29 May 2006
The Castle Challenge
Mission: to visit as many castles in southeast Wales as possible - in one day
Tools available: hire car, Britain road atlas, camera, wet weather gear
Castles have been rated stars in the following four categories:
size - bigger is better
moat - extra stars for water
view - you can't score a star for this unless you have something we can climb on
easy to find - important when you're trying to see a lot of castles in one day
1. CHEPSTOW CASTLE
size *****
moat n/a
view ***
easy to find ****
Special mention for: best fake people
2. RAGLAN CASTLE
size ****
moat *****
view *****
easy to find ****
Special mention for: we'd most like to live in it
3. SKENFRITH CASTLE
size *
moat *
view n/a
easy to find ***
Special mention for: most visitors to a remote location in the pouring rain
4. GROSMONT CASTLE
size **
moat ***
view n/a
easy to find *
Special mention for: most elegant chimney
5. WHITECASTLE
size ***
moat ****
view *****
easy to find ***
Special mention for: friendliest staff (all one of them)
6. ST QUENTIN'S CASTLE
size **
moat n/a
view n/a
easy to find (not on map!)
Special mention for: best vehicle access (you can drive right in!)
7. OLD BEAUPRE CASTLE
size **
moat n/a
view n/a
easy to find *
Special mention for: most off the beaten track (including passing scary cows)
8. OGMORE CASTLE
size ***
moat n/a
view n/a
easy to find *****
Special mention for: giving us the biggest laugh because of the flooded carpark
9. COITY CASTLE
size ****
moat **
view n/a
easy to find *****
Special mention for: most surprising that you don't have to pay to visit it
Important note - castle connoisseurs will note that this list is missing Cardiff Castle, Caerphilly Castle and Castle Coch, which we had previously visited and were therefore not included in the Castle Challenge.
Another important note - we were also able to visit 2 Roman ruins and 1 Priory during the alloted time (see below)
Caerleon Roman Barracks, Caerleon Roman Amphitheatre, Llanthony Priory
Comments:
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Two things:
1// Would love to see a map with a little red line and dots of the journey...
2// I think you need to animate all the "Daryl holding the camera as far away from his face and takek a picture of the two of us" photos... it's easy with Quicktime... ask me how.
http://blog.plusminus.com.au
1// Would love to see a map with a little red line and dots of the journey...
2// I think you need to animate all the "Daryl holding the camera as far away from his face and takek a picture of the two of us" photos... it's easy with Quicktime... ask me how.
http://blog.plusminus.com.au
There was a sign next to the, er, 'moat', saying "Caution, carpark subject to flooding". Hopefully that clears it up.
Oh, and we have a tripod, we just always forget to take it on trips.
A map might be possible... I'll see what I can do.
Oh, and we have a tripod, we just always forget to take it on trips.
A map might be possible... I'll see what I can do.
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