Written question WQ94302

As Visit Wales’ work in domestic and international markets prioritises promotion of our outstanding culture and heritage offer (alongside landscapes and adventure), stately homes and castles feature prominently in Visit Wales and Wales Cymru brand marketing activity.

As part of press, media and tour operator familiarisation visits hosted by Visit Wales, several groups of international journalists have visited places such as Plas Newydd in Llangollen, Plas Newydd on Anglesey, Tredegar House and Chirk Castle. These visits provide international exposure for these locations with the aim of encouraging people to visit.

A film and TV themed press trip organised by Visit Wales took place at the end of September 2024. Journalists visited the stately home and orangery at Margam Park as part of a film locations tour, and Tredegar House, Dyffryn Gardens and Penrhyn Castle were also promoted as film locations that the public can visit. A future press trip themed around the stately homes of Wales is planned for 2025 as part of VisitBritain’s Starring Great Britain campaign.

A range of Welsh stately homes have taken part in Cadw’s Open Doors programme, which encourages people to explore some of the country’s lesser-known sites, several of which are usually closed to the public. Funded and organised by Cadw, Open Doors is Wales’ annual contribution to the European Heritage Days initiative, which invites heritage organisations, private owners, local authorities and others to open their doors or offer activities to the public free of charge during September. This year, sites taking part included Erddig and Insole Court.