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.
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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.
The 13th century equivalent of this.
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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?
Roy?
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Everyone's favourite, I think.
Roy.
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Damn, stupid slow internet conection.
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Bamburgh
2nd would be Alnwick,
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As I went to school next door
Roy
Favourite castle? Aren't they all much the same? (apart from Roy of course)
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
.
I'm a ruins man, myself.
Fountains Abbey, if it's allowed in the rules.
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Beaumaris is stunning as a projection of force, but Dunnottar beats it on location I think:
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Corfe Castle. Stunning position when viewed from high up.
Near the Square and Compass too 🙂
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Carreg Cennen
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beaumaris, a great castle, falls short IMHO as it was never finished.
Warkworth ain't bad either.
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Favourite castle? Aren't they all much the same?
Not really no.
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)
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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 🙂
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went to harlech castle on the way back from the dyfi, that was great too although we nearly got blown off the top
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bearnecessities - MemberI'm a ruins man, myself.
Likewise, Rievaulx Abbey was always one of my favourites.
And then there's Dunstanburgh.
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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.
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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.
Are you a wizard?
Donnottar castle too, mates got married there 😀
Not exactly. But when i play with my 'wand' it's magic.
Maybe not the most attractive of castles but stunning location, Eilean Donan Castle (that one from Highlander)
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Takeshi's
Pretty fond of Vianden castle
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Not in Leeds
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Dunluce for me
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.
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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
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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. 😉
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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.
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Hermitage uncompromising built for fighting in a violent place at a very violent time.
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.
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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]
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
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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
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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
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Manorbier castle.. I even got married there
love Bamburgh for the memories and the surrounding coastline.
always think of Bodiam Castle too, the photo opportunities are great
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Neuschwanstein?
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I HAVE THE POWER!!!
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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
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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!
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Always impressed by the setting and rugged beauty of Corgarff -
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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.
More votes for the usual Northumberland suspects; Bamburgh, Alnwick and Dunstanburgh.
However loved Manorbier in Pembrokeshire as well.
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