If there is ever a place that history
buffs should visit, it is a British castle. Going back hundreds of
years, these ornate and iconic buildings were once the home to some of
the most important people in the world; people who shaped the course of
British history forever. If you’re visiting the United Kingdom there are
a large variety of top castles that should be visited and enjoyed for
both their history and beauty.
With its stunning landscape, lochs and
mountains, Scotland certainly offers plenty of awe inspiring views,
especially when there is a castle nestling amongst the hills. Hermitage
Castle, in Scotland’s Hawick, is a top attraction to visit and has a
bloody and volatile past. The huge and sinister castle, which lies in
the Liddesdale valley, saw Sir William Douglas starve Sir Alexander
Ramsay of Dalhousie to death in 1342, and was the location where Lord De
Soulis was boiled to death for selling his soul to the devil.
Meanwhile, Kilchurn Castle on the banks of Loch Awe offers breathtaking
views like no other. The 15th century building, situated in
Argyll, is now a ruin but you can climb to the top of its towers, which
offer beautiful panoramic views across the water. Meanwhile, if you’re
using rental cars to allow you
to travel at your own convenience, then Perthshire’s Edzell Castle is
for exploring. Not only does the location offer unique red sandstone
ruins but also a stunning Italian Renaissance garden developed in 1604.
Away from Scotland, both Wales and
England also have some stunning castles which should be explored on any
trip away. In Wales, the Red Castle has a fairytale appearance of
dominating towers and spires. Built at the end of the 19th
century, Castell Coch remains intact and is beautifully decorated.
Carreg Cennen Castle offers the opportunity to explore the spooky cave
which runs below the ruin, whilst Gwynedd’s Caernarfon Castle provides
one of Europe’s most impressive medieval castles.
If you’re headed in to England and want
to visit some top castles within close proximity of each other, then
Northumberland is an ideal spot. Warkworth Castle was created in 1200
and is an ideal trip for families; children are able to imagine people
being dropped through the murder holes and imagine the scene of huge
banquets in the Great Hall. Norham Castle, meanwhile, is a great
collection of ruins to explore, with enough beautiful architecture
remaining to allow your imagination to put the entire site together in
your mind. Travelling across to Lindisfarne offers not only the stunning
and majestic island castle but views across the Farne Islands and
sights to Bamburgh Castle on the mainland. Bamburgh Castle is one of
England’s most beautiful buildings and it is a site not to be missed.
Britain is scattered with a huge array
of castles and, whether they’re complete ruins or have remained intact,
they are a complete joy to explore. By visiting some of the nation’s
best spots you’ll be able to engage in history like never before.
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