The majestic gatehouse at Penrhyn gives just a hint of the grandeur that lies inside. It forms the entry through a seven-mile wall that surrounds the estate. After entering we drove through the beautiful grounds until we came within sight of the awesome neo-Norman or neo-Gothic styled castle. The vivid red ivy adorning the side of the castle accentuated the sight. This sumptuously appointed building is actually the folly of the wealthy Richard Pennant, who became the first Baron Penrhyn. The castle was built between 1820 and 1845 with the huge profits from Welsh slate mined from the nearby quarries. It is not a castle in the historic sense because it was not built for a defensive purpose but rather to opulently display excessive wealth and it was designed merely to impress.

The castle is two hundred yards long taking up more than one acre of space. Exterior and interior are both magnificent. The forty-five acres of grounds include parkland, wooded walks and a Victorian walled garden with many exotic trees and shrubs. The use of hand-carved slate is apparent throughout the interior of the castle. There are entwined dolphin supports for the large side table in the Great Hall, a full-sized billiard table in the library, even a slate bed weighing over one ton. There is a great staircase that is made entirely of stone, carved columns and arches that took ten years to complete.

Views of Snowdonia and the Menai Strait can be seen from the grounds of the castle. It is a lovely place to visit and see the way the very wealthy barons lived. They do not allow photographs of the interior of this castle.