Dry Moat at Caerphilly Castle 

Dry Moat at Caerphilly Castle 

Caerphilly Castle

Built in the 13th Century, Caerphilly castle was a "revolutionary masterpiece of military planning" with regards to it's size (still the 2nd largest in Britian) and it's large-scale use of water and wall defence. This was probably THE most interesting castles I visited.

 

Caerphilly Castle Outer Wall

Once you pass through the initial small guard house and cross a small moat, you get to the outer wall, where you experience another drawbridge with a deep (but waterless) hole. Notice on the wall walk there are rectangular holes at every guard turret. These were covered with wood planks that would be removed as you retreated making it difficult for your pursuers to follow you, lest they fall into a deep hole without an exit.

 

Caerphilly Castle from Guardhouse Tower

This is a view of the inner wall and moat (the thrid moat and drawbridge you have to cross) approaching the main entrance.

 

Caerphilly Castle 

Crossing the Inner Drawbridge

Crossing the 3rd drawbridge approaching the main guardhouse inside the inner wall.

 

Caerphilly Castle Main Entrance

First, just to get to the main entrance, you have to pass through 2 different guard houses and cross two separate moats (with draw bridges). The main guardhouse has a sally-port setup whereby there are 2-3 different doors. They raise one, let you in and close it behind you. There, you are interrogated with guards watching through small arrow slits in the walls and through holes in the ceiling. If allowed, you then pass through the other two gates in similar fashion. This place must have been extremely secure.

 

Caerphilly Castle Arrow Slit

A view of the arrow slit as you enter the main door. You can also see the track into which the first of the large wooden doors would be raised and lowered.

 

Caerphilly Castle Yard 

Caerphilly Castle Great Hall 

Caerphilly Castle Edward II Carving 

Caerphilly Castle Arrow Slit 

Caerphilly Castle with Town Beyond

Inside the inner wall, but still not inside the castle ward, looking across the lake/moat at the town of Caerphilly.

 

Careleon Town 

Careleon Town 

Careleon Town 

Careleon Town 

Careleon Roman Amphitheater

Caerleon was originally a Roman garrison when the Roman Army first arrived in Britian. Given the proximity to the sea, this turned into a rather large town (at the time). This is what remains of a Roman Amphitheater.

 

Careleon Roman Barracks Remains

These are the original foundations of the barracks. It's hard to see without someone pointing it out to you but there was functioning plumbing in most of the buildings. It's amazing the think about what happenned in this area sooooo many years ago.

 

Country Roads near Careleon

I did a bit of hiking (rambling) around the countryside near Caerleon. The trails crossed hills and dales and seemed mainly to be on private property. When you came up to a fence, there was usually some sort of animal-proof ladder with which to cross. I ended up getting lost and wandering through fields for an hour or so, but still managed to have a good time. I crossed over and walked down several country roads and they were definately built in a different age. This one is barely one lane wide and if two cars met, one would have to back up to one of the slightly wider spaces cut into the fields for that purpose.

 

Country Roads around Careleon 

Rambling Path

An example of a setup to allow hikers to cross fences while keeping animals on their side. This field was essentially someone's (large) front yard and a few dogs made it out to greet me.

 

Billy Goat 

Door in Kidwelly