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Powis Castle, Welshpool added to National Trust in Wales by D0c.Col on 29/06/2023

Powis Castle
The present Powis Castle was built in the mid-13th century by a Welsh prince - Gruffudd Ap Gwenwynwyn who wanted to establish his independence from the aggressive princes of Gwynedd in North Wales. This was an act of defiance and in contrast to those built by the English at Conwy, Caernarfon and Harlech in order to suppress the Welsh and consolidate Edward I’s conquest of Wales.
By the late 13th century, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd of Gwynedd had established himself as Prince of Wales, and in 1274 he destroyed Powis Castle, forcing Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn into exile.
However, within three years Llywelyn’s principality had crumbled leaving Gruffudd of Powys able to regain his lordship and rebuild the castle. Gruffudd, his son and grandson had all died by 1309, and with no male heir, the castle and lordship passed to an heiress, Hawise who married Sir John Charlton from Shropshire.
In 1312, Hawise’s uncle attacked the castle in an attempt to claim the lordship but failed. Charlton repaired the damage and built two great drum towers that can be seen today, either side of the castle’s west entrance.
Descendants of the Charltons continued as Lords of Powis for over 100 years but in 1421, the lack of a male heir resulted in the castle and estate being divided between two daughters, Joyce and Joan, who had married Sir John Grey and Sir John Tiptoft respectively.
Under the Tiptofts and their successor, Lord Dudley, the Outer Ward of the castle was neglected and needed considerable restoration. Luckily, in the 1530s Edward Grey, Lord Powis, took possession of the whole castle and began a major re-building programme.

In 1587, Edward Herbert purchased the castle and estate and it remained in the hands of the Herbert family until 1952 when George, 4th Earl of Powis, bequeathed the castle and gardens to the National Trust.
In 1902 George began its modernisation by introducing electric lighting and a state of the art hot-water central heating system, and at the same time he worked with his architect to re-establish the 17th Century décor in many of the state rooms, a style he thought more befitting of a medieval castle.
The estate was at its height during the Edwardian Period with notable guests arriving every weekend throughout the winter season, including the Prince and Princess of Wales in November 1909. However, this golden era was not to last as George was to suffer a number of family tragedies. The countess died following a car accident in 1929, both his sons, died whilst on active service, Percy from wounds received at the Battle of the Somme in 1916, and Mervyn in a plane crash in 1943. With no direct heir to the castle, on his death bed in 1952, George bequeathed Powis to the nation, in the care of the National Trust.
In the garden four of the 150m long original terraces remain, the last two having reverted to banks of earth covered with shrubs. The top Terrace is planted with a range of yew trees, a distinctive feature at Powis.

William Emes, apart from the destruction of the water garden, did make improvements to the estate. A road that cut through the park just below the castle was diverted, and much planting was undertaken on the Wilderness Ridge, the line of hills opposite the castle, on the other side of the Great Lawn. The last major transformation of the gardens was undertaken in the early 20th century by Violet, wife of the fourth earl.

The Herbert family continue to live in part of the castle, under an arrangement with the National Trust. The Trust has undertaken a number of major works of restoration during its ownership, including the Marquess Gate,[ the Grand Staircase, and the sculpture of Fame in the Outer Courtyard. Powis Castle is a Grade I listed building, while its gardens have their own Grade I listing and together they form an irresistible attraction that receives over 200,000 visitors a Year.

The flight was inside a FRZ but had authorisation from the relevant ATC and the local council does not have a bylaw to prevent TOAL. I was easily able to launch the DJI mini 3 Pro close from a public path just outside NT property and maintained VLOS with the assistance of a spotter (my wife).

https://www.youtube.com/@DocColVideo/

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Co-ordinates: 52.65246, -3.15728 • what3words: ///strongman.snapper.just
The originator declared that this location was inside a flight restriction zone at the time of being flown. Permission to fly was obtained from Welshpool ATC. It remains the responsibility of any pilot to check for any changes before flying at the same location. Landowner permission may be required before taking off.

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Newport Cathedral, Newport (By gasbag43)

Sitting up on Stow Hill, Newport Cathedral (also known as the Cathedral Church of St Woolos) is a fascinating patchwork of history. It all started with a simple wooden church, put up in the 5th century by Welsh King Gwynllyw, and the place has kept growing and changing ever since.


While it is the size of a large parish church rather than a typical cathedral, its history and development from the sixth to the twentieth century make it one of the most interesting religious buildings in Wales


As you can see from the photos, the building’s unique linear layout reflects its staggered evolution. The fifteenth-century tower dominates the foreground of the first image; it was reportedly funded by Jasper Tudor and still features his (now headless) statue.


Moving toward the centre of the structure, the St Mary’s Chapel sits on the site of the original Saxon church, serving as a bridge between the tower and the main body.

The elongated Norman nave, clearly visible with its distinct roofline, was constructed in the 12th century and remains one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Wales.

Originally a parish church, it was elevated to cathedral status in 1949. The modern, pale-stoned East End (visible at the far top of the first photo) was added in the 1960s, completing a sacred timeline that spans over 1,500 years.

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Co-ordinates: 51.58304, -2.998593 • what3words: ///grand.home.sheep
Tredegar House, Newport (By gasbag43)

Tredegar House is a major 17th-century mansion in Britain, serving as the ancestral home of the Morgan family (later Lords Tredegar) for over 500 years. The Morgans amassed vast wealth through landownership and their influential role in the South Wales industrial revolution.

Surrounded by restored formal gardens, the estate features the colourful Orchard Garden and intricate parterre, reflecting the family’s desire to showcase their status. The grounds stretch to a 90-acre parkland, once a private estate, now public.

The Morgans’ influence declined in the 20th century, and the National Trust now manages the site, preserving its legacy as a symbol of Welsh aristocracy and architectural ambition.

Key Features in the photos
• The “embroidery” style parterres, designed for viewing from the house, display symmetry and colour.
• The Orangery and Stables were vital for estate life, housing horses and exotic plants.
• The gardens transition to open parkland, reflecting 18th-century landscaping trends.

At their height, the Morgans owned over 40,000 acres, and their proximity to South Wales’ industrial centres drove their shift from farming to coal and iron.

It's a National Trust property, so usual restrictions on TOAL from within the area are in place.

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Co-ordinates: 51.56145, -3.028074 • what3words: ///gave.modest.vets
St Marys Tarring Neville, Lewes (By grandad1950)

St Marys parish church in Tarring Neville East Sussex is a grade 1 listed building dating from the 13th Century. Surrounded by farmland and good views of the south downs. The church is not used very often.

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Co-ordinates: 50.81561, 0.048678 • what3words: ///publisher.croaking.necks
Aldbury Church, St John the Baptist, Dacorum (By 7coloursummer)

Quiet spot just to the side of the near by foot path made for an excellent take off and landing point. Quiet village also meant I wasn't disturbing anyone with this capture.

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Co-ordinates: 51.80256, -0.60399 • what3words: ///cork.sofa.caravans
Old Beaupre Castle, Vale of Glamorgan (By gasbag43)

These aerial photos capture Old Beaupre Castle, located near Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan. Despite its name, what you see isn't actually a military fortress, but a magnificent Elizabethan manor house built upon the foundations of a medieval predecessor.

The images highlight the dramatic contrast between the functional and the decorative. The most significant feature visible is the three-story inner gatehouse, an Italianate Renaissance masterpiece completed in 1600 by Richard Bassett. Notice the intricate carved columns—representing the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders—which stand in stark defiance of the surrounding rugged, roofless ruins.

Key Historical Features
• The Medieval Core: The L-shaped block at the rear dates back to the 14th century.
• Tudor Transformation: The 16th-century expansion turned it into a high-status residence.
• The Outer Gatehouse: Seen in the foreground of the first photo, this 1580 addition signalled the family's immense wealth and social ambition.

The photos emphasise the isolated, rural setting that allowed the Bassetts to display their architectural sophistication. Today, maintained by CADW, the site remains a hauntingly beautiful skeleton of Welsh gentrified life.

Parking is a 10 minute walk away (small lay-by with space for only 2 cars). TOAL point is on the footpath between the parking POI and the castle – flying from the parking side of the castle is fine, but be careful if you overfly the castle or try to shoot it from the other side as you will have strayed into the St Athan FRZ and ATZ which start immediately the other side of the castle

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Co-ordinates: 51.4388, -3.427359 • what3words: ///mountain.skippers.restless
Flood Plain of the River Soar, Charnwood (By bryand)

Grid Ref: SK577164
This section of the River Soar floods every year, and this year's floods were quite spectacular. By the time these were taken, the floods had receded so local roads had re-opened but they give a good idea of the extent of the inundation.
The area is popular in summer when the waterway is cleaner and the banks greener.
Many access points for TOAL: I used a lane off the A6.

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Co-ordinates: 52.7413, -1.144221 • what3words: ///unveils.ratty.headlight
The Dirty Duck, Woolsthorpe on the Grantham Canal, South Kesteven (By bryand)

Grid Ref: SK843361
The Dirty Duck pub is one of the more interesting features on the navigable section of the Grantham Canal, next to a flight of three locks. Easy to get to and to park. Also not far from Belvoir Castle.
No flight restrictions other than the generic Lincolnshire training area.

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Co-ordinates: 52.90712, -0.747409 • what3words: ///cheetahs.sprawls.limitless
Caerau Hillfort and the ruins of St Mary’s Church, Cardiff (By gasbag43)

Perched atop a commanding ridge in western Cardiff, the Caerau Hillfort and the ruins of St Mary’s Church represent over 5,000 years of continuous human history.

The hillfort is one of the largest and most significant Iron Age sites in South Wales, originally a stronghold of the Silures tribe. The overall site covers an area over 5 hectares – larger than 4 full size football pitches. Its multiple ramparts and ditches, clearly legible in the aerial photographs, enclose a strategic plateau overlooking the Ely Valley. The sweeping curves of earthworks visible from above reveal successive phases of construction, reflecting the site’s long occupation and defensive importance within pre-Roman tribal territories

At the hillfort’s heart lie the roofless ruins of St Mary’s Church, founded in the 13th century and abandoned after the medieval period. Though it was restored in the 1960s, it fell victim to severe vandalism and was deconsecrated in the 1970s.The images show the church isolated within its oval churchyard, itself set inside the prehistoric enclosure—an explicit layering of sacred and defensive landscapes. Together, the photographs emphasise how medieval Christian worship appropriated an ancient stronghold, illustrating over two millennia of adaptation and reuse within Cardiff’s historic landscape.

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Co-ordinates: 51.46731, -3.248114 • what3words: ///grab.useful.tribune
St Peters Firle, Lewes (By grandad1950)

Nestled in the South Downs and dating from the 12th century is St Peters Parish Church in Firle East Sussex. It is a grade 1 listed building.
Firle Place, just next to the church is worth a visit

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Co-ordinates: 50.84498, 0.088493 • what3words: ///agency.prone.deriving
Semaphore Tower, Chatley Heath, Elmbridge (By Venners07)

Situated in a nature reserve so stick to footpaths and I would suggest be aware of any nesting birds or wildlife. It is a an amazing location though.

Built in 1822, the Semaphore Tower is a unique survival. Commissioned in the aftermath of the Battle of Waterloo, it was once a cutting-edge building at the forefront of technology and is now a remarkable retreat in the heart of a peaceful nature reserve.

The only remaining semaphore tower in Britain

A unique remnant from the Napoleonic era, this Grade II* listed brick structure is the only surviving semaphore tower in Britain. It was once a building at the forefront of technology and design, a vital link in a signalling chain that transmitted messages from Admiralty House in London to Portsmouth Docks in just a few minutes.

The semaphore machinery has been refurbished, providing a living lesson in technological and engineering history.

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Co-ordinates: 51.31523, -0.438166 • what3words: ///both.exams.party

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