Capital Castle

The other day, I discovered that thanks to John Crichton-Stuart, the 5^th Marquess of Bute, the people of Cardiff have the pleasure of free entry to Cardiff Castle all year round. In 1947, he handed over Cardiff Castle and all its parklands to the people of Cardiff for them to treasure and enjoy; and treasure and enjoy I have done. As of the 1^st of April this year, you can pop down to the originally Roman Castle with proof that you’re a Cardiff resident (we used our water bill), have your photo taken, and be given your ‘Castle Key’ in the form of an ID card. This permits you to three years of as many days out to the castle as you like, saving you £11.00 a visit. Happy days.

Cardiff Castle in the cherry blossom season

            The huge wooden and iron gates at the castle entrance open out to a large square lawn, surrounded by high walls. On entry, you can grab a hand-held audio guide which gives you all the information you could want about each part of the castle, without having to be stuck with a large Japanese group and a tour guide. Within this square is the Castle Keep, from which you can climb the 100 plus steep steps to the top and see out across the whole of Cardiff, from the bay back to the black mountains. Being a fan of Cardiff myself, this is really quite a sight, but for my friend who’s love for Cardiff borders on romantic obsession: it was enough for him to have to fight his erection. Then there’s the Manor House where the Bute family members lived among other various inhabitants, which we wandered around admiring the architecture and interior design. For someone like me with an over active imagination, it’s easy to picture medieval festivals, family banquets and possibly a lot of violence taking place within the castle walls. The imposing Clock Tower decorated with various astrological and religious symbols, reflects the eclectic mix of influences from across the ages from Roman, to Norman to Victorian and can be seen from almost anywhere in the city centre. The castle also catered for my obsession with museums, with its own military museum which tells the stories of Welsh soldiers throughout the ages, with original uniforms, letters from home, flags, weapons and a stuffed goat (the mascot of the Welsh army).

Without sounding like a tourist rep; on a sunny day it really is (as they say in Cardiff) a lush day out. Cheers John Crichton-Stuart, the 5^th Marquess of Bute.

Various creatures painted on the walls of the Banquet Hall