24. Tour of Castell Caerffili (Caerphilly Castle) - Travelling Alone in Wales (February 2024)

With the sun beating down on Wales I jump on a bus and stay on until we reach the final destination where I discover a castle next to the bus stop. Just imagine the cost of living in this place when it comes to the monthly electricity and gas bills!
Caerphilly Castle www.visitwales...
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Video Journal about life, growing food and flowers plus visits to horticultural shows, allotments and opens gardens. Trying to become fitter and healthier as I approach 50.
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[@hilaryporter7841]

The Welsh Tourism Board will be looking forward to the year ahead after that video. Very enjoyable

[@user-tg5fo3bn6e]

Absolutely amazing - you had a private viewing all to yourself no annoying people getting in your way. You could have tried out those toilets nobody would have known! What a wonderful piece of history and so much left of it, you get the feeling of strength coming from it. So pleased they are doing all that work preserving it for future generations. Thank you so much Sean for taking us there.

[@maureenmckenna5220]

Save everything that is ancient. Put the money into it, if only to appreciate the lives they lived, and the workmanship, or lack of it, that the people of the past enjoyed. What a job this must have been.

[@susanmarshall2sm]

You’re doing wonders for the Welsh tourism and reading some of your comments since moving back makes me realise how many people feel a sense of connection to Wales, your videos are always relaxing and a pleasure to watch, thanks.

[@Kergorn1]

I must say I'm really enjoying your return to Wales, great video thanks for bringing us along 👍

[@JaneyH]

Fabulous tour! Thanks for taking us along Sean ☕️

[@lucylove1655]

At this stage of my life it seems unlikely I'll ever get there in person so loved seeing it through your camera lens! Amazing edifice!

[@peacefulgarden]

I would save it. After all the more preserved and closed parts won't be left to go to ruin. Preservation is so important for future generations I think. Thanks for the your Sean. That was lovely!

[@ireneprescott8330]

Thank you for showing us such an interesting place. I got to enjoy the castle from the comfort of my chair. Mind you I wouldn't have been brave enough to look at the high bits. You are a fantastic advert for tourism in your country. Your videos are as relaxing as they are informative. Keep it up Sean, and thanks again.

[@coloursofnature-art]

Thank you so much for taking us along with you on your castle visit Sean. Excellent photography as always, especially filming and navigating tortuous stairways at the same time! You could really feel the atmosphere in some of those rooms. The little stone nooks by some of the windows would have been where the women sat doing their embroidery - lets hope they had cushions to sit on!♥

[@RedPhone-mz5lv]

I live seven miles north of Caerphilly castle but on a clear day I have a view of it and all the way up to the mountain top lovely summer and winter,hope you had a good day

[@jeanetteomidvar8777]

Never thought of going to Wales, but I am now thanks your amazing videos. You are certainly putting Wales back on the place to visit map. Thank you Sean.

[@Joyk5]

Thank you most kindly for this beautiful and thoughtful tour. Yes, I think they should save the old places until they can't be saved anymore. Lots of reasons for doing so.

[@janetpitchford5449]

Wow loved the castle, loved the stone sleeping dragon and statue holding castle up lol brilliant

[@gabriellakadar]

When I've seen or been to structures or compounds like this, I always marvel at how many people it required to build them. Back in those days the population wasn't so enormous. In Pillars of the Earth it appeared that workers specializing in different aspects of building would move en famille from one huge building site to another. The construction would take years or even centuries. Incredible to consider how so much stone was quarried somewhere and transported in wagons. Imagine the cost. I doubt the workmen were slaves and even slaves need to be housed, clothed, and fed. There is such a huge difference between various walls in that castle. In the outer ones it looks rough but the interior walls look like the masons did a precision job. And it was in aid of protection during civil wars. Amazing too all the tribal and civil wars going on in what is today the UK. Modern structures made of concrete and glass for sure won't be standing 1000 years from now.

[@ingeleonora-denouden6222]

Dod you know Château de Guedelon? They are building it now, but exactly in the way castles were built in medieval times. With people coming from many different places to help building.

[@gabriellakadar]

@@ingeleonora-denouden6222 Hopefully with modern health and safety regulations and practices.

[@mamnan8953]

Loved this video of our leaning tower. All the times I went passed this castle and never went in. I kept putting it off and now it's too late. So thank you Sean for doing it for me x

[@deborahclarke6700]

Hi Sean. My eyes lit up when I saw another video today. Fantastic as usual and the castle Wow. I think I’ll have to visit this lovely place. You’re right we don’t need to travel far to see amazing places. Made my day. Keep up the good work.

[@pennylane9155]

What an impressive castle. If those walls could speak! It is wonderful to see it being preserved to last another 800yrs or more!

[@mikehomner4724]

I had to laugh at the picnic tables outside of the leaning tower... :):)

[@robertross8565]

Beautiful tour of the castle.

[@margaretg7861]

That was brilliant Sean. What a vast area it covers . .I'm all for preserving the leaning tower. It's part of our heritage . Thanks for a most interesting tour .

[@ajonthe_edge]

Used to live there many years ago, the castle and hills always lifted my spirits. Thank you for sharing your journey, was good to look back!

[@whichypoohs]

Perfect freedom. Jumping on a bus and going.

[@lorellstoneman74]

Thank you, Sean, for taking us along on your castle tour...fabulous.

[@elizabethduggan8793]

Hello Sean…… really enjoyed that medieval tour of the castle… you made me laugh with your medieval commentary 😂😂😂 fantastic. Beautiful castle. Good idea to collect fridge magnets and hope to see the tea towel in action. See ya soon xx❤

[@stellaashcroft1100]

Thank you so much I don't get out much so seeing your videos make a big difference in my life so very grateful 🥰

[@deborahpulford3223]

Thank you Dear Sean, what a wonderful video, you have some beautiful shots, I appreciate you very much, ❤

[@FluffyFlowersTV]

Absolutely marvelous tour, Sean. Thank you so much for taking us along with you. I feel like I've been there. As you were walking along I would say to myself, ok Sean, turn to the right so I can see what is over there and you did. Thank you for that. Loved all the camera angles and looking through the arrow shooting cutout. Wished you had looked to see if there was a grimace on the statue's face from his effort to holding up the building. Looking forward to more of your Wales tours.

[@dianeqiney1980]

caerphilly is my home town, the castle and the grounds are amazing.

[@Jay-Leigh]

Oh. Sean, this was such a treat! So many interesting things to see and learn about. We had a nice cup of tea, settled down to enjoy and you never disappoint. I did giggle in places and both hubby and I were saying…”be careful Sean! Those steps are wet”. I think it’s because you have such a wonderful and natural way of pulling us all in. I do so enjoy your adventures. Then at the end of the video we both said, how it ended all so quickly because it was so much fun to watch. What scenery as well? Absolutely beautiful. Hope you are rested after all that Sean we wait in excitement for the next one. Thank you so much young man. ❤

[@aquielle-we7rn]

It was so nice to “revisit” Caerphilly Castle! Thank you! I was there around the same time that the Merlin series was being filmed, which made the episodes that were shot there all the more interesting to a medieval history buff like myself. The series was also filmed at nearby Cosmeston Medieval Village just southwest of Cardiff. They’ve done a fantastic job of recreating a village that stood there in the 14th century. Wales is a magical place…you're fortunate have mountains, the sea, and more medieval castles per square mile than any country in Europe! I hope you’ll be visiting and sharing more of them, Sean!

[@philiptownsend3622]

I lived there when the film "Restoration" was made. The castle stood in for a London dockside with sundry atmospheric wreaths of smoke for ambience. It looked quite bizarre to passers-by at the time!

[@BRENDABERTHA]

Thank you for sharing this spontaneous bus ride to a georgous 12th century castle! Hard to imagine...the year 12! Have a great evening. 😊

[@janecox4173]

You have made me want to visit pembroke Castle. I may do that soon before the visitor's arrive. I also may see where I can go from Haverfordwest with a day bus ticket. Can't wait to get out and about again. You make not realise it but you are an inspiration to people 😊

[@susansharples8555]

This is one of your best vlogs yet, absolutely loved all the history, I can't stretch to a patron but I'm going to buy you a few teas ❤ xxx

[@dinglehopperdaydreamer9882]

Medieval Morrisons lol. Thank you Sean I loved this what a lovely day out, I've never even heard of that place before it was a very interesting tour xXx

[@josmith2002]

Underfloor heating - sacrilegious but sign of our times. Hope all money raised from hiring it out will be put back into the magnificent castle. The views from the castle are breathtakingly beautiful postcard perfection. And I love all the cracks in the walls- like WOW ❤❤❤😊.

[@Angel-002]

I'd have thought they needed to sort out the water running down the walls & dripping everywhere before they installed underfloor heating 🤔😂 What do I know though🤷‍♀️ Even the poor baby pigeon was wet & tired. I was thinking too, if they can't get out, then what are they going to eat? The last thing they need is a dead pigeon up in the rafters😬 Let's hope they sort out the other problems & I hope that toilet isn't the one you have to use when you hire the room out😂😂

[@C1223opuv]

Your doing great work for Welsh tourism! I had no idea how beautiful South Wales is. I grew up on the wirral and have relatives in North wales which I’m fanatic about. Thank you for all the work you are putting into this channel you are a talented producer and presenter.

[@TheQueensWish]

What a day seeing a real castle! On the link you provided to the Castle website it says there are over 400 castles in Wales. That’s really amazing. Thank you for taking us along.

[@ehpeachylove]

Thank you Sean for this wonderful tour with you. I can just imagine how this must have been like centuries ago to live in such a cold castle and the cost of human life in building and defending… such a great video.❤

[@jeannedearden897]

I enjoyed the tour of the castle; you are an entertaining tour guide. As you took us through the physical castle , you brought the place back to life, I could imagine the lives that were lived there in such a different time.

[@UZI-Max]

These little adventures are great , thankyou for taking us with you . Greetings from the Netherlands 🇳🇱 😊

[@tracyjereb7999]

Glad you enjoyed my local Castle. I live just a few miles away and see it all the time. You tend not to notice it when you see it frequently, but she is a beauty. There are so many beautiful and interesting places to visit in South Wales, you could have an adventure every day, weather permitting....... 🤣

[@123slowdown]

In 2009, a group of us went to a wedding in the castle. My wife will confirm that if you wear high heels, they will get stuck in the slots on the wooden bridges to take you into the castle. Practice your tip-toe walking before going. After a few drinks, the shoes just came off. Also, just outside the castle is a stone circle. Rumour has it, and we tried this as students in 1994; if a group of you walk between the stones at a particular time of night, figures appear from behind the stones and follow you. I can confirm that something like this did happen; however, I have been too scared to try again. Thank you for the video. It's always nice to see you on an adventure.

[@clairenurse2378]

Thank-you Sean, that was really enjoyable, love your dry humour.

[@colleenmckinlay2916]

Thank you so much for that amazing tour. What a joy to have a private tour along with you. If only those walls could talk. Talk about master masonry. They really knew how to built in those by gone years. What a massive structure and all done with human labour. Absolutely spectacular.

[@Honeybee-ym5vi]

Impressive. You can see why they built initially there; you could see any army approaching for miles. I think they would try to retain what they could weighed against the expense of doing so. I'm sure they must have had structural engineers come and evaluate what might stand and what might fall. Very interesting how they placed the windows when building castles like this one. Sometimes you could see what a striking appearance the light must have made. Many thanks for such a detailed view and exploration of the castle. Very enjoyable.

[@gillidee3400]

I really enjoyed this video, love all the stairs, rooms and nooks and crannies!

[@KimsCountryCorner]

For someone from the States who will probably never get to Wales, that was an amazing tour of the castle and surrounding area. Your story about the tourist statement reminded me of the first time I saw the Alamo. The Alamo is a famous historic fort in American History and it is located in San Antonio, Texas. So my partner and I decided we wanted to see it and he was driving us to it. And we were going right down the middle of San Antonio, which is a huge Metropolitan city, and I asked him "How many more miles to the Alamo?" And he answered, "It's just a few blocks over from here." To which I responded, "The Alamo is in the MIDDLE of San Antonio???" He laughed and said, "Well it wasn't always in the middle of a great big city." He had a good giggle at my surprise realization. I was expecting to find it outside of the city in the middle of nowhere in the desert. It was so odd and interesting to see this historic fort right in the middle of the great big city of San Antonio :) Thanks for the journey...Kim PS...I have a video about the Alamo on my other channel- Kim's Country Corner- Travels, if you're interested, but don't have to...

[@yvonnebailey24]

Thank you for taking me to the castle today Sean,very enjoyable and more so having the place quiet 😊

[@carolynhiscock9457]

Thank you for sharing this amazing building .Not one I will ever see in person.

[@lorrainemorris527]

I really enjoyed this and I love history i didn't realise it was so big . They really new how to build in those days and still standing but they're knowledge behind this still amazes me. All that walking you deserve a cup of tea ☕.

[@BernardDauphinais]

Absolutely amazing castle! You made me lol more than once! "original Tudor digger" Haha! Thanks for the good time out.

[@ceahorse56]

Sean that was the most interesting video I have watched in ages. If only walls could talk. ❤

[@AngelaCurtis-n4u]

My hometown ❤ amazing video Sean, thank you 😊

[@maryfennell9672]

That was lovely Sean, an amazing castle and a reasonable price to get in I thought. Thank you for taking us with you! Loved it! Hopefully they will do something to stop the tower falling completely, some sort of underpinning. Would be a shame to lose it.

[@dianeirvine1384]

Very good. Thanks heaps. Loved the trip.

[@melissamasters8936]

An u imagine living there? It would be cold, wet and drafty all the time. Give me a cozy cottage any day.

[@angelenaboden]

Love Caerphilly. Used to do some consulting there for the tourist board.

[@seanjamescameron]

They should send me an email 😉

[@angelenaboden]

​@@seanjamescameronI'll pass on your details to my contact at Visit Wales.

[@ourfloridagarden4191]

Beautiful place. Enchanting.

[@maureenmckenna5220]

Amazing. Each of this stones laid by hands in the 13th century, I think you said. Huge structure.

[@shirefinds6585]

Loved this video Sean. Thank you ever so much for sharing with us. It's a beautiful part of Wales and I hope to visit in the very near future. Glad to see you are looking and feeling much better. The Welsh air really suits you. Keep smiling Sean.💚

[@carolynsmith9765]

That castle must have been so cold .that's why no trees around beautiful

[@dixiedarr700]

Thanks for the tour!

[@Gotsomethingtosaynow]

Enjoyed visiting the castle with you.

[@welshmaggie1313]

Lovely to watch Thank you 😊

[@MP-xf3lp]

Ahh,bootiful Sean😂, my son used to work on security there

[@missmaryhdream6560]

Lovely day out for you Sean, glad you have let us, tag along x

[@munchkinheaven7877]

I loved this trip Sean, but I had terrible vertigo, I felt I was really there, you are a brilliant docu maker, more trips please in the future. This one was worth every penny of the £10 + entrance fee but I wonder how many kids have climbed up those metal barriers across the gantry’s and given their parents heart attacks, or the school trips with all those kids, doesn’t bear thinking about! That pigeon was a baby. I was just imagining how the stonemasons so long ago standing on rickety wooden scaffolding

[@MariaCreasey]

Thank you for this Sean. So interesting and wonderful views.

[@davidburd5164]

Great vid Sean, Wales is a country of great castles to explore. Many thanks for this.

[@user-sr2qz7uw2t]

Thoroughly enjoyed going with you on the tour of this castle. There is no way I would have had an opportunity to tour this castle and walk through its corridors and rooms otherwise. Thank you. I am your friend from Louisiana. You are younger than my oldest daughter. It is nice to have this opportunity to get to know a Welch person and see the Welch countryside. My DNA results show I am more Welch than Scotch-Irish! We did not know about the Welch! And we love the news. Thank you.

[@juliawatton149]

Thanks for the day out!! Very enjoyable. I lived in Wales from aged 9 to 18, my hubby is Welsh. Thanks for sharing so nice to see😁

[@yvonneevie5926]

stunning tour of the castle 😀🏰 thank you for taking us along,always enjoyable thank you sean 😃

[@garyadlington4151]

Thanks for sharing Sean, a great tour of the castle. We have lived in Caerphilly for 26 years now and tend to take the castle for granted, it`s high time to pay another visit as it seems to have opened up a bit more since our last visit

[@jpennturner]

Thank you Sean, I enjoyed this video.

[@SuperCmorris]

Amazing ! Enjoyed every moment, I try to imagine the people who lived there, how cold in winter time and windy dark passages leading to bed, the poor servants having to carry items around the place, fascinating Sean, loved it ❤

[@wendyneal9194]

Wow amazing, i enjoyed looking round the castle with you, thankyou😊

[@corbishpasty]

Really enjoying the videos! Very wholesome! The only time I visited Wales I went to Caerphilly castle, brings back fond family memories!

[@ullaMoss-cc1vn]

I enjoyed your visit around the Castle very much. Thank you Sean.

[@Cruella-Deville]

This is my home town. I love being Welsh. Salt of the earth.

[@benjohnson3022]

Great place isn't it!? Another lovely video Sean and nice to see the channel growing!

[@albertadonoghue7462]

Lovewatching you from Australia 😊

[@suefiebiger2290]

What a great adventure. You are the perfect tour guide. Your videography skills well displayed here. Thank you for taking us along.

[@paulineellison9047]

love going round the old castles

[@snowpony001]

That was very enjoyable. Thanks.

[@apace903]

I enjoy your relaxed style. Thank you😊

[@seanjamescameron]

You’re welcome 😊

[@bigunone]

Your one tuff hombre to jump a bus! 😁🤣 A Tudor digger consisted of a piece of metal on one end of stick and a serf on the other. Big crossbow was called a ballista

[@ozziejoes]

Thank you for the tour Sean, very enjoyable! 👍Castell Coch next? 😎

[@maltesegirl3480]

I live yards away, I really enjoyed your tour of our castle 🏰. ❤

[@ColinOBear]

That looked like such a nice day out and on the bus too! I know the castle quite well from previous visits but it was good seeing it through your lens. Happy days! :)

[@catherinecorless33]

I live just over Caerphilly mountain in north Cardiff and pop up to Caerphilly occasionally. The castle looks amazing at night when it's all lit up.

[@davey1602]

I've never visited Caerphilly or the castle, so thank you for being my tour guide. I swear I didn't raid the tuck shop or blow up the toilet :D

[@debzhughes5270]

Thanks for the look around caerphilly castle I collect fridge magnets don't take up much space and they are like a photo in your mind I look at mine and smile as I remember the holiday ❤

[@Sinaisid]

Nice to see the Castle, but for me Caerphilly was always about Carrefour - Wales first hypermarket - which my mum loved and as a young teen I was dragged around complaining!!!! The castle of course is excellent!!!!

[@tompo7467]

I remember carrefour when I was a kid too

[@grunt22]

Bernie Winters opened it and they had a giant monkey there if I remember

[@tompo7467]

@@grunt22 haha they did 😃

[@Sinaisid]

I remember in 78 (the year I went to Uni). They brought in a big animatronic gorilla - locally called something not very PC!!!! To celebrate 5 years trading or something!! It was bizarre!!

[@beachamgroup2482]

To be politically incorrect the gorilla was called king mong.

[@fionasaunders7646]

Really well done , I was fortunate to see around Caerphilly many years ago , so thoroughly enjoyed viewing it again! Superb place!!!

[@zzydny]

As I recall there was a British author (although I fail to recall quite who) said that main difference between the US and the UK was that in the UK 100 miles was considered a long distance and that in the US 100 years was considered a long time. So, as an American who is properly astonished by any construction that is more than 700 years old, I opine that said building should be propped up and allowed to continue to stand for as long as possible into the future.

[@carolvenables3970]

That was lovely, you would make a lovely tour guide ❤

[@SeaShoreAnnie]

Absolutely top notch, what a beautiful castle & a great tour- Don't quote me but I think Caerphilly Castle is the largest out of Wales Castles. Thank you Seam, well done, that was a real treat. Annie🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@Angel-002]

You are right, it is the largest in Wales & the second largest in Britain 👍🏰

[@erikacooper8348]

Thank you for the great tour, love a bit of history! Looking forward to your video's to come, I have a postage stamp garden , so waiting for the gardening video's too. Best wishes from Essex.

[@vickiphillips7910]

Wow! How fabulous! Thank you for taking us with you. We collect frig magnetics when we go exploring new places or towns. Blessings

[@Mistydazzle]

Wow! That was fantastic - thank you! I loved your commentary & seeing all the quirky bits to that giant building. So happy that the tower did not fall (like the leaves of a certain season) while you were there! I wonder if the originals in that castle spoke a bit of Norman French as they stood in queues at the shops across the moat for blancmange, courgettes, gateau during Autumn! 😉 My fridge magnets & tea towels also display places that I’ve visited. Such pretty scenes in the kitchen. 😊