A strange place to put a castle

Mention a castle, and most people have a mental picture - an imposing stone building of varying states of preservation, on a prominent site, with views of the surrounding land. It would probably not be tucked away in the middle of a wood. However, on my way to a football game in Buckley, I went to see one in just such a location, at Ewloe in Flintshire.

The castle was built by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last of the Welsh Princes of Wales, after he had reconquered this part of Wales from the Anglo-Norman Lords in 1257. It sits, conventionally in this respect, on a sandstone outcrop between two streams, which defend it from the north, east and west, even if the woods make it difficult to see anyone approaching.

The woods have not grown up round the castle - they were there when it was built, the Chester Plea Rolls of 1311 refer to a report sent to Edward II, advising that Llywelyn had captured Ewloe in 1257 and "built a castle in the wood". They now form part of Wepre Park, managed by Flintshire County Council, and are a Site of Special Scientific Interest, as semi ancient broadleaf woodland.

The Castle's main weakness lies to the south, as it is overlooked by higher ground - the land continues to rise behind the camera position.

Given this, it is not surprising that, unlike nearby Hawarden, it did not see action in 1276 when Edward I's armies drove Llywelyn back to Gwynedd Uwch Conwy (west of the River Conwy). Edward's forces had no need for it, and it was allowed to fall into ruin.

The castle is managed by CADW, who I have found to look after their sites well, but sometimes fall down on their signage. This was a case in point. The road was signposted in Ewloe village, and there was a helpful sign on the road to tell you that you were nearly there, but when it came to the footpath across a field that gives access to the site, the only sign was for the park, and as we have established, the castle is not visible for miles around.

Talking of signs, I spotted this one on a bench.

I think the left part is encouraging priority in using the bench to be given to people with restricted mobility, but the right defeats me.