These castles and the sites photographed on the following several pages are located in the southern region of Wales. We based ourselves in Cardiff, which is a large city in the southern area of Wales. We stayed at a bed & breakfast not far from the city center for the start of our vacation. Cardiff made a good base for exploring this region, as many of the sites on this and the following pages are an easy morning or afternoon excursion from Cardiff.

The Norman invaders entered and conquered the southeastern area of Wales first. These three castles on this page are located in the Monnow River Valley of southeast Wales, very close to England.

Skenfrith Castle was one of the three castles in the Monnow River Valley in the southeast area of Wales built by the Norman Marcher Lords.	Grosmont Castle was another of the three Norman Castles built in the Monnow River Valley and takes it name from the French Gros Mont(Big Hill).
White Castle was another of the three Norman English Castles built in the Monnow River Valley.	White Castle was erected about 1180, with additions later in the thirteenth century.