The Insider's Guide to Britain: Castles

Showing posts with label Castles. Show all posts

Knaresborough

The main attraction in this charming town in Northern England is Mother Shipton's Petrifying Well, a sort of waterfall/well/cave that turns things to stone -- literally! It's been a point of pilgrimage since the middle ages, and was actually England's first paying tourist attraction! It's still certainly worth visiting.

The story goes that Mother Shipton, a witch, was born in the nearby cave, during a dramatic storm to a young woman cast out by her village. She was famous for her psychic predictions, and the waterfall and well near her cave is believed to grants wishes. Objects are hung in the dripping water, where you can see them in various states of petrification. So awesome!

Knaresborough the town hangs on dramatic hills overlooking a river, and there's also a lovely riverside walk that circles the town and the cave. There are quaint shops in town as well as the dramatic ruins of a castle to visit.

Dover

Dover is a destination with a great variety of amazing sites: an early medieval castle, secret WWII tunnels, and the famous White Cliffs. All these sites are interactive and kid-friendly.

Dover Castle, which is over a thousand years old, has been recently completely refurnished to portray the castle in its Medieval heyday -- this is the only castle we know of in England where you can really get the flavor of life in the Middle Ages (it might surprise you that it was full of bright colors!).

Right next to Dover Castle are the Secret Wartime Tunnels that Churchill had dug into the cliffs of Dover during WWII. Since Dover was really close to France, it was prime land for watching the enemy's actions across the channel. Military personnel worked and lived inside the tunnels for months on end, successfully keeping them secret for the entirety of the war. They are preserved as they were during the war, and you can visit by guided tour. A truly unique experience that brings to life the wartime experience. Don't miss it!

The famous chalk-white Cliffs of Dover are an awe-inspiring sight, and you can walk along the tops of them for a mile or two. Great spot for a picnic! Familiarize yourself with the classic English tune, "The White Cliffs of Dover" so you can sing it while you're there.

Recommended Listening:

Tintagel

The legendary home of King Arthur, Tintagel Castle lies in ruins, perched high above the sea on dramatic cliffs. It's an insanely romantic spot, with trails to wander along the coast among ruins that may date back to Roman times. Hit up the tea room on site for a really great authentic Cornish Cream Tea (sweet scones, clotted cream, and tea).

Nearby Tintagel town is quaint with shops that play up the Arthur connection. Try the Cornish ice cream offered in shops along the main street.

Recommended Reading:

Recommended Movies:

Cornwall

There are three regions on the island of Great Britain whose Gaelic roots still distinguish them from the rest of English culture. Cornwall is the only one that isn't its own country. In the extreme southwest corner of England its rugged and hilly landscape, its food, its people and culture, its coastline, and its vibe are all its own, and it's the only English county without a single mile of motorway. From cornish pasties (a meatie pie, NOT a pastry) and cornish cream to King Arthur legends; from rolling countryside to dramatic cliffs to warm beaches in hidden coves; from Bodmin Moore and its mysterious lore to the South West Coastal Trail; you could stay for days in Cornwall and never get bored.

Sites of Interest: Tintagel, Land's End, Penzance, The Eden Project, Bodmin Moore

Places to Stay: the Jamaica Inn (of Hitchcock fame), Tintagel

Recommended Reading:

Recommended Movies:

Snowdonia National Park

What a spot! Nestled among the "mountains" of Snowdonia National Park, North Wales is a collection of the most charming little towns, all unpronouncable: Betws-e-Coed, Llanwrst, Llangglen, you get the idea. The area has a rich heritage of both Welsh and English history, and astounding castles everywhere! In Conwy, for example, you can visit one of the best preserved Medieval towns in Europe - complete with the entire Medieval fortress wall around the tiny town (you can walk around on top of the wall). North Wales is also famous for its ice cream, male choirs (prepare to be blown away), and sheep. Many of the towns were built on the slate industry -- and you can tell that slate was their major natural resource. The fences, homes, and grand buildings are all made of thin pieces of stacked slate. It is a place of natural beauty and haunting scenery, and the seriously cool Welsh language, which is alive and well!

Warwick Castle and Warwick town

Warwick Castle (avoid embarrassment by pronouncing it correctly: "War-ick"), the largest castle in England still in one piece, is a grand piece of architecture and history! The Earls of Warwick, who lived at this castle, have historically been some of the most powerful nobles in English history, at times even more powerful than the king himself!

Warwick castle was a private residence for centuries, famous in the Victorian era for extravagant parties and being the center of aristocratic gossip and scandal. Now it is open to the the public, furnished as it was in its Victorian heyday, and you (yes, you!) can wander the grounds, the house, the guard towers, the torture chamber, with your imagination (and costumed re-enactors) conjuring up a dramatic past. Warwick castle is one of the most popular tourist sites outside of London, and it actually deserves it. So cool!

Warwick, the town around the castle, is also very historic and has managed to preserve its Medieval flavor nicely. Wandering around Warwick is like stepping back in time. Plenty of museums, parks, horse races, antique shops, and--of course--ghost tours await you. Our first visit to Warwick is what actually inspired us to move to Warwickshire later. You'll love it!

Extras:

The Mill Garden. There's a gorgeous garden along the river below the castle, with a great view. Escape the crowd and take an extra hour there to unwind, reflect and soak up the English countryside.

For an extra awesome view of the castle rent a rowboat from St. Nicholas Park upstream of the castle and row practically right up to the castle walls.

There's a good ghost tour that runs a few nights a week. Coordinate your timing if you're into it!

Kenilworth

Kenilworth is "in the heart of the historic heart of England," and it's our beloved hometown. It's a charming little medieval town built around a huge castle. Kenilworth Castle was the home to some really important dudes in English history, and some momentous events happened here.

Past residents include: Prince John "the phony King of England," King Henry V, and Robert Dudley, Queen Elizabeth's "favorite" (wink wink).

One of the coolest things that happened here was when castle resident Simon De Montfort staged a revolt against King Henry III, his brother in law. Simon de Montfort died in a battle just outside Kenilworth, and his followers ran back to the castle to hide. Henry III followed them, and staged the longest seige in English history! He camped out for six months, slowly starving out the men in the castle (at the castle, you can see the massive stone balls Henry launched over the walls with a trebuchet). When Simon's son finally got desperate, he escaped under cover of night by swimming the moat in his nightshirt, leaving everybody else behind to starve and eventually surrender.

Now the castle is in ruins and the moat has become rolling green countryside. Visiting the castle is haunting, awe inspiring, and so cool! Nearby, the town's quaint streets are peppered with thatched roof cottages and quaint shops. Stop by "Time for Tea" for the tiny local tea room experience. The town's huge Abbey Fields are also adjacent to the castle. These are the grounds of a 12th century monastery, which was once one of the richest in England before Henry VIII destroyed it. What's left is a stunning church about a thousand years old, a beautiful pond, and scattered ruins of the monastery lying among ancient tombstones. The surrounding countryside is prime land for long country walks, picnics, wooded strolls, birdwatching, and reveling in the beauty of the lush countryside . Kenilworth is Heaven on earth.

Recommended Places to Stay:
Families or big groups who want to stay a while should seek out one of the holiday cottages on High Street. The Wren's Nest, Jackdaw Cottage, and The Christmas Cottage are all in prime locations. Well-placed hotels include The Old Bakery and Milsoms Hotel.