Chepstow castle is possibly the earliest stone castle in Britain. It sits imposingly at the very edge of the cliff overlooking the river. It’s the perfect location for guarding and observing the crossings between England and Wales. It was mainly used as a staging point to keep the Welsh subdued.

It dates back to 1067, when William fitz Osbern, a supporter of William the Conqueror first stated building. Since then it has been expanded and changed many times.

Today, the epic Norman Great Hall still stands. During the early 13th Century, they added to it heavily in an attempt to make it stronger and less penetrable. Towards the latter half of the century, they made it considerably more comfortable by adding living quarters. During the civil war, Chepstow was used to hold prisoners. After this, without having any real purpose the castle fell into decline.

In terms of historical importance, this is definitely one of the most important castles in the UK. Even if you’re not interested in history, you’ll be blown away by the sheer scale and beauty of this epic structure.