Team Muz 24 castles of North Wales tour

Post by **Muzorewa** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 6:58 am

I have to admit that I really have had this one on the back-burner since 2008, awaiting suitable weather and timing. We got the Bongo specifically to watch some 24-hour sportscar racing in Europe and it served us well at Le Mans, the Nürburgring, Spa-Francorchamps and Zolder. Then I thought, instead of doing the 24 hours of Le Mans, how about inventing our own event and doing the “24 castles of North Wales”?

Now some of these castles are easy to get to. But some are a bit of a trek on foot, indeed a positive scramble in some cases. So with none of us being fitness fanatics it was with much trepidation that we embarked on this latest adventure. But I have to say that the views from the tops of some of the locations were stunning and it was no wonder they decided all those years ago to use such high ground to build defensive forts.

We’ve driven past many of these magnificent castles many times over the last few years but purposely not gone into them in order to hit them all in one go for this tour.

Our biggest challenge was to get into the medieval castle at Hawarden and also the new castle, formerly Broadlane Hall, as it’s all owned by the estate of former Prime Minister William Gladstone, and is still lived in by Gladstone’s great grandson, Sir William Gladstone. But if you ask politely….

Hawarden new castle taken from the old castle, with Blacon towers just over the border in the distance

Here’s the MasterPlan

We were also unsure if they had shops in Wales. Or would accept our English pounds instead of Euros

Anyway, back to the tour. Castle 1a. Hawarden old castle, Flintshire

Hawarden old castle, Flintshire

Hawarden castle garden, Flintshire

Castle 1b. Hawarden new castle, Flintshire

Hawarden new castle, Flintshire

Castle 2. Ewloe castle, Flintshire

Ewloe castle, Flintshire

Castle 3. Flint castle, Flintshire

Flint castle, Flintshire

Castle 4. Ruthin castle, Denbighshire which looks like and is a hotel....

....but dates back to the legend of King Arthur with notable owners including King Edward I, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I

Ruthin castle, Denbighshire

Castle 5. Denbigh castle, Denbighshire

Denbigh castle, Denbighshire

Castle 6. Gyrn castle, Flintshire. This is some rich geezer’s house

Castle 7. Rhuddlan castle, Denbighshire

Rhuddlan castle, Denbighshire

Rhuddlan castle with the bridges over the River Clwyd in the distance

Rhuddlan castle with Bodelwyddan church and Bodelwyddan castle in the distance

Rhuddlan castle, Denbighshire

Rhuddlan castle – the battle for Rhuddlan bridge!

Castle 8. Bodelwyddan castle, Denbighshire

Bodelwyddan castle, Denbighshire

Castle 9a. Gwrych castle, Conwy

Gwrych castle, Conwy

Castle 9b. Hên Wrych Hall tower, Conwy, once home to the poet Felicia Hemans....

....who wrote Casabianca (“The Boy Stood on the Burning Deck” and all that malarkey

)

Castle 10. Deganwy castle, Conwy

Deganwy castle, Conwy. Not much remains of this....

....but there are some good views out to Llandudno and the Great Orme

Castle 11. Conwy castle, Conwy

Conwy castle, Conwy

Wild-camp above Abergwyngregyn. Whilst the power lines spoil the view, they do confirm that they have electricity here now

Not the world’s most level camping pitch

I can’t remember what was said here but it did tickle Muzette

A quality repast in progress....

....courtesy of Lidl

Castle 12. Penrhyn castle, Gwynedd

Penrhyn castle, Gwynedd

The Grand Hall, Penrhyn castle

The Library, Penrhyn castle

The Drawing Room, Penrhyn castle

The Ebony Room, Penrhyn castle

The Dining Room, Penrhyn castle

The State Bedroom, Penrhyn castle

The Walled Garden, Penrhyn castle

Penrhyn castle

Wild strawberries, Penrhyn castle

Bluebells & wild garlic, Penrhyn castle

Penrhyn castle

Castle 13. Beaumaris castle, Isle of Anglesey

Beaumaris castle, Isle of Anglesey

Beaumaris castle, Isle of Anglesey – this gatehouse had a triple portcullis

Beaumaris castle, Isle of Anglesey

Beaumaris castle, Isle of Anglesey – A bridge to nowhere

Beaumaris castle, Isle of Anglesey

Beaumaris castle, Isle of Anglesey – A pigeon-scaring plastic raptor – with pigeons nesting on top

Beaumaris castle, Isle of Anglesey – Pigeon egg

Beaumaris castle, Isle of Anglesey – A very young pigeon

And so to lunch on a rainy Bank Holiday – the Tap & Spile, Bangor, Gwynedd

A fish finger & coleslaw stottie for Mrs Muz....

....and for me?...

....a fish finger & fish finger stottie

Castle 14. Caernarfon castle, Gwynedd

Caernarfon castle, Gwynedd

Castle 15. Dolbadarn castle, Gwynedd, viewed from Dinorwig

Dolbadarn castle, Gwynedd

Dolbadarn castle, Gwynedd. Bank Holiday weather

Porth Ysgaden wild-camp, Llŷn Peninsula

Porth Ysgaden, Llŷn Peninsula

We didn’t see William & Kate on Anglesey, but we got a wave from Will as he rescued someone at Whistling Sands

Porth Ysgaden, Llŷn Peninsula

Morning campers!

Porth Ysgaden, Llŷn Peninsula

Castle 16. Tre'r Ceiri Iron-Age hillfort, Gwynedd....

....right at the top of there....

....Muzette & I were yet to be convinced this was a good idea

A breather to see how Mrs Muz is doing....

....who’s checking how we are doing

Good views from here though

....all around the peninsula....

....you can kind of understand why they built this here.

Muzette tasting the clouds

One final scramble....

Dating from 78AD, this is one of the best preserved and most spectacular stone-built hillforts in Britain....

....The interior contains the remains of over 150 huts....

....which you can see within the ramparts on the Google satellite image

On our way down, and we notice the Bongo roof is now up – this can only signal one thing....

....Mrs Muz has cooked us a conqueror’s breakfast!

Castle 17. Criccieth castle, Gwynedd

Criccieth castle, Gwynedd

Criccieth

Cadwalader’s world-famous ice-cream

....Now if only we knew someone who liked ice-cream

One....

....two....

....three

Castle 18a. Deudraeth castle, Gwynedd – the original is merely a pile of stones in the Portmeirion woods

Castle 18b. Deudraeth castle, Gwynedd – a pretty hotel handy for visitors to Portmeirion

Deudraeth castle, Gwynedd

Castle 19. Harlech castle, Gwynedd

Harlech castle, Gwynedd

Castle 20. Castell y Bere, Gwynedd – another trek to the top of there

Castell y Bere, Gwynedd

I spy with my little eye, something beginning with “R”

Snowdonia National Park wild-camp

Snowdonia National Park

Fruit Shoot or Cider – which will it be?

Ah – another quality breakfast so we’re ready for the final push!

Castle 21. Dolwyddelan castle, Conwy

Dolwyddelan castle, Conwy

Looking south from the top of Dolwyddelan castle, Conwy

Looking north from the top of Dolwyddelan castle, Conwy

Castle 22. Castell Dinas Brân, Denbighshire. Right at the top of there, viewed from the east

....or this ascent from the west – excuse the haziness, this was taken from 4km away

Castell Dinas Brân, Denbighshire

Castell Dinas Brân, Denbighshire. Good views from up here though

Castell Dinas Brân, Denbighshire. Looking east along the river Dee

Thomas Telford’s Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on the Llangollen canal, from the old Dee bridge

Castle 23. Chirk castle, Wrexham. Only just in Wales at about 500 metres from the border

Chirk castle, Wrexham

Cromwell Hall, Chirk castle

The Saloon, Chirk castle

The Drawing Room, Chirk castle

The Long Gallery, Chirk castle

The Library, Chirk castle

The Bow Room, Chirk castle

Muzette on the Broadwood grand piano in the Bow Room, Chirk castle

Dress-up time, Chirk castle

Chirk castle

This is more like it – where’s the rotten tomatoes?! - Chirk castle

Chirk castle

Chirk castle gardens

Castle 24. Caergwrle castle, Flintshire

Caergwrle castle, Flintshire

So there you have it – another mission successfully accomplished!

There are more than this but there are only 24 hours in a day and I thought these were the best 24 to choose. The others may well follow in a sequel....

the laird · Post by **the laird** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 7:59 am

First class pics again mate.youre bongos served you well.what miles has it done now?

Post by **Muzorewa** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 8:08 am

335,000

kingbillybongo · Post by **kingbillybongo** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 8:43 am

Once again ,fantastic pics.wish I had the time to do this myself but at least I've got your pictorials so I don't completely miss out! Top class.

Northern Bongolow · Post by **Northern Bongolow** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 9:44 am

picture no35,
is that the rare welsh tree climbing sheep, if it is, amazing you caught it on film.
further on there is the more familiar 2 long 2 short legged sheep (a native to wales) that you caught rock face grazing.

thanks for sharing paul.

.

helen&tony · Post by **helen&tony** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 9:55 am

Hi
Great pictures, great breakfasts....but I like a bit o' Lorne Sausage with my bacon, eggs, sausages, mushrooms, kidneys and beans

AND....where can I get one of those magnetic lambkins like the "No. 6" stuck to the mountain....I'd love one for the 'fridge door!
Cheers
Helen

Post by **Muzorewa** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 10:21 am

Northern Bongolow wrote:picture no35, is that the rare welsh tree climbing sheep.

No Ady, it's the even rarer sheep-tree, captured on film by Muzette

Not ready for harvesting yet though

Post by **Bongoplod** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 11:55 pm

Again,WOW bloody WOW.

Brilliant photos as usual Paul,

So jealous as Im retired and cant find the time to do the tours you and team muz do

Brian

blobber · Post by **blobber** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 11:59 pm

Found this post really interesting. I used to be a sevice engineer covering this area and have driven past (or the sign posts) most of these castles but never had the time to visit the more obscure ones. It is really nice to see them close up,

thanks Team Muz.
It's hard nowadays to imagine Harlech castle was actually 'by the sea' in them long ago days, and the famous song was sung? by Lancastrians being sieged by the Yorks. (correct me if i'm wrong)

Post by **Muzorewa** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 9:53 am

blobber wrote:Found this post really interesting. I used to be a sevice engineer covering this area and have driven past (or the sign posts) most of these castles but never had the time to visit the more obscure ones. It is really nice to see them close up, thanks Team Muz.
It's hard nowadays to imagine Harlech castle was actually 'by the sea' in them long ago days, and the famous song was sung? by Lancastrians being sieged by the Yorks. (correct me if i'm wrong)

All apparently correct Alan. I did check with the mother-in-law as I was sure she would remember it, but not so

There was an outer wall and steps down to the sea so that supplies could be replenished during a siege - which is how they managed to go for seven years under siege.

When you look at the land though, it's pretty flat out to the sea so there didn't need to be much of a change to get that land. Times change, prior to that it was reckoned that the whole of what is now Cardigan Bay was the legendary Cantre'r Gwaelod, the drowned Lowland Hundred. We went in search of the evidence of this in one of our previous tours, details HERE

winchman · Post by **winchman** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:02 am

Wow!
I dont suppose you have the route as a word document? I fancy doing this my self

Post by **Muzorewa** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:48 am

winchman wrote:Wow!
I dont suppose you have the route as a word document? I fancy doing this my self

No, I use Google Maps - if you stick all the placemarks on in exactly the right places, then string them together in some semblance of a route - if you use a smartphone you can then use your GPS on the phone to track where you are on your map, this is really handy for the offroad sections on foot so you can check you're still heading the right way.

Most of the places are easy, you just navigate to the town in question and it's pretty obvious where you need to be from there although it's useful to have thought about where you might get a good photo from a distance, like the Conwy, Caernarfon, Dolbadarn, Harlech and Dinas Brân sites, and also what time of day (assuming it's sunny) would be best.

Deganwy is an odd one, you access it via a footpath between some houses on Maes-y-Castell. For Ewloe you have to know where to park but it is signposted. For Caergwrle the footpath starts by the war memorial, you can park in a pub carpark just down the road. For the iron-age hillfort you have to know what you're looking for although there is a layby right by the footpath to it but you can easily miss it, we did even though we were looking. It's on the B4417 about a mile SW of Llanaelhaearn, you can see the fort on the satellite view.

For Dinas Brân, the footpath we used starts at the junction of Wern Road and Panorama Walk. For Hawarden you need to speak to the estate office. And for Gyrn you just have to drive in boldly and claim to be lost tourists if challenged

If you're a member of National Trust and English Heritage, they're all free so your only cost is the diesel. Chirk and Penrhyn are NT, most of the rest are Cadw which is free for EH members

Armed with that, the opening times of the various places, and some potential wild-camping spots in mind, off you go!

Post by **Muzorewa** » Fri Jun 07, 2013 5:52 am

Well I wasn’t at all happy with the photos from Dolbadarn castle (just over halfway through the pics), trying to get a good picture in poor light and rain is never going to work. This was a real shame as I could see some potential there – so then I thought about having another look. I kept an eye on the weather for a nice sunny evening and decided to whip round there yesterday on my way home from work (yeah I know, Llanberis isn’t exactly on the normal route from Liverpool to Manchester

)

Northern Bongolow · Post by **Northern Bongolow** » Fri Jun 07, 2013 10:53 pm

as it says in your bottom of the page strap line.

winchman · Post by **winchman** » Sat Jun 08, 2013 6:59 am

Muzorewa wrote:
winchman wrote:Wow!
I dont suppose you have the route as a word document? I fancy doing this my self
No, I use Google Maps - if you stick all the placemarks on in exactly the right places, then string them together in some semblance of a route - if you use a smartphone you can then use your GPS on the phone to track where you are on your map, this is really handy for the offroad sections on foot so you can check you're still heading the right way.

Most of the places are easy, you just navigate to the town in question and it's pretty obvious where you need to be from there although it's useful to have thought about where you might get a good photo from a distance, like the Conwy, Caernarfon, Dolbadarn, Harlech and Dinas Brân sites, and also what time of day (assuming it's sunny) would be best.

Deganwy is an odd one, you access it via a footpath between some houses on Maes-y-Castell. For Ewloe you have to know where to park but it is signposted. For Caergwrle the footpath starts by the war memorial, you can park in a pub carpark just down the road. For the iron-age hillfort you have to know what you're looking for although there is a layby right by the footpath to it but you can easily miss it, we did even though we were looking. It's on the B4417 about a mile SW of Llanaelhaearn, you can see the fort on the satellite view.

For Dinas Brân, the footpath we used starts at the junction of Wern Road and Panorama Walk. For Hawarden you need to speak to the estate office. And for Gyrn you just have to drive in boldly and claim to be lost tourists if challenged

If you're a member of National Trust and English Heritage, they're all free so your only cost is the diesel. Chirk and Penrhyn are NT, most of the rest are Cadw which is free for EH members

Armed with that, the opening times of the various places, and some potential wild-camping spots in mind, off you go!

Thanks
I don't know when but its on my list, I love the area and wish we could live there

Team Muz 24 castles of North Wales tour

Team Muz 24 castles of North Wales tour

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