Castle Coch.

On Saturday Dad took Me and Mum to Castle Coch – The Fairy Castle to have a little walk.

As though in some alpine setting, the sharp pointed turrets of Castell Coch (Welsh for the 'Red Castle') peep above the beech woodland on a steep hillside overlooking a gorge in the lower Taff valley. Brimming with imagery, it is a truly astonishing construction, a combination of nineteenth-century Gothic fantasy and timeless fairy-tale, one of the most Romantic if equally unexpected buildings in Britain.

The castle as we see it today was only built in 1870 AD, designed by the architect William Burgess for John Crichton Stuart second Marquess of Bute. The Marquess was one of the richest men in the world mainly through the mineral resources of his Glamorgan Estates and so the enormous cost of the project was not a problem. This left Burgess free to create the beautiful palace which stands today as a reminder of the opulence and wealth of yesteryear. The William Burgess design even incorporated a fully operational drawbridge!


Although Burgess died in 1881 AD, fortunately he had left clear instructions for the continuation of the restoration of the castle and these were completed 10 years after his death.

Not very much is known of the history of the earlier original constructions on the site. The first probably started out as an earth and timber motte castle constructed possibly early in the 12th century. The next construction was probably built by Gilbert de Clare (who erected a series of large fortresses including Castell Coch and Caerphilly Castle nearby) and this is believed to have been triangular in shape with gently curving curtain walls connecting three towers. Sometime in the 15th century however Castell Coch was extensively damaged in a fire and the castle was left to go to ruin until the aforementioned complete renovation by the Marquis of Bute.

One of the ghosts of Castell Coch is said to haunt the grounds is the ghost of a Cavalier which several people have claimed to have seen.

Legend has it that the Cavalier possibly hid treasure somewhere in the castle during the civil war and that his ghost returns to Castell Coch to make sure it remains safely hidden!

I wonder if it was a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel like my birth Mum…

Cuddling with Mum on the Castle Walls.

Playing in the woods around the castle.

There are so many new sights and smells here!

Owww I'm scared, its getting really dark.

Running around playing.

Running around on the nice crisp leaves.

Running down a fallen tree!

I run down the mountain side and couldn't stop, I just kept on going because all the leaves were under me!

Grrrrrr!

Sniff, Sniff!

Demon Dog!

Mushroom!

Big Mushroom growing on the tree!

Dad pretends to eat said mushroom!

Walking back to the car.

Hugs for Pugs!

In the car on to the next adventure!