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Caerphilly Castle: The Largest Castle in Wales

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A view of Caerphilly Castle from inside the first gate
A view of Caerphilly Castle from inside the first gate.

I stepped out of my hotel, under cover of an umbrella, and departed Cardiff by train for the short ride to Caerphilly Castle.

Covering a sprawling 30-acres, Caerphilly Castle is Wales' largest and the second largest in the UK after Windsor Castle. The castle dominates the small town by the same name in which it's located.

Built in the late 13th century, it was the first to use concentric walls in Britain. According to historian Allen Brown, it features "the most elaborate water defenses in all of Britain."

A rainbow appears after the rain passes in Caerphilly
A rainbow appears over Caerphilly.

The castle grounds are no more than a five-minute walk from the Caerphilly train station.

By the time I approached the main entrance, the clouds had parted, and a rainbow was arching its way toward the moat.

The main entrance to the castle
The main entrance to the castle is the imposing outer east gatehouse, reached by crossing a bridge over the surrounding moat.
View of Caerphilly, and the castle's main entrance, from atop the inner east gatehouse
View of Caerphilly, and the castle's main entrance, from atop the inner east gatehouse.
View of the concentric defenses, and working side engines (catapults), from atop the inner east gatehouse
View of the concentric defenses, and working side engines (catapults), from atop the inner east gatehouse.
The dining room features wooden timbers on the roof, and a massive, human-size fireplace
The dining room features wooden timbers on the roof and a massive, human-size fireplace.
The innermost courtyard at Caerphilly Castle
The innermost courtyard at Caerphilly Castle.
The scale of Caerphilly's architecture is truly awe-inspiring
The scale of Caerphilly's architecture is truly awe-inspiring.
A man fishes on the artificial lake surrounding Caerphilly Castle
The idyllic Welsh countryside forms the perfect backdrop for a fisherman on the artificial lake surrounding Caerphilly Castle.
The Welsh flags fly above Caerphilly Castle, on what turned out to be a beautiful day
The Welsh flags fly above Caerphilly Castle on what turned out to be a beautiful day.

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My trip was made in partnership with Visit Wales and included a complimentary stay at the Parc Hotel by Thistle.

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About Dave Lee

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 68 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.

Comments

  1. Michelle says

    Wow love these pictures!

    • Dave says

      Thanks Michelle, I'm so glad the weather cleared up just as I got there!

  2. Andi of My Beautiful Adventures says

    Gorgeous shots!!!

  3. Brandon Elijah Scott says

    Brilliant looking!

  4. Leslee says

    Absolutely gorgeous pictures! It's just what a medieval castle should look like! I'm going to link a post to this article so my readers can enjoy your photos and story.