Wales is home to many attractions ideal for visiting on a fun day out, but it is its castles that are probably among the best. Hundreds of castles have been built in the country over the centuries, although significantly fewer still exist today.
Many of these are remarkably well preserved and offer a fantastic history lesson for visitors young and old. One of the most well-known castles is at Caernarfon, which can be found between mainland north Wales and Anglesey.
The building formed part of Edward I's famous Iron Ring, a group of castles erected by the monarch during his conquest of Wales. The area over which these fortresses are spread is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, giving you some idea of just how significant they are.
Caernarfon Castle was constructed in the 13th century over 50 years, and is notable for its towers, which are polygonal in shape rather than adopting the more traditional round style of the period. The Eagle Tower makes for a particularly impressive sight thanks to its huge girth, while other features of note include the high wall walks and the Royal Welch Fusiliers Regimental Museum.
Another of Wales's most famous fortifications is Caerphilly Castle, which occupies a striking location on an 'island' surrounded by multiple moats in the centre of Caerphilly. As the country's biggest castle, it's perhaps hard to believe that it was allowed to fall into disrepair several centuries after it was built by Gilbert de Clare, but - thankfully for visitors - it was bought and renovated following its purchase by the Marquess of Bute in the 18th century.
You'll be able to get a good idea of the nature of the popular wall-inside-walls layout that a lot of Welsh castles seemed to use in the Middle Ages as you walk around the site. You can also examine several replicas of siege engines, which are in working order.
If you're visiting Wales on a pleasant spring or summer day, it's well worth heading to Powis Castle. Originally built as a fortress to protect Powys's medieval princes from outside threats, the castle now contains an extensive collection of Indian artefacts, historic artworks and well-preserved furniture, some of which can be viewed in the striking Long Gallery.
However, it is Powis Castle's garden that you should explore to make the most of any fine weather you might be enjoying on your day out. The garden retains many of the features it had during the 1680s and is packed with sights to take in as you stroll around it, from statues and large Italianate rock terraces to a wide range of flowers and a 30 ft hedge.
Also keep an eye out for the 14 stumps at the eastern end of the main terrace, which are yew trees that have been clipped to resemble extremely large, oddly shaped domes. Don't miss the section of garden that was laid during the early 20th century, where you can indulge in a game of croquet.
Elsewhere, a break to the Brecon Beacons National Park will not be complete without paying a visit to Raglan Castle. Located on the edge of the park, the castle was constructed in the 15th century by Sir William ap Thomas with the aim of showing off his power and wealth in true style.
Surprisingly, his ornate home also managed to withstand a siege during the Civil War for more than three months, although it was subsequently destroyed by the government. However, you can still see plenty of its original features, both in the building itself and at the onsite visitor centre, including an original Tudor wood panel and an impressive oriel window.
Last but not least, Beaumaris Castle should be near the top of your list of castles to visit if you'd like to see a prime example of a particularly well-kept fortress. Located in Anglesey, the building is said to be the most technically perfect castle in Britain and formed part of Edward I's Iron Ring, although he ran out of the resources required to finish it once the war he was fighting intensified.
You'll be able to see many of the castle's most important features as you walk around it, including murder holes, a moat, a spiral tower and arrow slits. It's often dubbed a 13th-century spaceship due to the fact that it seemed to appear out of nowhere; in fact, the population of the nearby village of Llanfaes was abruptly moved to another town 14 miles away just to accommodate it!
Looking for ideas for fun, educational UK days out? Head to the Visit Wales website to find out more about the country's impressive castles - there's sure to be one perfect for you and your family!
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