We had an hour free on Monday afternoon and thought we would go searching for treasure at Castell Coch. We are very lucky, we have a fairytale castle only a 10 minutes drive away and as we are members of CADW entrance is free. It is usually £6 per adult. They have audio guides but it needs to be held to your ear so I couldn't use it and chase Bear, headphones would have been easier.
For those who are unfamiliar with Castell Coch, it means Red Castle in Welsh. It sits amongst woodland on a hillside just next to the village of Tongwynlais. It is a new castle rebuilt in the 1870's on Norman foundations. It was designed by William Burges for the very wealthy Marquess of Bute. I was hoping for sunshine but it was a bit chilly and Castell Coch is perfect for these sorts of days because so much is indoors.
All castles have their stories and it is said that treasure was hidden in the castle by a Cavalier during the Civil War. He never came back from the war but his ghost is said to haunt the castle searching for the treasure.
Many have tried to find it but we had an advantage, we had Bear! Off we went searching for treasure at Castell Coch.
![Searching For Treasure At Castell Coch Toddler running to entrance](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-PWxrjaEoJFYFALo2cjU8z1ZppprJHcce9pyrajyoOUDku68dpQdIau15chOPoY3c2SY__pNdnr_Hp4aO_3SPcuwnBbgePWjFIXK0YZMz7aXZDbH-9xKzvJhSlAHPjLwD_5SqnahkWA/s1600/Searching+For+Treasure+At+Castell+Coch+entrance.jpg) |
Searching For Treasure At Castell Coch - Bears off! |
![toddler looking in grating](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCnlMwwHicYTlg5Ozc78ri_hsnoE7_69oJmaxGwvZVk0Kr3QWUCBzMOZ7iFwlfsp4-FPb_o_cAUqzuyQDMximaupEnX6S4ahRAkvI15x91JF6c4J1peUcn18X_KSsrUA7qF8xDUqTcf8/s1600/Searching+For+Treasure+At+Castell+Coch++%25284%2529.jpg) |
Is it under here? |
![KItchen furnished as in medieval times](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSereOdKDO94d3X0rDCcfR14TYCi-cu_RcHRrISvtxOfgrBi0b8F-2K37bP19KsSPt52arXflKN42wWX9We6r8eCk0MDCx3butq2bZoyDgUd8kwQ75sY_UxwKRXAzrjVK1QWtwAVwr0o/s1600/Searching+For+Treasure+At+Castell+Coch++%25287%2529.jpg) |
Or in the kitchen? |
![spiral staircase going down](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGKx_Jm-1fMLVVuj4arsDCe18_XPn8zbM-5zGnsNFEm4GIA1kyq0ZS7LBciO660LTPGno51-dzsWIEKg30nxvuny7sKes0tKC7r7La7r-R_7T_9wJAIUILnCGopAWGfV1d3kUyi5x-vo/s1600/Searching+For+Treasure+At+Castell+Coch++%252815%2529.jpg) |
Or down here? |
![toddler opening green cupboard with jug and bowl on top](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlYIY1Yak2W0Fbvr0b-eU5uGOHDpmMH4kFGfQOST4f3M0PBzrf4ZLuEv4OQUM_Wn9MNt8pIB4vrjM_0vKjuBFNys4gW5xpLu0zyAdP7Q4JVQfptZ0TedTqL1gRPdjfLDrfVKmk9LEBZU/s1600/Searching+For+Treasure+At+Castell+Coch++%25281%2529.jpg) |
Maybe in this wash stand? |
![Toddler with hand in carving of lion on a chair arm](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAZnnZwmXOSfq3wOJMVCTstxN_IQS3y8aRYcJ13W6FWe2J66gFw5WkusBat3POXb2c_Buc-K2NmWE3gAxVoG4slZhlTN3CH4iACbLT8kqq5dF7LgFLiOQB7t47VSqAvoZes8smO7ZK_I/s1600/Searching+For+Treasure+At+Castell+Coch++%25288%2529.jpg) |
Or in the lions mouth? |
![dining table with grand fireplace behind](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1C4eUJbqudc61oitcn7QrK7OGDfnQKCCRgZMnNZ2wil1PhvuwgMghofsdBwh1BSXwoFLl3DBAnFeM46fyuCZaCddzzeWejbMgBFC3ULHepXULOhIcZJap7gTxKlGI2QHZ_woGvvuUxg/s1600/Searching+For+Treasure+At+Castell+Coch++%252819%2529.jpg) |
In the dining room? |
![toddler running away across a room](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIYD_bqfVjvxMgsodTJDhxCzwXkyfx6enGu4ViC4V9QqlYLjLyMavYxrU3jcOxawW6YUMBQH8bOf958aGA4ZwauNjz5pVaXQtEpolfFFPtD2M2z1jRGtp7rW3WdLY1ix5UIo19FqHjmQ/s1600/Searching+For+Treasure+At+Castell+Coch++%252814%2529.jpg) |
In here! Lets look in here! |
![picture of portcullis](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik14c33hX5iLSL3nJtxigU3NFLGX3DM0MFc-E9L0AcNS1JVH8aFuNXudYcSCi0MIGSSeAr_2pVTmT2dicCV-9egSypHBH104ScsDvdDRadmUfKMS1Ohme4aBLY71QIcOjK7jnqlVFxx6Q/s1600/Searching+For+Treasure+At+Castell+Coch++%252818%2529.jpg) |
No! Just a portcullis |
![toddler looking at steps going up](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCK-Oqq3CjoUWfxSmdEF88bp6EBSPwTQbdexy1z22UYyXDCCyj4A0S3G_bBqEo8YtWeVXBarKpTrqtCId_vbjECqi2PI4vh5U8tKu-F4Rc902AAMVTnlPTgk8I_rEDfWFOo7i_91s0PK8/s1600/Searching+For+Treasure+At+Castell+Coch++%252810%2529.jpg) |
Not in the dungeon, so back up the steps |
![toddler looking at glass case housing wooden dogs and huntsmen on horses](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMZW_bBHwDd44obuTaS6X2AxddLynifBXOWNXqzL75MT4td7rR19ys3i_cIPxZIm9A2FpOwY-Myn4c4A8z0XcaoX_8Wk-F7_CwmSvTdasTHmZAGNPFBePMegiwrzpkmcwynuU5B_V6uw/s1600/Searching+For+Treasure+At+Castell+Coch++%25283%2529.jpg) |
Not in the box with the Pentyrch Hunt |
![Winding gear with very blurred image of toddler](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwu6EITwrc2c4E7muQnpOXJHr9OmG-I8VbePxZzUceHyuR_5LTrWCZm4Kihnj6MaXqKtgBZwY77gq1CEPq4cp5VW5azdv5q-dExz08Q_z6n0FMwkSXBjCAqq3YLl3byVXRdFpcxHDu5PM/s1600/Searching+For+Treasure+At+Castell+Coch++%25289%2529.jpg) |
Is that a ghost? Or a treasure hunter? |
![castle courtyard with toddler on balcony and man holding same toddler in window](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMIZk0J_nWjFhiVyv320a8B2R-PGhMLrGZGEdLp62qB-5O3-UHeJeY5AtZbM_EJ1h6JrsSnrMV5MfmCr206oun6Qcv6iu3wPX9LueEF9kZW0mxARj-XUaHXgLiRFixY1hIW7Gu0PsBHY/s1600/Searching+For+Treasure+At+Castell+Coch+ghost+at+the+window.jpg) |
Spooky! Bear on the balcony and with Grandad in the window! Which is the ghost? |
![collage of the wall decorations. Beautifully painted scenes on walls and birds on the ceiling](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcMxp3SHWM9eEF083NkIHd1z2L-E5P6_0zozr5tsTgMhDWSdj7RD-daPCaM0MFqUlDjR1JPaNJoy1PwHAXZ_js27hxWd8BPferq7yBJD30N5GCv0VusvHZaVEnmST4ez6Aud0ySb1BrI/s1600/Searching+For+Treasure+At+Castell+Coch+collage.jpg) |
The interior is stunning. |
![porcullis looking up at it](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7FRo3YDYfUt6wjAbXtfbMPC8nAQG1my4SFKl_CLHwz9hVi21r5b3Ab9TepMYDI7_bOpF9WQkU4q2ul69SG-wIej6L9TMNfsIWFgVPYmqqAjDAoxwx3kr2o1Srp47Wxmrjd_AAC21RW8/s1600/Searching+For+Treasure+At+Castell+Coch++%252811%2529.jpg) |
The portcullis ready to stop treasure hunters from entering (or leaving) |
![man and toddler in distance walking away from castle](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZ2tNp5g4FqDTa3NDfWEiGaVMUhYP3BsnyrFd4T87ijO9YjBEsgKON-wzHYYNjMp6kEE0fZ65m8SDdhYHALsSVMEOaASYvrSnuMOsO2MKq-UvLRh6XwGLNoIPbNWhTHWoj8N1UFIF2GY/s1600/Castell+Coch.+no+treasure.jpg) |
"We didn't find the treasure, Grandad" "No, but there's always next time." |
We had a great time at Castell Coch. There was so much more to see that we missed on our whistle stop tour. They have a shop and a cafe that gets very good reviews. The views from the towers are also spectacular so we must come back.
The castle is on a steep hill with a few disabled parking spaces next to the castle but, like most castles, there are loads of steps. There are baby changing facilities but I would say the site is not buggy friendly.
It was great for a toddler though, Bear loved it.
Have you been to Castell Coch?
*We purchased our CADW membership ourselves
Ahhh, looks like Bear had a great adventure, Sally. I absolutely love Castell Coch. It was one of my favourite places to visit as a child and I love taking my children there now. I love the ornate decor inside, and the way the roof pops out from the trees when you're driving past. just stunning. x
ReplyDeleteIt really is magical. I was surprised at how much there was to see as it's such a small castle. We missed so much! Any excuse for another visit.
DeleteWe love it here, and were lucky enough to visit a few months ago. It looks like Bear had a great time and you took some fab photos!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't been for years and I had forgotten how wonderful it is. We will definitely be back.
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