VISITORS are once again being offered free entry to castles in Wales this weekend to celebrate St David's Day. 

From castles to abbeys and industrial heritage sites, free tickets for 16 Cadw properties that normally charge for admission have been released and are now available for advance bookings on the Cadw website.

Ticket-holders can choose from an array of sites to explore, from Wales’s largest fortress, Caerphilly Castle, with its iconic leaning tower, to St Davids Bishop’s Palace — located near St Davids Cathedral, where Wales’s patron Saint, Dewi Sant, founded his monastery.

The Leader:

Meanwhile, Conwy Castle, Caernarfon Castle, Beaumaris Castle and Harlech Castle, which collectively form a UNESCO World Heritage site, are also set to open their doors for free, alongside many other spectacular abbeys and castles across the country.

Free entry tickets must be pre-booked online with selected sites offering a limited number of tickets due to site space and capacity restrictions.

St David's Day falls this year on Sunday (March 1) meaning this year's offer has been incredibly popular with a number of tickets having already sold out.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Lord Elis-Thomas, said: “Cadw is committed to making Wales’s heritage accessible to everyone and offering free entry on St David’s Day is a fantastic way to do so — all while celebrating our patron saint.

The Leader:

“I hope this opportunity will encourage local people and visitors alike to discover the wonder of Welsh heritage on St David’s Day — and beyond.

"After all, what better time to get out and explore Wales’s historic sites than during Wales’s 2020 Year of Outdoors?”

The following Cadw sites, which normally charge for admission, can be entered for free on Sunday 1 March 2020:

  • Beaumaris Castle
  • Blaenavon Ironworks
  • Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths
  • Caernarfon Castle
  • Caerphilly Castle
  • Castell Coch
  • Chepstow Castle
  • Conwy Castle
  • Criccieth Castle
  • Denbigh Castle
  • Harlech Castle
  • Kidwelly Castle
  • Plas Mawr am
  • Raglan Castle
  • St Davids Bishop’s Palace
  • Tintern Abbey

For more details or to book tickets, visit cadw.gov.wales/about-us/news/online-tickets-released-free-entry-to-waless-historic-sites-on-st-davids-day