Your favourite cast...
 

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[Closed] Your favourite castle?

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We’re off on holiday to North Wales next week, so armed with our English Heritage cards we can get into the Welsh castles for nowt! This has got me thinking about my favourite castle.

After careful consideration I think it has to be Beaumaris, for its sheer brutal military presence.

[img] [/img]

Not a castle to be messed with. There are a hundred ways to end up dead before you even get to the door, and a hundred more if you manage to get through. An untouchable projection of force.

The 13th century equivalent of this.

[img] [/img]

I also like Bodrum because it is in a beautiful setting and Dover because it looks so grand that Hitler insisted that it wasn’t damaged during the war, a foolish decision tactically as a good portion of Royal Navy intelligence was hiding in it with binoculars, radios and maps, plotting and scheming.

What’s your favourite and why?


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:12 am
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Roy?


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:15 am
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[img] [/img]
Everyone's favourite, I think.


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:15 am
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Roy.
[img] [/img]

Damn, stupid slow internet conection.


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:17 am
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[img] [/img]
Bamburgh
2nd would be Alnwick,
[img] [/img]
As I went to school next door


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:17 am
 Pook
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Roy


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:18 am
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Favourite castle? Aren't they all much the same? (apart from Roy of course)


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:18 am
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I used to get into beaumaris for free as i lived nearby

trully awesome place and a very clever design using high tide as the only way in

.


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:20 am
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I'm a ruins man, myself.

Fountains Abbey, if it's allowed in the rules.

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:23 am
 LoCo
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Beaumaris is stunning as a projection of force, but Dunnottar beats it on location I think:

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:29 am
 Yak
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Corfe Castle. Stunning position when viewed from high up.
Near the Square and Compass too 🙂

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Posted : 20/05/2014 11:32 am
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Carreg Cennen

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beaumaris, a great castle, falls short IMHO as it was never finished.


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:33 am
 Drac
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Warkworth ain't bad either.

[img] [/img]

Favourite castle? Aren't they all much the same?

Not really no.


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:35 am
 gazc
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since i see this everyday (view when i turn my head to the right) it could be one mine. sadly most of the actual castle/walls demolished by the victorians when they ploughed the trainline through... (the castle keep in newcastle)

[img] [/img]

bamburgh is probably my favorite although never been inside, just like looking at it from the beach/whilst eating our dinner in the camper at sunset 🙂

[img] [/img]

went to harlech castle on the way back from the dyfi, that was great too although we nearly got blown off the top

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:35 am
 sbob
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bearnecessities - Member

I'm a ruins man, myself.

Likewise, Rievaulx Abbey was always one of my favourites.


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:37 am
 Drac
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And then there's Dunstanburgh.

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:37 am
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Durham.

Because I lived in it for a year, ate in the great hall for 3 years, and had the best laughs of my life in and around it.

[img] [/img]

That was practically my front door. In, up the stairs, i had a room on the back side overlooking the River Wear. With access to the roof for [s]sunbathing[/s] fire escaping.


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:41 am
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Are you a wizard?


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:43 am
 LoCo
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Donnottar castle too, mates got married there 😀


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:43 am
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Not exactly. But when i play with my 'wand' it's magic.


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:44 am
 scud
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Maybe not the most attractive of castles but stunning location, Eilean Donan Castle (that one from Highlander)

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Posted : 20/05/2014 11:45 am
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Takeshi's


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:48 am
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Pretty fond of Vianden castle

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Posted : 20/05/2014 11:51 am
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Not in Leeds

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Posted : 20/05/2014 11:51 am
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[img] [/img]

Dunluce for me


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:54 am
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Ooh, top thread as I love castles and all the history etc associated with them.

Not sure of my favourite but I know Krak des Chevaliers in Syria is on my bucket list. Have always been fascinated by the Crusades hence this has to be up there.

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:55 am
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Cliffe Castle

http://www.bradfordmuseums.org/venues/CliffeCastle/

I've been going there since infant school - its barmy and I love it


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 11:58 am
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[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 12:05 pm
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@ theotherjonv

Because I lived in it for a year, ate in the great hall for 3 years, and had the best laughs of my life in and around it.

Bet you still did most of your serious drinking in Cuth's, though. 😉


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 12:06 pm
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[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 12:09 pm
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+1 for carreg cennen.
Couldn't believe what a great place it was after stumbling across it on a drive out. Kids loved the cave.


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 12:13 pm
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[img] [/img]

Hermitage uncompromising built for fighting in a violent place at a very violent time.


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 12:14 pm
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I like kilchurn and carnasserie mainly because they're always empty and my dad used to let us run around shooting each other with home made bows and soft arrows.


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 12:14 pm
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[img] [/img]

Fort George, nr Inverness. Never invaded, and still in use. A great visit if you are up there. Just don't expect the wife and daughter's to be quite as amazed by the scale of it...
[sweeping generalisation] there's nae shiny baubles to look at [/sweeping generalisation]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 12:17 pm
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For promoting the idea that you don#t need too may walls when building a castle - Tantallon
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If you're on an island, why not take advantage of the self-cleaning moat facilities offered by the tides - Kisimul
[img] http://www.visitscotland.com/cms-images/2x1/about/nature-geography/coasts-islands/kisimul-castle-barra [/img]

Castle Stalker - a room with a view
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And if you can't decise whether you need a castle or a ship - Blackness Castle
[img] https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRyctnEF8MIcnUa19AVbGPGj919NfujD6KoymVz4D6X6DuUHzte [/img]
Don't really know what to say - Kelburn Castle
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Not really a castle, more of a palace, but a favourite because it was a youth hostel so £15 or so a night. Known as the Castle of Spite, it was built by the Widow of a Duke of Sutherland following a dispute over his will. the clock tower has clocks on 3 faces, not the one facing Sutherland - she wouldn't give them the time of day. Sadly looks like it became too expensive for the SYHA to maintain and is now closed with no plans to reopen - Carbisdale
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 12:20 pm
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Manorbier castle.. I even got married there


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 12:21 pm
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love Bamburgh for the memories and the surrounding coastline.

always think of Bodiam Castle too, the photo opportunities are great

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 12:26 pm
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 gazc
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I HAVE THE POWER!!!

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Posted : 20/05/2014 12:27 pm
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Not much to look at, but an amazing history. Built by Henry VIII and used right up to and including WWII.

Hurst Castle
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 12:40 pm
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Got to go local - Dumbarton Castle:

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Also, Auchendennan House - not quite a castle, but pretty cool. I got married here!

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 1:11 pm
 kcal
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Always impressed by the setting and rugged beauty of Corgarff -
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Posted : 20/05/2014 1:15 pm
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Bet you still did most of your serious drinking in Cuth's, though

Did I shite!

When i was there, the Undercroft was the place to be. Although, with its limited opening hours, most proper evenings started straight after Castle tea with a trip to the back room of the Shakey (when it was the back room, not the new back room, I mean the middle room now)

And away trips were almost always to either Mary's or Trevs; before they went mixed, that was the place to go to have no success at all with girls.


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 1:21 pm
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More votes for the usual Northumberland suspects; Bamburgh, Alnwick and Dunstanburgh.

However loved Manorbier in Pembrokeshire as well.

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 1:22 pm
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Nothing from Disney yet? 🙁

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Posted : 20/05/2014 1:23 pm
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[img] http://www.maritimephotographic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Horse-Sands-Fort-in-the-Solent.jp g" target="_blank">http://www.maritimephotographic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Horse-Sands-Fort-in-the-Solent.jp g"/> &h=433&w=650&zc=1&q=92[/img]

Solent forts, along with Hurst Castle.

Bit of history here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/hampshire/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8340000/8340239.stm


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 1:28 pm
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Caerphilly Castle, it's massive and has a leaning tower
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Castle Coch not really a proper castle, but it looks good and has some great mtbing in it's grounds, they even held an XC race there once.

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 1:37 pm
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Barbara Windsor


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 1:52 pm
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Goodrich

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Posted : 20/05/2014 1:52 pm
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[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 1:58 pm
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More a tower but still - it's my Gran's house

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 2:04 pm
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Bamburgh for me, but always been fascinated by Crac de Chevaliers (sp?)


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 2:08 pm
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You need to look here [url= http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/?lang=en ]Cadw[/url]

Cadw is the Welsh Government’s historic environment service working for an accessible and well-protected historic environment for Wales.

and because everyday is a skool day Cadw is a Welsh word meaning ‘to keep’ or ‘to protect’.

and for me anything in Wales is brilliant


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 2:30 pm
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Carrisbrooke - projecting bastions are where it's at!

[img] [/img]

I've got a massive soft spot for Pendennis too

[img] http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/content/properties/pendennis-castle/portico/pendennis-castle-and-headland [/img]

Both of them were kept on the cutting edge of military tech for years.

I believe Pendennis had nuclear artillery capable of reaching France at one point (but can't find anything online to back that up)


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 2:38 pm
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@ theotherjonv

You're dating yourself there!

Mary's was still segregated when I was there (had a bit of luck hunting in that particular environment as it goes), but Trev's was co-ed by that time!

Most of the Castle rahs I knew used to have a couple in the Castle bar then come down the Bailey for some proper high jinks in Cuth's when they'd got some dutch courage 😀


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 2:40 pm
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Hmmm, you're dating yourself by describing me as a Castle rah. I was there in the first year of mixed intake, and castle was so unpopular i was assigned it in place of my first choice. Granted, it got steadily more Rah through the 3 years I was there, but if you call me that again, i'll take great offence.

And the place for a proper session was the Catholic chaplaincy (not a catholic, not even religious, but father jess was always up for a non-denominational lock in)


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 2:45 pm
 dti
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you are all wrong,

the correct answer is castell y bere,

http://www.castlewales.com/cybere.html


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 2:47 pm
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Harlech's got stature

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 2:49 pm
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Blast from my childhood, I watched some shite as a loon.

Or
Slains castle

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 2:50 pm
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@ theotherjonv.

Fair enough - at least you didn't go to Hatfield.

I ended up at Cuth's having cocked up my application and filled in an open application by mistake - turned out OK - great three years.

Spending my time studying something I was really quite interested in, boozing, playing sport and occasionally a bit of shagging.

If I had my time again..............


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 3:03 pm
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Beaumaris is stunning as a projection of force, but Dunnottar beats it on location I think:

I've got a soft spot for Dunottar, too, coz it's my family's ancestral gaff!

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 3:05 pm
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[img] ?m=1324182931[/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 3:07 pm
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Mary's or Trevs; before they went mixed, that was the place to go to have no success at all with girls.

if you went to Castle it's no surprise - you wouldn't know what to do with one anyway 😀

[Hild Beder here]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 3:08 pm
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Two pages and no one has mentioned:
[img] ?1254766774[/img]

Loads of palmerston follies round our way, some still in some sort of military use and others are council depot, library/community centre, garden centre, reclamation yard and so on...
Best kept one open to public (some open days and a few businesses including a bike/fitness coaching one) near us is Crownhill Fort:
[img] [/img]

Of course folklore fans and scientologists will love Tntagel Castle which is pretty lovely if not a lot of the actual castle left!
[img] [/img]

My favourite overall is [url= http://www.fort-liberia.com/ ]Fort Libéria, in Villefranche-en-Conflent, Pyrenees. [/url]
[img] [/img]
It is sooooo cool, it even has an underground staircase all the way back down into the fortified town. And you can get to it on the coolest mountain railway EVER.


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 3:19 pm
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w@nker

{directed at Brakes}


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 3:20 pm
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dannyh, brakes, theotherjonv - Castle, Hild/Bede and Cuth's and you're arguing about who's the rah? Surely all of you are appearing somewhere on [url= http://lookatmy****ingredtrousers.blogspot.co.uk/ ]here[/url]?

I was one of the plebs from up the hill


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 3:50 pm
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I was one of the plebs from up the hill

Oh, one of [i]them[/i]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 4:08 pm
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@ brakes

I actually meant to apply to Hild Bede, but I was such a snot-nosed halfwit at that point in my life I managed to put an open application in by mistake.

I actually rocked up to Hild Bede on my first day to find I wasn't meant to be there(!)

In the end it didn't make an awful lot of difference to my three years.........


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 4:10 pm
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I didn't realise you had to select a college either and ended up at Hild Bede - maybe I got your place.
I respect anyone who went to Durham, unless you went to the famous Hatfield college of course.


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 4:16 pm
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At least we can agree that NO-ONE likes Hatfield(!)


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 4:21 pm
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About to graduate from Collingwood! Durham wasn't originally my first choice so I just copied a friend's choice of college which was lazy but it's worked out ok. Often regret passing up the opportunity to live with wizards etc though.

Re castles, I like this one. Less is more.

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8460/8067367645_91c2d6863b_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8460/8067367645_91c2d6863b_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/dhTnkB ]Ardvreck Castle, Loch Assynt[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/47117548@N07/ ]Asher H[/url], on Flickr


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 4:28 pm
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Not a castle to be messed with. There are a hundred ways to end up dead before you even get to the door, and a hundred more if you manage to get through. An untouchable projection of force.

[Bill Bailey] The week point in castle's defences though is the gift shop, you just have to distract the old lady behind the till and you're in [/Bill Bailey]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 4:40 pm
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Some great examples on this thread.
Carcassonne is pretty amazing, not so much a castle as an entire fortified town - even if it was restored with debatable historical accuracy.

[img] [/img]

When I was a kid, we used to spend Easter hols in Snowdonia, and for sheer, running around finding odd passages and staircases and getting lost Caernarfon was hard to beat.

[img] [/img]

Friends have just returned from India, and some of the castles / fortresses there sound astonishing. I want to go.


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 4:55 pm
 JoeG
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[url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pfalzgrafenstein_Castle ]Burg Pfalzgrafenstein[/url]

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 4:57 pm
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And away trips were almost always to either Mary's or Trevs;

Mary's was full of some of the most awful looking women I've ever met. And I had a giant rug from Trevs's front entrance way, liberated in my final year.

I think I was about 8 when they started teaching us castles at school, from the basic motte and bailey, through to the concentric stuff built by Edward II. Exactly the kind of history you want as an 8 year old!

Beaumaris is an absolute beauty.
[img] https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTbNwsPOPCkoeMPfPPYLkfU_WCysQP-TLEDG17t9Z4s42acO3bB [/img]
Caernarfon is also pretty awesome.

I always had a soft spot for Conwy, especially the way they planned ahead so the M56 could go past it:
[img] https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRx4mYgcb8Y7BSq5_1RQHtjfPZsOTgIyMYX2HIJKOdQpliZJu1Dcg [/img]

Jodhpur is pretty impressive:
[img] https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQFieK99PKgiJIitcPWqFvi52nCqSgSjt5izXIqPDYpW4zC2NexfA [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 5:08 pm
 ekul
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[img] http://lyndesfarnetheatreprojects.wordpress.com/why-lyndesfarne/ [/img]

Lindisfarne for me, the only exciting part of being dragged around Northumbria by my parents as a young lad


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 5:14 pm
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Once, when the World was a safer place, I spent a day exploring this place.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 5:15 pm
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Norwich

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 5:18 pm
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Skipton, its not massively impressive, but exactly what I imagined a castle should be like when I was a kid. And it's handy for the shops.


 
Posted : 20/05/2014 5:39 pm
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