Castell Coch

It might not get the plaudits and pageantry of its city centre neighbour, but there is a charm to Castell Coch that is absolutely undeniable. Built above the village of Tongwynlais, the original castle was constructed in the 11th century in order to protect the newly conquered town of Cardiff before being destroyed by the Welsh a couple of centuries later. Now it is a somewhat foreboding presence in a charming woodland, a Gothic Revival beaut with stories in the walls. The interior is particularly impressive, and we often dream of decadent evenings in the castle’s Drawing Room. To visit, get a public bus to Tongwynlais before walking to the castle — it is clearly signposted.