Green Castle

Green Castle stands in Carmarthenshire, Wales, on a plateau above the River Towy. It is the ruined remains of a 16th-century fortified manor house with earlier medieval origins. About 600 yards to the south lies a medieval motte, though traces of this older castle have faded over time. The site is also known as Castell Moel or Humphreys Castle, and it sits between Carmarthen and the village of Llangain. Nearby are Carmarthen Castle to the north-west and Llansteffan Castle to the south-west. The castle is worth visiting for its historical layers and literary connections. A 1917 report by the Royal Commission described remains dating to the 14th or early 15th century. A poem by Lewis Glyn Cothi from the same period mentions Castell Moel, confirming its existence. The Rede family once owned the hall house, which was later modified into a late medieval L-plan structure. Though not built for defence, it retains architectural features like a first-floor hall, stair turret, and cellar. Visitors find overgrown ruins on a quiet plateau with views over the Towy valley. The main eastern block shows the hall and stair turret, while the western wing includes a porch and cellar. Nearby, Green Castle Woods—a nature reserve managed by the Woodland Trust—lies along the Wales Coast Path. The old motte can still be traced, offering a glimpse of the site’s layered past.