Brees Blog

Cliff face

This is the sliver of land going from the natural bridge out to the actual worms head, which is the last piece of land visible. If you fell in the water, it would be a long swim back to the mainland.

View Back to Worms Back

View from Worm's Head to Rhosilli

Worm's Head View out the Sea

North America just a few more miles that way.

Jeb on Worm's Head

Rhosilli Cliffs and Worm's Head

Caerphilly Castle

Approach to Caerphilly Castle

I didn't think the slope up to the castle was that steep until I tried to walk up it and nearly fell several times.

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.