Castell Aberlleiniog

Castell Aberlleiniog stands on a steep hill near Llangoed on the Isle of Anglesey, overlooking the Menai Strait. Built between 1080 and 1099 by Hugh d’Avranches, the first Earl of Chester, it is a motte-and-bailey fortress of Norman origin. The castle’s position allowed it to communicate visually with Abergwyngregyn across the strait. A stone keep replaced the original timber structure before the mid-17th century. Thomas Cheadle, constable of Beaumaris Castle, destroyed it later that century. Restoration began in 2008, revealing remains of round towers at each corner. The site witnessed a key siege in 1094 when Gruffudd ap Cynan attacked after returning from Ireland. His forces killed 124 Norman defenders and drove Hugh d’Avranches from Gwynedd. For two centuries after, Anglesey remained under Welsh control until Edward I arrived. The castle’s history is sparsely documented, with only fragments surviving. Its strategic importance faded after the 17th-century destruction. Visitors today find a restored earthwork mound with remnants of the stone keep and ramparts. The round towers’ bases still mark the corners of the former stronghold. The steep hill offers wide views over the Menai Strait and surrounding countryside. A path leads up to the motte, where the keep once stood. The site is quiet, with few modern intrusions, allowing the landscape to frame its medieval past.