Tuesday, 29 June 2010

Harlech Castle

One last topic from last years holiday in Wales and this is Harlech Castle!


I've been past Harlech Castle many many times (on train, car and foot) and seen it from the shores of the Llyn Peninsula across the bay, but I had never actually been in it until last year and I was surprised to discover how much of the castle is actually remaining. The photo above shows the twin gate towers.

The walls are still strong enough to be walked...


and this is the view from the top of the tower.



Its elevated position makes it very defendable! This is the northern edge of Harlech. The units with skylights are on a new industrial estate and I think that the white building across the road is part of the local secondary school. The loop of road in front of it is definitely a bus stop; marked with the words SAFLE BWS.

The sports field has rugby posts (what else?!) and there is the inevitable caravan park alongside the far edge.

Spot the train in the station? It's heading north towards Porthmadog, then down the Llyn Peninsula (seen across the bay) to Criccieth and the end of the line in Pwllheli.

Good view, fascinating history; Harlech Castle was definitely more interesting than I expected it to be :)

6 comments:

  1. Ooooo...a castle! I always think that about them even though I've seen tons. :)

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  2. Now that's a castle, just like in the story books. It must have been a fierce, cold place way back when.

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  3. This is an amazing post!!

    I went to Wales a long, long time ago and this reminds me of the trip - thank you for sharing this with us.

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  4. I visited a few years ago and will never forget our visit to this amazing castle.

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  5. This was a wonderful peek into the distant past. I loved the 'front' view of the castle - although it was apparent from here that this is now a castle shell, it still bears a silent promise of holding a lot more within! I'm fascinated by the stone work of these ancient walls. The view from the top is beautiful (all the way to the coast!) and, yes, I spotted the train ;)

    Thank you so much for sharing this, H!!!

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