Castell Coch is well-imprinted on my mind as one of the most beautiful castles I have ever seen, like it should belong in a Disney movie. Despite looking like something out of a medieval fairytale, Castell Coch – 'Red Castle', in the Welsh language – was actually built in the 19th century upon the foundations of an earlier castle. Originally, the site was used by the Normans to build a castle in order to protect the newly conquered nearby town of Cardiff. Although it was then reused by Gilbert de Clare during the 1200s after being abandoned by the Normans, it then fell into ruin after being...

Castell Coch is well-imprinted on my mind as one of the most beautiful castles I have ever seen, like it should belong in a Disney movie. Despite looking like something out of a medieval fairytale, Castell Coch – 'Red Castle', in the Welsh language – was actually built in the 19th century upon the foundations of an earlier castle. Originally, the site was used by the Normans to build a castle in order to protect the newly conquered nearby town of Cardiff. Although it was then reused by Gilbert de Clare during the 1200s after being abandoned by the Normans, it then fell into ruin after being attacked during the Welsh rebellion of 1314. It was not until the mid-1800s that the Third Marquess of Bute engaged the man who would go on to design the interiors of his castle in Cardiff – William Burges – to reconstruct the castle in the Gothic Revival style for his and his family's summer use, although they eventually never spent that much time there. For the exterior of the building, Burges was inspired by the Swiss and French chateaux. The most striking parts of the outer building are the three circular, conical-roofed towers – the keep, the well tower and the kitchen tower – which, if you look very closely, are topped by chimneys and elaborate weather vanes of copper-gilt. Not unlike some other Burges' other work, the interior of Castell Coch is quite eclectic. Taking influence from the Gothic, French and Moorish styles, the interior is most definitely High Victorian as opposed to the medieval exterior. Throughout the rooms there are also numerous images from Aesop's fables, Classical mythology and medieval manuscripts. Most notable of these are those in the drawing room. Octagonal in shape and occupying the first and second floors of the keep, a mural depicting all the animals from 24 of Aesop's fables surrounds panels showing unique plants. Other rooms of interest include Lady Bute's bedroom, which is circular in shape and has love as the main theme, and the Windlass room, which contains the mechanism for opening and closing the drawbridge and has many murder holes, which Burges thought were authentically medieval. The castle is located in the Taff Gorge complex, a woodland which is protected as a site of special scientific interest. It is one of the most westerly beech woodlands in Great Britain and has a host of flora to discover. The surrounding woodland is also the place where you will get amazing photographic shots of the castle. I can highly recommend taking a private tour of Castell Coch, even though it is more expensive than the usual admission fee. On the private tour, you will learn many secrets about the history of the castle as well as be charmed by its appearance. You begin by walking around the outside of the building and are told about the numerous legends surrounding the castle, before heading inside to learn of its restoration. The information given on this tour really brings the castle to life so it definitely is worth the money. It is a shame that Castell Coch was not used so much by the Third Marquess of Bute and his family as Burges' renovation was absolutely stunning. However, if you get the chance to go, discovering the opulence and wealth of one of the richest Victorians is a splendid way to spend a day out.