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We took a day to drive around and see some of the really famous castles in mid-Wales. Criccieth Castle, situated on a rocky promontory in the north-eastern part of Cardigan Bay, was built by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth in the 1230s. |
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| Criccieth Castle, from down below. (131kb) | An info planel on Criccieth. (132kb)
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A view of the inner gatehouse, from the inside. (202kb) |
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| A shot of Debbie, showing the view to the south east. (131kb) | An info panel on the inner gatehouse. (132kb)
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The inner gatehouse, as seen from the outside. (202kb) |
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| A view of Criccieth and the promontory from
across the water to the east. (131kb)
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From Criccieth, we drove south down the coast to Harlech Castle. Harlech was built in 7 years, 1283-1289, by Master James of St George for Edward I |
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| The front (eastern) side of Harlech castle.
(142kb)
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A view of the eastern entrance to the
gatehouse. (311kb)
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An info panel on the gatehouse. (100kb) |
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| The long main gate passage, into the inner ward of the castle. (245kb) | A view, towards the northwest, from the
ramparts. (137kb)
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A view toward the southwest, from the ramparts. (135kb) |
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| An info panel on the outer ward (seaward side) of the castle. (104kb) | The inner facade of the massive gatehouse.
(239kb)
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The inner ward and facade of the gatehouse. (337kb) |
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| An info panel on Harlech castle. (105kb) | A different view of the inner ward and inner
facade of the gatehouse. (343kb)
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A view of the inner ward from the top of the wall near the gatehouse. (269kb) |
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| The inner ward as seen from the top of the wall near the southwest tower. (263kb) | The inner ward as seen from the top of the
wall near the northwest tower. (269kb)
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A view across the ramparts. (187kb) |
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| A view of the inner ward from the northeast. (259kb) | A model of Harlech castle, showing the
buildings along the inner walls. (258kb)
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A different angle on the model. (261kb) |
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| Debbie, on top of the gatehouse. (120kb) | Debbie, on top of the gatehouse, as seen
looking to the north. (190kb)
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The view from the top of the gatehouse, looking over the southwest tower. (189kb) |
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The last castle of the day was hidden up a deep valley to the south. We had a nice hike from the parking lot to get up to the castle. Castell y Bere was built around 1221 by Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth. |
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| A model of Castell y Bere. (172kb) | An info panel on the castle (251kb)
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The bit of info on the sign in the parking lot. (106kb) |
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| Peter in a postern door that leads out into the barbican. (387kb) | The view of the castle remains from the
north end. (179kb)
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An info sign showing the layout of the castle. (253kb) |
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| The view from the south tower looking north
towards the middle tower. (188kb)
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