Powis Castle and Garden, Welshpool, Wales

Back in September I stayed in Shrewsbury for four nights in part because it is a quick 20 minute train ride to Welshpool and Powis Castle which I’ve wanted to visit for a while now. A National Trust property the castle is around a 40 minute walk from Welshpool Railway Station through a quiet deer park which I didn’t quite get to appreciate due to the pouring rain – even well prepared with a raincoat and good walking boots I was decidedly sodden by the time I got back to my B&B later that afternoon!

The ticket office is in the car park so once I had my National Trust Membership card scanned I headed round the corner to get a clearer view of the castle. Built in the mid 13th century by a Welsh prince to defend against other Welsh princes it has an interesting design that reflects its position on a long narrow hill.

I won’t go into the long story of owners its had since, each adding to or taking away parts of the castle, but it generally has been passed down through familial generations, even if that was quite distant cousins, finally being donated to the National Trust in 1952. The interiors are decorated with beautiful tapestries, furniture and some really marvellous paintings; I can’t show you any of that though because photography isn’t allowed inside.

I also can’t show you the impressive and beautiful pieces held in the Clive Museum next to the entrance to the castle building. The museum naturally comes with a dark history as it houses more than 1000 items collected during the British colonisation of India by two members of the Clive family – Robert who worked for the East India Company and his son Edward. Edward married Henrietta Herbert, daughter of the 1st Earl of Powis, hence the connection to the castle. Edward would go on to be governor of Madras. Both Clives would be responsible for many deaths in India.

From here, as the rain had slightly lessened but didn’t look like it was going to stop anytime soon I decided to visit the gardens. There’s a booth at the entrance to the gardens where you show your ticket/membership card and it was here I was advised that some of the terrace was closed because it was deemed too slippery in the rain and I was shown on a map where I could safely explore which is largely what I ended up doing.

The garden as it looks today began in the 1680s with architect William Winde being tasked to develop a series of terraces and formal grass slopes which really are beautiful to walk among, even in the pouring rain.

The most lasting work done to the gardens however was the vision of Lady VIolet, wife of the 4th Earl of Powis. She had relocated the kitchen garden and glasshouses to give a much more open view from the castle.

From my explore of the gardens I headed back to the castle grounds to visit the shop for some souvenirs and then to the cafe for a welcome cup of tea and slice of cake before heading on my long walk back to the train station.

I enjoyed my time here and you can definitely spend a good part of the day exploring.

The Practicalities:

Members of the National Trust of course get in for free to visit otherwise an adult ticket costs £17 for the castle and garden.

Be aware of opening times that change throughout the year. Generally it is 11-3.30 with last tickets sold at 2.50 if buying while there. Because it is on a hill it also closes if stormy weather is predicted. Winter opening times often mean that the Clive Museum in particular is closed.

There is a free car park on site. If like me you’re coming by train the walk to the castle is easy to find and well laid out. Be aware that dogs are not allowed to enter the deer park you walk through to get to the castle but they are allowed in the garden (but not all year round so check the website before you travel).