Exploring the world, one place at a time
When I heard Hay Castle was opening its doors to the public for the first time in its history last May, it went straight to the top of my 'must visit' list. So while planning my annual new year's pilgrimmage to Hay-on-Wye to stock up on books, I made sure to add a private tour... Continue Reading →
Back in the autumn, I ventured off on a couple of socially-distanced day trips, the first of which was to one of the most impressive and unusual castles in south-east Wales. Raglan Castle in Monmouthshire dates back to the 15th century when Sir William ap Thomas, also known as the Blue Knight of Gwent, set... Continue Reading →
Looking for places to stop on my drive back to Cardiff at the end of my 2019 north Wales road trip, I came upon Powis Castle, a National Trust property just outside Welshpool in mid Wales. It's an enormous castle with stately interiors and a glorious garden, and as it was a third of the... Continue Reading →
Driving into the north Wales market town of Conwy is quite a surreal and unnerving experience, for the town is surrounded by a 1.3km unbroken ring of medieval stone walls, and to get into the town, I had to drive through a narrow gateway. It was an impressive and disorientating welcome to one of the... Continue Reading →
Regular readers of my blog will know that I unashamedly love a good castle, and for the longest time, I've been dying to tick off north Wales's big four: Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech. I visited Caernarfon years ago (great fun), have driven past Harlech and Conwy, but the one I was most keen to... Continue Reading →
Of all the many castles I've visited (and let's face it, there've been a few!), the one I have the fondest memories of is Carreg Cennen. Perched atop an enormously tall limestone crag on the edge of the Brecon Beacons in south-west Wales, the castle is an impressive and unforgettable sight. I first remember visiting... Continue Reading →
Wales's biggest castle and the second largest in the UK (after Windsor), Caerphilly Castle is a massive stone fortress surrounded by a series of lakes. Built between 1268 and 1271 by Gilbert de Clare, the Earl of Hertford and Gloucester, the castle was designed to defend south Wales against the expansion of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, prince of... Continue Reading →
Little Old World 