Welsh border castle ranked in top 10 best National Trust properties by The Telegraph

A castle near the Welsh border with Shropshire has been ranked as the sixth best National Trust property by a national newspaper.

One local landmark has been included on The Telegraph’s newly updated list of the top 20 National Trust sites across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The 13th‑century fortress stands alongside some of the Trust’s most celebrated houses, gardens and historic estates, placing it firmly among the organisation’s elite destinations.

While the top spot went to the “glorious” Mottisford Abbey in Hampshire, Chirk Castle placed sixth on the ranking - just behind the Victorian pleasure palace of Cragside in Northumberland.

Construction of Chirk Castle began around 1295 during the reign of Edward I, part of the king’s campaign to subdue the last princes of Wales.

Built on a rocky outcrop above the meeting point of the Rivers Dee and Ceiriog, its squat drum towers and imposing silhouette were intended as a stark symbol of English power in contested lands.

Chirk remains the last castle of this period still lived in today, giving it a rare continuity of occupation across more than 700 years.

In 1595, the castle was purchased by Sir Thomas Myddelton - grocer, sugar trader and privateer - and it remained in the Myddelton family for centuries. Their influence is visible throughout the interiors, which blend medieval austerity with later grandeur.

The Telegraph’s full list is available to view online at telegraph.co.uk