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Carew Castle & Tidal Mill

Carew Castle & Tidal Mill

Carew Castle & Tidal Mill
4.5
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Monday
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
About
Carew Castle and Tidal Mill’s rich history spans over 2,000 years and tells of knights of the realm, kingmakers, Elizabethan intrigue and Civil War devastation. Set in a stunning location overlooking a 23-acre Millpond, the Castle is one of the most architecturally diverse in Wales; from the west a Norman fortress, yet from the north a splendid Elizabethan mansion. The site also incorporates the only restored Tidal Mill in Wales, an 11th century Celtic cross, a Medieval bridge and picnic area all linked by a mile-long circular walk, suitable for buggies and wheelchairs, with magnificent views over the Millpond.
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  • Jo W
    Hereford, United Kingdom33 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great circular walk
    We parked and did the circular walk around the castle & Mill. Flat easy walk with majestic views of the castle all round. We were a little early to get in. But we'll worth the visit regardless.
    Diolch! Thank you!
    Written 2 August 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 25 March 2024
  • Marge L
    Wythall, United Kingdom343 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Day Out
    Went here Wednesday 24th April and spent the day there walking around both the castle and tidal mill. We paid £7 each which was the OAP price but parking was free and the ticket covered both the castle and the tidal mill. The castle was lovely to walk round and the map given to us on arrival helped guide us through and around. We took lots of photographs. After we had coffees, we walked down to the Tidal Mill and had a good wander round there. We were given another booklet covering the details which helped us understand what was made there. Again we took pictures of the causeway and inside the mill itself. A nice day spent there at a good price.
    What a lovely review! Diolch!
    Written 2 August 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 24 April 2024
  • James T
    Winchester, United Kingdom63 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A spring visit to Carew Castle
    I visited Carew Castle and Mill whilst staying nearby in Tenby. The approach to the castle is very impressive. The staff were helpful, and mentioned the audio guide (although I could not download it whilst at the castle). There is a LOT to explore here, and at £8, I thought it was a bargain. Make sure you don't miss the chapel and the lesser hall (actually quite big)! Admission includes access to the tidal mill (one of very few which can still be visited) and this was interesting too. To top it off, I visited the cafe, and tried the Santiago cake, which was delicious.
    Thank you for your lovely review. I agree that the Santiago cake is fantastic, and gluten free too!
    Written 2 August 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 28 April 2024
  • pesue1
    Nuneaton, United Kingdom660 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good tour
    Came on a rainy day which perhaps made the visit not as good as if it was sunny, mainly because there is no roof now to the castle. There is audio description to explain what you are looking at, and a café and toilets. Good value at £7 concession. This includes a tour of the mill also interesting, well worth a visit
    We're pleased you enjoyed your visit despite the British weather!
    Written 2 August 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 3 May 2024
  • Sue Wiggins
    Rugby, United Kingdom489 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful castle, scenic setting
    Fabulous castle, mostly in ruin with a bit of reconstruction to show how it may have been in olden days. We enjoyed our visit, the walk in the meadow round the castle and down to the tidal mill was very scenic. Had lunch in the cafe, home made Potato and Leek soup was best we'd ever had, crusty bread was delicious, also cake! Tidal mill was included in the entry cost and is well worth a visit, not working but the commentary on each floor explains how it worked. A good day out.
    Thank you for your lovely review! We are so pleased you enjoyed your homemade soup and cakes. I will pass your kind words on to our team in the Tearoom!
    Written 2 August 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 6 June 2024
  • RobbieBoy
    Scotland, United Kingdom69 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Carew is well…..
    ….worth a visit! The tearoom (open to all) serves delightful fresh food and a lovely flat white! The staff are very friendly and couldn’t be more helpful… the tearoom (out and in) is very well organised and clean….well done! We wouldn’t normally visit a castle however Carew is quite spectacular with good access to the nooks and crannies; it’s interesting and together with free running commentary on your smart phone. We think children would love the magic of the castle. The walk around the milk pond (about 1 mile) is also worth taking with a visit to the Mill itself a must…your castle entry ticket includes this… the shop also sells crabing kits for youngsters who want to try their hand in the salt water pond. Mill staff are very helpful and friendly, keen to import their extensive knowledge of the mill and its surroundings. Altogether a wonderful family day out; well worth a visit!
    What a wonderful and kind review. Thank you so much. We hope to see you again soon!
    Written 2 August 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 11 July 2024
  • Dobbinanjan
    Scarborough, United Kingdom20 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Pleasant
    Got to castle in good time and walked around the mill lake. The path was well maintained. Didn’t go into castle but did have a coffee at the castle. Staff there needed a rocket. Bins were full at 10.30 in the morning.
    Thank you for your review. Apologies if the bins had not been emptied. They are emptied each night and checked during the day but we must have missed it on this occasion.
    Written 2 August 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 1 August 2024
  • Heathsr11
    279 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great castle, impressive inside!
    We really enjoyed our visit to Carew Castle. We arrived early and did the walk around the mill and back up to the car park, which took about 30 minutes. We visited the tea rooms and the cakes there were lovely! The staff in the cafe and in the reception area were friendly. We were surprised how much there was to visit inside the castle and we enjoyed visiting all the rooms and getting a history of Princess Ness who lived there with her husband, Gerald. The rooms aren’t all furnished but there is a description of the rooms. Look carefully at the map as this tells you things to look out for in each room. There wasn’t a guided tour when we went, but you can listen to the audio guide if you like. When you’re in the middle of the castle, remember to look up and you’ll see the heraldic signs of Prince Arthur, Henry VII and Katherine of Aragon. A great castle to visit and impressive once you are inside and looking around the rooms.
    Thank you for your lovely review and kind words about the staff here. We are so pleased that you enjoyed our cakes. We have a couple of fantastic bakers in the Tearoom and its an effort not to eat cake every day! Its great that you found there to be more to see in side the Castle than expected. We often hear this from visitors, who expect it to be a ruin, but there is a lot to see and a lot of history to learn about. Diolch yn fawr, thank you very much.
    Written 16 August 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 9 August 2024
  • Kathryn
    Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must visit
    I love this place. Stunning location. Caters for all ages. Dog friendly, great cafe, the cakes are so lovely, and the staff are the most friendly, helpful people. It's value for money too. My toddler and I enjoyed crabbing there recently. Will go back again and again.
    Gosh, thank you for a really lovely review. We look forward to seeing you again soon!
    Written 24 September 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 30 August 2024
  • moleadventures
    London, United Kingdom376 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Loads to see at this well preserved castle with so much history to it!
    We spent a very agreeable couple of hours with our children exploring the well preserved castle followed by the unusual tidal mill which is a short walk away. A family ticket was about £25 and we paid a modest extra sum to do the treasure hunt for the children. You can access quite a bit of the castle though via steep spiral staircases and it can be quite dark but we managed fine with young children. There are audio points and plenty of information to read. You get a good sense of what it would have been like and its proportions and location are impressive.
    We are really happy to hear how your family enjoyed exploring and learning about the history. Thank you :)
    Written 24 September 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 2 September 2024
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,052 reviews
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Jules Smith
Wales, UK53 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
The castle overlooks a tidal inlet that feeds the tidal mill also on the site. The setting is very impressive, interesting and attractive. The castle is well worth a look inside and the circular walk across the causeway and around the site gives some lovely views of the castle and mill. Parking and the circular walk are free with the £5 entrance fee just for the inside of the castle. There is a small tearoom on site that just did drinks and cakes when we visited (not sure if it does more later in the season) and good toilet facilities.
Written 4 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sian
London, UK103 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Family
Had a lovely time here visiting. Being disabled would have been good to know that you could hire a mobility scooter - one thing I would recommend though is that staff assess whether the operator of the scooter can do so safely as an elderly lady has hired one and couldn’t operate it and it has to be done by her daughter walking alongside which in terms of safety was dangerous.

One thing the distance from the car park to the castle is significant - perhaps there could be some disabled parking spots nearer the castle?

Not being able to access much of the castle was a given however there was plenty of seating available to rest.

The cafe provided limited menu of baguettes and cakes but would have been good to have option of baguettes without salad or made to order.

Overall an enjoyable day in fabulous surroundings and the treasure hunt for the children was a great idea which they enjoying doing.

We didn’t visit the mill as the walking around the castle had taken its toll.
Written 25 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for your review. Were sorry to hear that you thought our facilities need some amendments for those with disabilities. We do say on our website that the scooter is available to book. We are now asking for bookings, rather than just having it available to hire when on site, this to make sure we can clean it thoroughly between users and have enough staff available to compete the hire booking form and to give instruction on use. Our staff do provide instruction on how to use the mobility scooter, and always ask the user to demonstrate they have understood the controls etc. before they take it. I am sorry to hear though that a lady was struggling with it. I will remind all the staff that if they have any concerns over a person's ability to operate it safely, that they should repeat the tuition until they are confident the user is in control of the scooter. We do have disabled parking spaces in the main Castle car park. Visitors are also welcome to drop off at the entrance to the Walled Garden, before returning to the car park, if mobility is an issue. We do not have a hard standing area nearer to the Castle to be able to put additional car parking spaces in. We only have a turning circle that we need to keep clear for deliveries etc. There are a couple of car parking spaces at the Mill for those with mobility issues. Our tearoom does have a small menu including homemade cakes, soup and freshly made baguettes. All of our baguettes are made to order, it would be no problem to have them without salad. We are so pleased that the children enjoyed the treasure hunt.
Written 26 July 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

MerseysideTinkerbell
Merseyside, UK5,259 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021
We visited here in September 2021 and it is not far from Pembroke which is where we were staying and also highly recommend going to visit Pembroke Castle as well. Carew Castle has quite a large car park and you can go for a lovely walk down to the tidal mill and to the castle. It is the only restored tidal mill in Wales, so this makes it quite special indeed to go and visit. The castle itself is quite large and interesting. It was a settlement as far back as the Iron Age. You can if you look see the defensive ditches from that time. The Celtic Cross dates back to the 11th Century.
Written 26 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We're so glad you enjoyed discovering the history of the Castle, Mill and the Celtic cross. Pembroke Castle is also a great place to visit and the histories of the two castles are closely linked.
Written 7 January 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Rob H
Halifax, UK24 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Couples
Nice castle, free parking, pleasant but short walk around the pond. Don’t expect to spend more than an hour on site as there isn’t really that much to see. Word of warning, the ‘Nest’ cafe is abysmal, staggeringly slow with overpriced food badly cooked and poorly presented . I ordered soup with a roll and butter which took 25 minutes (and the place was really quiet with lots of spare tables - and there aren’t many) and when it was eventually ready to be collected I was told they had no rolls (substituted a slice of bread) and they had no butter either . My wife’s ploughman’s style box was equally as bad and lacking.
If it wasn’t for the parking and the walk it wouldn’t have rated more than one.
Written 1 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review. I am pleased you enjoyed your visit to the Castle but sorry to hear you did not enjoy your visit to the Tearoom. We had a surprisingly busy weekend at the tearoom and our food delivery did not arrive as ordered. This is not an excuse but I do want to assure you that the issues you faced are not normal and that they have now bee rectified. Our homemade Pea and Herb soup does normally come with soft bloomer bread rather than a roll anyway, but I am sorry about the lack of butter. I do hope this will not put you off visiting the Castle again in future.
Written 6 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

hamish S
Ludlow, UK28 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021
Wales has an awful lot of castles and it must be tricky for custodians to bring their ruined shells alive. Carew is unusual, having undergone a spectacular Tudor make-over into a palatial home but sadly none of this survives other than bare walls and gaping windows. There is little in the way of information either about the architecture which includes some puzzling curiosities, the lay-out which is inevitably baffling or the history which was clearly most eventful. All the same it's a fine picturesque ruin with the additional attraction of a large tidal-mill that retains its inner workings though the wheels themselves have rotted beyond use. Be warned however that the mill is a stiff ten minute hike from the car park, resulting in benches at the further end being filled with rather knackered looking oldies gearing up for the return.
Written 5 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We're sorry that you did not think we provide enough information about the history of the Castle. There are many information panels around the Castle, covering various aspects of the history of the site. We also give out a free and comprehensive leaflet/map to visitors, that we are often complemented on. Our excellent guidebook is available for £4 for those wanting further information. The Tidal Mill is roughly 10 minutes walk from the Castle along a surfaced lane. There is only very limited parking available for blue badge holders/those with mobility issues directly outside the Mill. For those who enjoy the walk we recommend then continuing, after visiting the Mill, over the causeway and around the other side of the Millpond. This is a one mile circular route that brings you back to the car park and offers spectacular views of the Mill and Castle from all angles.
Written 13 September 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Phil & Victoria
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
I cannot express just how amazing Carew Castle is. From the moment of arrival, we were greeted with a (face-masked) smile and warm welcome. Mike, Helen and their team made our visit one to remember for a lifetime. They were extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and always willing to answer any questions that we had. Mike gave us the most insightful and spectacular tour we have ever been on, highlighting the stories and history perfectly.

Helen recommended further reading, and gave us such a warm welcome we have looked at property in Wales since! The team, and the facilities are fantastic, and it really is a day out to enjoy for all ages and abilities. I would highly recommend a visit to Carew Castle, and personally look forward to visiting again in the not too distant future.
Written 23 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for such a lovely review. After your visit Helen said she had met a lovely couple who had really enjoyed the tour with Mike! I am very biased but I have to say I work with a very special group of people, who are passionate about Carew. Mike is one of our historical experts and loves talking about the history of the site. After your lovely review we are trying to stop Helen leaving to pursue a career in estate agency! We hope to see you again soon. :)
Written 7 January 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Driver_in_Europe
Crewe, UK467 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021 • Family
Carew castle is great for a half-day visit.
There is a large free car park, admission tickets are reasonably priced and they have a brilliantly informative guide book so you can really learn from your visit.
There are also displays that give plenty of historical detail.
Well done.
Written 9 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your great review. We are so glad that you enjoyed your visit and found our information boards and guide book to be informative.
Written 13 September 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Rob R
Tredegar, UK2,682 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Couples
Was recommended by a friend as I had never visited. A fantastic visit with the castle and water mill it's two visits for the price of one.

At £6.50 it's excellent value. I have been to a lot of National Trust properties where they charge £18 entry and £5 parking on top of that and they weren't as interesting as Carew Castle and mill. There also seems to be plenty there for children, although I didn't visit with any myself.

Some nice little walks to enjoy there as well as you can do a circular walk around the water which is about 2 kilometres and very enjoyable with some great picture opportunities.

The staff were very friendly and helpful and they have a lovely tea room with outside seating which is very good, enjoyed a lovely cream tea.

Great value visit with plenty to see and do whatever the weather. Suitable for all ages even middle-aged men like me.
Written 31 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What a lovely review. Thank you for taking the time to write about your visit. We strive to offer a good value day out to all our visitors and it is lovely to hear that we are succeeding. Thank you for your kind comments about our staff.
Written 5 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Rosie L
23 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021
We visited the castle and mill on 9th July. Reasonable entry charge. Dogs allowed. The castle was interesting to walk round. The tearoom menu looked good, and the prices fair, but we weren't hungry so didn't indulge.

A 10 minute walk led to the tidal mill. Lots of poo bins en route. The mill was over 3 floors but neither I nor our medium sized Lurcher dog liked the open tread steep staircase. We struggled up to the first floor. Having to wear a facemask made this even harder. Neither of us could face the second flight of steep stairs so we exited through the fire exit. The steps would be easier to navigate if they were closed in.
Written 13 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review. We are pleased you enjoyed visiting the Castle and liked the look of our tearoom menu. We are sorry to hear that you found the steps in the Mill difficult to navigate. Under normal circumstances we often suggest to dog owners that they may prefer to use the fire exit steps instead of the main staircases, which are not as steep. However, due to the pandemic we have a one way system in place that does not make this possible. The Tidal Mill is grade II* listed, therefore we try to keep all the features as original as we can. We do hope that the remainder of your visit made up for the difficulties in the Mill.
Written 23 July 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Stanford
Stratford-upon-Avon, UK40 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Friends
Lovely castle but cafe was shockingly bad! They had apparently run out of a lot of things and were waiting for a delivery but surely someone could have popped to a shop for supplies. Overpriced "picnic" boxes straight from a cold fridge and containing slices of bread, frozen butter, wizened lettuce etc etc. This for £8 50! Best bit was the wooden knife and fork!!
Written 1 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review. I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed your visit to the Castle but I am so sorry to hear your visit to the Tearoom was not as good. We were surprisingly busy this weekend and unfortunately our food delivery did not arrived as scheduled. I realise that is not an excuse but please accept my assurance that all of the issues have now been sorted out and will not occur again. Due to Covid 19 our staff are not permitted to visit supermarkets for additional stock at this time. I do hope that this will not put you off visiting the Castle again.
Written 6 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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CAREW CASTLE & TIDAL MILL (2025) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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