However, they are matched in South Wales by the great baronial castles of Pembroke , Kidwelly , Caerphilly and Chepstow . In both north and south some fascinating castles of the native princes should not be overlooked, such as Criccieth , Powis and Dinefwr . Most of the castles of mid-Wales are quite fragmentary. T he visitor will find that the vast majority of Welsh castles are ruined, or at least empty shells. Many became redundant once the English conquest of Wales was complete, and Civil War slightings increased the desolation.
Inhabited castles are rare in comparison with England.
T hankfully the vast majority of Welsh masonry castles can be visited. Cadw continues to uncover and consolidate some of Wales' more ruinous castles, particularly in recent decades those of the native princes. Hence a number of erstwhile fragmentary and overgrown sites have become interesting again. A number of privately-owned castles can also be visited, at least at certain times. The great advantage of Mr Pettifer's book Welsh Castles is that it covers dozens of these obscure castles right along side the more familiar ones.