Castle Coch

This building is chiefly known as a romantic folly supposedly reproducing a small medieval Welsh chieftain's stronghold, built in the 1870s, for the 3rd Marques of Bute to a design by William Burges, and possessing the most remarkable interior decoration. However, it was built upon the remains of a genuine 13th century castle built in two stages. Evidence was found of the building having been deliberately slighted by mining.

The castle was probably founded by a Welsh lord in c1240-65 and had a round tower keep at the SW corner of a tiny D-shaped courtyard with a hall on the south side, all built of rough rubble sandstone from which the building took the name Castell Coch, or "Red Castle." It stands upon a platform commanding the gorge of the Taff and was protected towards the higher ground by a deep dry moat from the bottom of which the walls rise with a very broadly battered base. The keep contained vaulted rooms, and probably had a fourth storey and a conical roof like it has now. The walls are over 3.3m thick above the square battered base from which it rises with pyramidal spurs.

The two eastern towers, the square gatehouse between them, and the upper hall on the south side were superior ashlar faced buildings added slightly later, perhaps by Gilbert de Clare, who is likely to have taken over the castle in the 1270s or 1280s. These works were more damaged than the older part and not much survived of the towers above the rooms at courtyard level. The curtain wall also thickened at the second building period and now has two fighting galleries, a series of embrasures at courtyard level, and a roofed over wall walk open to the court on the inner side.

Raglan castle

One of the most splendid late medieval buildings in Britain, Raglan Castle was among the last of the 'true' castles to be built. This magnificent and extremely powerful looking structure dates from the mid 15^th century, and has a distinct French influence in both the design and architecture. It is thought likely that the site developed from much simpler origins, with perhaps a "motte and bailey " type fortification in the 11^th century, which then gave way to a family manor house until the late 14^th century. Soon after this time, Raglan came to William ap Thomas (through marriage), who had made a name for himself fighting with King Henry V in France, and it is mainly his remodelling of the property into such a palatial fortress that remains today.

Every aspect of the castle was built to impress, both socially and militarily to underline the power and influence held by, the now, Sir William. The main building attributed to him is the Great Tower (Keep), a self-contained and elaborate fortress, its grandeur somewhat diminished as a result of persistent, heavy battering during the Civil War when the top floor was demolished, and the walls partially collapsed. Only fragmentary evidence survives of the apron wall, originally containing six corner turrets, built by Sir William's son to further defend his father's Keep.

An exploration of Raglan requires plenty of time in which to appreciate the vast amount of detail amongst the many ruinous buildings, and the various architectural styles employed over the main building periods. When we last visited, the entire surface of the moat was blanketed with the most amazing display of water lilies which really brought life and colour to this delightful castle.

 Half day horse riding in the Brecon Beacons national park 

You will love this even if it hurts a little, you do not need experience. We will ride for 2 1/2 hours on mountain tracks, small country lanes and a river. the views are ore some.  If you wish not to do it then you can walk around Brecon Town.

    

SNOWDONIA NATIONAL PARK

Eryri or the Snowdonia National Park was designated a National park in 1951, the third National Park to be created in England and Wales under the 1949 National Parks and Access to the countryside Act. It is the second largest National park in England and Wales, covering some 2,171 square kilometres (838 square miles) of north west Wales, and including the Carneddau, and Glyderau mountain ranges as well as the Highest mountain in England and Wales (1085m/3560ft)- Yr Wyddfa (the Tomb in welsh), or Snowdon from which the Park takes its (english) name. The welsh name Eryri means 'place of the eagles'.

  

Eryri contains not only some of the most beautiful scenery in Britain but also contains a variety of landscapes, and habitats for animals, birds and plants; from 23 miles (37km) of coastline with sand dunes, estuaries; to glacial valleys, the remnants of broad -leaved woodlands of oak, ash, rowan and hazel that once covered the mountain slopes, lakes, streams and open mountains. There are more National Nature reserves in Eryri than any other National Park in Britain and it is home to many nationally and internationally rare species such as the Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, and the Snowdon Lily (Lloydia Serotina) an arctic/alpine plant only present in the park, and the beautiful rainbow coloured snowdon Beetle (chrysolina cerealis)found only around Yr Wyddfa.

 

THE COTSWOLDS

 

The Cotswolds is an area of England about the size of greater Tokyo.
Popular with both the English themselves and visitors from all over the world, the Cotswolds are well-known for gentle hillsides (‘wolds’), sleepy villages and for being so ‘typically English’.

There are famous cities such as Bath, well-known beautiful towns like Cheltenham and hundreds of delightful villages such as Burford and Castle Combe. Above all, the local honey-coloured limestone, used for everything from the stone floors in the houses to the tiles on the roof, has ensured that the area has a magical uniformity of architecture.

While in the Cotswolds you will visit Gloucester Cathedral, Burford, Stow on the wold, Bath and Stonehenge
    

  Gloucester Cathedral

You will see ‘Drystone walls’ everywhere in the fields. Many were built in the 18th and 19th centuries, a matter of considerable skill as there is no cement to hold the walls together. They represent an important historical landscape and a major conservation feature – and are of course still used by farmers to enclose sheep and cattle.

During the 13-15th centuries, the medieval period, the native Cotswold sheep were famous throughout Europe for their heavy fleeces and high quality of wool. Cotswold wool commanded a high price and the wealth generated by the wool trade enabled wealthy traders to leave their mark by building fine houses and wonderful churches, known as “wool churches”. Even today, the sight of sheep on the hillside is still one of the classic Cotswold images.

Not all villages are well known, and today many still hold their secrets. Amongst the treasures to be found are perhaps a hidden village off the beaten track, perhaps Painswick, Biddestone, Winchcombe or Woodstock, or an unspoilt historic church, such as at Northleach often called the “Cathedral of the Cotswolds” – open the church door and you will discover a hidden world of history.

Today, the larger market towns and villages of the Cotswolds are famous for their shops, such as Stow-on-the-Wold, Cirencester, Chipping Norton and Tetbury.

 

BATH

     

              There is plenty to do here. Check out these links to help you. www.visitbath.co.uk     www.bath.co.uk