The best castle hotels in Wales for grandiose stays with historic appeal

Wales is known for its castles with many, such as Conwy and Caernarfon, built by King Edward I in the 13th century and now listed as Unesco World Heritage Sites. But as well as visiting castles in Wales, you also stay in one. From Gothic towers to medieval dining halls, the Celtic country offers a range of heritage hotels to make you feel like the king or queen of the castle. Here's our guide to the best castle hotels in Wales, including the top places to stay for medieval character, historic interiors, Gothic and Tudor-style décor, panoramic sea views, four-poster beds, chic champagne bars and stone courtyards, in locations including Anglesey, Cardigan, Roch, Portmeirion and Conwy.

One of Britain's most extraordinary Victorian seaside houses, this fish-scale-turreted mansion was built for Lady Sarah Hay Williams as a dower gift from her husband John (the name means 'ladies abode'). The design is based on five castles in the Loire Valley, a region the couple loved (the gates, right down to the ornamental nail heads, were copied from a drawing by Sarah and handmade in Birmingham). There are 27 bedrooms, 16 of which are in the main house and 11 next door in The Lodge, plus three self-catering cottages. On-site facilities include a sauna, hot tub, tennis courts and gardens, and there are plenty of rooms to explore, including a music room, drawing room, cloisters and a wine bar. Views of the Snowdonian giants complete the picture.

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Fans of the cult Sixties television series, The Prisoner, are always wowed by the nooks and crannies of the village backdrop to the series while non-telly addicts will simply marvel at the micro-climate position, set along a private peninsula on the Snowdonia coast amid woodlands and manicured gardens. The hotel, like the village, has bags of personality with contemporary finish juxtaposed with the Gothic and Tudor influences of the restored building – think slate floors, froufrou plasterwork and an ornate fireplace guarded by a fearsome stone knight. All Deudraeth rooms are tastefully finished with fold-out sofa beds, seaside-contemporary motifs and artworks featuring angels and mermaids.

• The best hotels in Wales

This historic property, luxuriating in a delightfully verdant swathe of North Walian landscape, is located in the market town of Ruthin. Independently owned, it has bags of character and strikes an imposing pose on the landscape – think lions guarding the door and peacocks playing in the gardens. This is, after all, one of Edward I’s castles from 1277. Inside it's stately home chic with leather Chesterfields and stag heads lining the reception and entrance lounge. It's a weekend leisure destination primarily, with a sauna, gym and treatments at the Moat Spa as the main attraction. Otherwise, try sitting by the open fire in the Cornwallis room with the weekend papers. Service, however, can be a bugbear. The 58 rooms each have their own individual touches.

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A key part of this luxurious b&b’s appeal is the panoramic view from most of the rooms: far out to sea across St Brides Bay, and inland across the rolling Pembrokeshire countryside. The castle was constructed in the late 12th century, then rebuilt as a private dwelling in the early 1900s. Keith Griffiths, an eminent architect who grew up in the area, bought the property and gave its interior its current stylish, contemporary look. The Court Room – the main sitting room – has brown and purple suede sofas and black pouffes, lovely modern vases and a tapestry depicting the history of the castle. Consider splashing out on Ap Gryffydd, one of the most expensive rooms, which has big windows looking out towards the sea.

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The Grade I-listed building is located right on Conwy’s main high street, just a short walk from the castle and quayside. The Castle makes for a homely base for popular events like the Gwledd Conwy Feast food festival or exploring the North Wales Coast. The décor manages to combine the Pre-Raphaelite paintings of John Dawson Watson in the entrance with more contemporary features in the refurbished bedrooms. While location and food are the main draws, the addition of Healing Hands, an upstairs treatment room caters for spa-break weekenders. The restaurant includes a chic champagne bar and lounge area. The Courtyard, a suntrap outdoor space with views of the 13th-century castle is popular for all-day food and local flavours.

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Cardigan is well placed for exploring the rugged coastlines of Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, and the castle has cracking views out across the River Teifi and the seven-arched stone bridge loping across it. The b&b and restaurant, shoehorned into the castle walls, are unexpectedly modern; pared-back in style, with large windows letting in lots of natural light. But there’s no denying the pervading sense of history: the minute you step out into the courtyard or gaze out across the mighty ramparts, you’re winged back to the Middle Ages when this was one of the greatest castles in all of Wales. In 1171, Lord Rhys moved his court here and rebuilt the castle in stone, trumpeting his triumph by hosting the first Eisteddfod in its walls in 1176.

Contributions by Fred Mawer & Sarah Stirling