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Darwin on the rocks
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UKWales

Chirk Castle

May 17, 2017 30 Comments

We decided to spend a weekend in North Wales a few months ago now, in order to climb on top of Snowdonia ! We left Leeds and drove down there, climbed on top of snowdonia, hiked in the Devil’s Kitchen and also visited a wonderful garden under the rain. The last day, the sun was out and we decided to stop at Chirk Castle on the way back to Leeds.

Chirk Castle

Chirk Castle was built in the late 13th century and is currently owned by the National Trust and is only open to the public between March and October. It’s more of a fortress than a lavishly decorated castle, but it was quite interesting to visit something a bit different !

Chirk Castle

The dungeon was quite interesting to visit as the walls are 5 meters thick ! That was very impressive. Some of them contain “murder holes” which allowed the pouring of some hot fluids and other nasty thing to anything/anyone trying to get into it!

Chirk Castle
Chirk Castle

We also explored the garden, full of roses, rhododendrons and azaleas. It was not the most overwhelming garden I had the chance to visit, but it was quite pleasant to wander around.

Chirk Castle

Chirk Castle
Chirk Castle

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Next Article Spending a day in York

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30 Comments

  1. twobrownfeet Reply
    June 27, 2017 at 12:46 am

    I’ve missed so many of your posts! I love these old castles and dungeons. It’s as if I sat in a time machine of sorts and went into the past. I’d love to visit someday. 🙂

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      June 27, 2017 at 5:00 pm

      Not the best one I have visited so far but was definitively worth a visit. It was a bit too rudimentary for my liking and the gardens not elaborated enough, I’m kind of a snob when it comes to gardens :p

  2. Tanja Reply
    June 25, 2017 at 1:40 pm

    great castle!

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      June 25, 2017 at 7:35 pm

      A bit bulky but quite interesting!

  3. Inger Reply
    May 24, 2017 at 8:04 pm

    Those dungeons doesn’t sound like a nice place to get lock in!! 🙂

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      June 4, 2017 at 7:51 pm

      No, definitely not! 😀

  4. mytravelmonkey Reply
    May 20, 2017 at 1:37 pm

    Oh love the look of Chirk, and the dungeons sound fascinating!

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      June 4, 2017 at 7:49 pm

      It’s a nice visit and they have a lot of activity for kids, so could be good for you and your little monkey 😉

  5. Marilyn Albright Reply
    May 19, 2017 at 2:59 pm

    Castles always seem cold, damp, and uninviting places – stately and beautiful on the outside but grim on the inside. Great post.

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      June 4, 2017 at 7:46 pm

      I’ve seen nice castles before, but this one was quite cold and not very welcoming I agree

  6. joylovestravel Reply
    May 18, 2017 at 12:16 pm

    Never been here yet – I think it’s got to go on the summer days out list!

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      June 4, 2017 at 7:45 pm

      It’s nice to check it out (especially if you are a member of the National Trust!

      • joylovestravel Reply
        June 5, 2017 at 1:11 pm

        We are! so definitely one for this summer.

  7. YellowCable Reply
    May 18, 2017 at 1:31 am

    Very nice places and pictures of them. You are right that the place is more of a fortress than the castle. I like the climbing green that grows on the wall on the garden side. It softens the solid structure a bit.

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      June 4, 2017 at 7:44 pm

      It has a very chunky aspect and it’s not very elegant. I always associate the word “castle” with pretty building in my head 😉

  8. lexklein Reply
    May 17, 2017 at 10:36 pm

    I don’t even want to imagine the “murder holes!” Pretty building and site, though!

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      June 4, 2017 at 7:43 pm

      The murder holes are quite common for castles of that age, but I agree.. it’s quite grim to think about it!

  9. Awa on the Road Reply
    May 17, 2017 at 7:56 pm

    This is a Polish-style castle. See this: https://awawdrodze.wordpress.com/2017/04/09/wpc-eagles-nest/ 🙂

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      June 4, 2017 at 7:43 pm

      The walls also look thick!

  10. Indah Susanti Reply
    May 17, 2017 at 2:18 pm

    The walls with murder holes!! Gosh, I don’t want to be near such wall lol 😀

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      June 4, 2017 at 7:42 pm

      It must have been grim to live there during that period!

  11. exploRVistas Reply
    May 17, 2017 at 2:17 pm

    Absolutely stunning, Gin! The building is in amazing condition for being 800 years old.

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      May 19, 2017 at 9:10 pm

      The National Trust is doing a great job at restoring and maintenant these old properties!

  12. jebusandandrea Reply
    May 17, 2017 at 10:03 am

    The dungeon makes me think our our friend. His dream home would have 5 foot thick walls, inner courtyard and no windows. That does not sound healthy at all. He wants a fortress from what we have no idea. He is sort of like Sheldon in Big Bang theory but less entertaining.

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      May 19, 2017 at 8:20 pm

      That does not! I couldn’t live without windows!! haha! You friend sounds like an interesting person! 😀

  13. Mabel Kwong Reply
    May 17, 2017 at 9:58 am

    That is so fascinating they had the murder holes in the 5mm thick walls! Such great lengths to stop anyone from escaping. Beautiful garden and lovely to see such a dark place become a much brighter one today 🙂

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      May 19, 2017 at 7:16 pm

      The walls were really impressive! The garden was quite nice but you can tell that it’s not that popular with visitors and therefore, they don’t invest that much in the maintenance of the grounds …

      • Mabel Kwong Reply
        May 20, 2017 at 1:18 pm

        Noooo. To me the garden looks nice but I suppose you have to be there for yourself to see and fully experience it But any travel experience is a good experience 😀

  14. LucciaGray Reply
    May 17, 2017 at 7:26 am

    I love these old buildings. Great photos💗

    • darwinontherocks Reply
      May 19, 2017 at 7:15 pm

      I love visiting castle and ruins as well, it’s always full of history and I love the atmosphere!

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I love travelling and exploring new countries. I’ve spent a few months in Galapagos Islands during summer 2011 and that was the beginning of my passion for travelling.

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