Wales: Harlech Castle

While in Wales I got to choose to visit another Castle - this time Harlech Castle.  I especially wanted to visit this castle due to its links to King Henry V who I dressed up as for the 2012 Sasha Festival in Stratford Upon Avon .  This Castle was recaputred by the English in 1409 under the command of Harry of Monmout, the future King Henry V and Victor of Agincourt.  It was built by King Edward I with work starting on it in 1283.  It was originally next to the sea, but it now lies on a cliff face inland due to the changes in geology of the coast.  Funny though King Edward I never lived in this castle.  Fancy having a castle built and not living in it.  If I built a castle I would want to live in it!  King Edward's master mason and military engineer, James of St George and his wife Ambrosia lived in the castle instead.

Later on Owain Glyndwr held Harlech as his royal court for four years from 1404.  He was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welseman to hold the title Prince of Wales.  He instigated a very fierce and long-running revolt against the English rule of Wales, but was unsuccessful.   This is a fascinating story in itself!

Anyway on to the castle.

Most impressive.

Lots of nooks and crannies to climb and explore and get close to.

I love exploring castles, there is a certain atmosphere and mystery about them.

What is in here?

Not a lot, just a hollowed out area in the walls...perhaps partially eroded away?

You can see the ocean from the grounds.

Impressive towers on each corner and two rings of walls.

Lots and lots of steps to climb up to the top!

My little legs were aching by the time I got to the top, but I didn't let on I was a bit tired!

This looks like prison bars, but it is to protect people from falling off where walls and floors have worn away.

Finally we got up to the ramparts and the view was pretty impressive!

Isn't this amazing?

Here I am - pretty cool huh?

On the way up looking at what would have been one of the floors - that is why there is a fireplace that seems to be half way up the walls...originally there would have been a wooden floor, but it has of course long since rotted away.

Not sure what these were...I wondered if they used them for canon balls?  But they might also have been part of the castle itself.

View of the castle while walking around the ramparts.

It would have given such a good vantage point for the knights who may have defended the castle from intruders.  You can see that the castle would have been impregnable from almost any angle.

Looking out through the protective rail....

What can I see?  Something strange that is for sure.

Is that an animal up there? 

Looking down where the boulders and other remains are.

Down in the dungeons...uh oh...

Help let me out!

I feel so small behind these bars...

I am 'King of the Castle'...

Hello!  Down there...

How are you all doing? 

Bye for now, hope you enjoyed seeing the castle with me..  

Wales: Aberystwth Castle & A Train

Guess where I have been?

Wales!  Here I am at Aberystwth Castle...although I am not quite sure how to say it!  This amazing castle must have been quite a sight in its day, but it is very decayed and in ruins now.  Still great fun to explore though.

Situated right on the waters edge on the hill you can see that it must have been a great vantage point to keep an eye out for enemy raiders.  Of course the closeness to the sea must have been part of the cause of the decay - pounding sea, salt, and winds all adding to the process.

I sit on the cannon and imagine the power it must have had

The weather was perfect, even though the day started out raining...hence the gumboots/Wellington boots.

I managed to do some climbing which of course I love.  

A great way to explore the nooks and crannies.

Higher and higher I climb.

The sign was in both Welsh and English...pity Emrys and James weren't with me, they could have explained what it said...and even spoken some Welsh to me.  The sign was very worn so it was difficult to read.

Some more climbing to get to the top.

Walking through corridors of the castle and imagining how it must have been hundreds of years ago when it was first built.

I think it must have been quite a cold place, especially in the winter when the winds were howling in off the sea.

Contemplating as I go...

The remains of one of the majestic towers behind me, with the sea behind that.

Striking a pose.

Before long we had to make our way back to the train station as we had come to Aberystwth on the train from Devils Bridge.

Before we hoped on the train at Devils Bridge

I should have bought my train drivers outfit with me!  If only I'd known...

Sitting on the train....

It was quite packed and I would have liked a window view...

Getting a cuddle from 'Dad'.

Yeah, got a chance to look out the window, but not until we got to the station....fortunately on our way home I did get to sit by the window.

Approaching the station.

Station sign.

Getting off the train.

A picture of the engine.

Some views of the valley on our way back to Devils Bridge

It was absolutely beautiful.

A very enjoyable and fun day out...I LOVE castles AND trains!