walk will take one hour and 30 minutes and will take in views of the Castle, as well as walking to the top of the Iron Age hillfort and motte on Coed Craig Ruperra to absorb the breath-taking views over the Bristol channel. Walkers should be fit enough to walk an ascent of 100m.
• Short walk at 13:30 (full) and 15:00 (full) – this walk will last around 50 minutes along fairly flat but uneven ground and will take in views of the Castle.

Getting there

​Ruperra Home Farm can be accessed from the lane between Draethen and Michaelston-y-Fedw, near Lower Machen. We do not give out the postcode to the farm as sat navs will take you off road on tracks which are not suitable for your car.  The turn off for the event will be well sign-posted from the closed Hollybush pub in Draethen NP10 8GB.
 
The nearest bus stop is at Lower Machen on the Newport - Caerphilly Road (Service no. 50) about 2 miles from Ruperra Home Farm. Sunday time tables must be checked.

​Help Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust save Ruperra Castle and surrounding buildings and gardens by campaigning to secure them to use for community benefit, and to ensure a better future for our precious local heritage.

Cadw Open Doors

This September, more than 200 of Wales’ historic sites, landmarks and hidden gems will offer visitors free entry, events or guided tours. It’s all part of Open Doors — Wales’ annual contribution to the European Heritage Days initiative, which invites heritage organisations, private owners, local authorities and others to open their doors or offer activities to the public free of charge during September.

Funded and organised by Cadw, the ever-popular festival of Wales’ built heritage will this year, encourage Welsh residents and visitors alike to explore some of the country’s lesser-known and smaller-scale sites ― several of which are usually closed to the public.
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Find out more about Open Doors and the events on offer