I have just added this to the map of places to fly your drone at Drone Scene:
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
The originator declared that this location was not inside a Flight Restriction Zone at the time of being flown on 02/03/2026. 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.
