Northern Wales: Harlech Castle
We just got back from a several day trip to northern Wales. We have been wanting to visit Snowdonia National Park since we arrived here last January, and we finally scheduled a trip in celebration of both Eric and I passing the driving test. That may sound funny, but when I finally post about the whole process, you will learn that it is a life accomplishment equal to finishing my dissertation and birthing two 9+ pound babies.
Anyway, I digress. We stayed in the cute harbor town of Porthmadog and explored from there. The first day we visited Harlech Castle, one of a string of castles built by Edward I to subdue the unruly Welsh princes. (Incidentally, upon speaking to the locals, we learned that Edward and his successors created quite a lot of resentment that lasts until this day. In fact, much more so than in our many visits to south Wales, people seemed to really like that we were Americans rather than English. And in Porthmadog the vast majority of people spoke Welsh as their first language.)
Harlech Castle was really beautiful. In fact, the castles in this part of Wales are all pretty stunning. We only went to two, but there were several others that looked amazing, so we'll have to go back. The views from Harlech Castle were really stunning, of the village on one side and the ocean on the other. It was really windy. Like, so windy I could barely hold my phone up to take pictures without it blowing away. So the pics aren't the best. But it was pretty!
The castle itself was pretty great, too. It was still in great shape, despite having undergone five sieges. (It only withstood one of them...) I am really in awe of the architecture of these castles, especially some of the stonework. It honestly looks like the castles are growing right out of their rocky hillside perches in some cases.
Rebecca is conquering the castle here, in solidarity with the Welsh princes, I think.
Here's the view over the ocean. Can you tell we're really far north here? It was maybe 2:30 pm at this point.
This particular castle had three portcullises in its front gate. Apparently it needed a few more (see above, re: siege-survival statistics) but I have to say I don't envy any of the people who attacked this castle. There were tons of murder holes above these portcullises, and a huge killing ground before the entrance.
That's Eric way up there at the top of the tower!
And finally, a picture of some reindeer. What, did you not expect reindeer at the end of a castle post? Well, when we went hunting for dinner in downtown Porthmadog that evening, we discovered that the town was having its tree lighting ceremony and had hired some reindeer for the occasion. Rebecca was thrilled to be able to pet them!
It was a fun first day in northern Wales (setting aside the part where I scraped the bumper of our car on a stone wall while reversing up a windy road in the face of an oncoming truck, that is...That's another story for another post on Welsh roadworks and stoplight engineering.) Another castle, a beach, and a hike coming soon. (And the bumper story, too.)
Anyway, I digress. We stayed in the cute harbor town of Porthmadog and explored from there. The first day we visited Harlech Castle, one of a string of castles built by Edward I to subdue the unruly Welsh princes. (Incidentally, upon speaking to the locals, we learned that Edward and his successors created quite a lot of resentment that lasts until this day. In fact, much more so than in our many visits to south Wales, people seemed to really like that we were Americans rather than English. And in Porthmadog the vast majority of people spoke Welsh as their first language.)
Harlech Castle was really beautiful. In fact, the castles in this part of Wales are all pretty stunning. We only went to two, but there were several others that looked amazing, so we'll have to go back. The views from Harlech Castle were really stunning, of the village on one side and the ocean on the other. It was really windy. Like, so windy I could barely hold my phone up to take pictures without it blowing away. So the pics aren't the best. But it was pretty!
The castle itself was pretty great, too. It was still in great shape, despite having undergone five sieges. (It only withstood one of them...) I am really in awe of the architecture of these castles, especially some of the stonework. It honestly looks like the castles are growing right out of their rocky hillside perches in some cases.
Rebecca is conquering the castle here, in solidarity with the Welsh princes, I think.
Here's the view over the ocean. Can you tell we're really far north here? It was maybe 2:30 pm at this point.
This particular castle had three portcullises in its front gate. Apparently it needed a few more (see above, re: siege-survival statistics) but I have to say I don't envy any of the people who attacked this castle. There were tons of murder holes above these portcullises, and a huge killing ground before the entrance.
That's Eric way up there at the top of the tower!
And finally, a picture of some reindeer. What, did you not expect reindeer at the end of a castle post? Well, when we went hunting for dinner in downtown Porthmadog that evening, we discovered that the town was having its tree lighting ceremony and had hired some reindeer for the occasion. Rebecca was thrilled to be able to pet them!
It was a fun first day in northern Wales (setting aside the part where I scraped the bumper of our car on a stone wall while reversing up a windy road in the face of an oncoming truck, that is...That's another story for another post on Welsh roadworks and stoplight engineering.) Another castle, a beach, and a hike coming soon. (And the bumper story, too.)
looks like a neat place!!
ReplyDeletei look forward to hearing the bumper story. glad (it seems) no one got hurt!
Yes, no one got hurt...Just our bumper :)
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