Medieval Exterior

 So following on from yesterday's post which focused on some of the interior detail today I have shared a selection of exterior shots from Raby Castle.

As you can see from these images the castle is a magnificent structure in a beautiful setting.

The low crenelated outer wall would originally been significantly higher as it formed the main outer defence along with the moat. However it has been largely removed along this elevation as the defensive structure is no longer needed and it provides an effective boundary to the main castle. By removing the wall it has allowed the inhabitants of the castle to gain exceptional views across the parkland and allows visitors to the grounds an opportunity to enjoy the fine medieval architecture.

Joyful

 

I have had many mental debates about whether I should post this image because it is a candid shot of two unknown children. I was visiting a castle in Alsace and making my way through the different rooms when I spotted this scene. One parent was standing in the way to create space while the other parent was trying to capture a photo of their children. Without thinking I captured the moment from where I was standing, but in the low light and without adjusting my settings I wasn't sure what I would get. 

A little further on when I had chance to look at this image I realised that it was quite special but by then it was too late to speak to the parents to offer to share it with them.

I wasn't sure whether I should post this stolen moment, even now as I am writing this I am hesitating, but in the end I have decided that it is too good not to share. I love this picture, I love the joy captured in the moment, I love the light and shadows and I love the wonder of the little child with arms outstretched as if to say "Look at this!"

 

Still Standing

 This is Hurst Castle, a coastal fort that was built in the time of King Henry VIII, extended and used in the Napoleonic Wars and further modified and in use during WWII. Unfortunately part of the castle is currently closed to visitors due to the fact that one of the sea walls has collapsed due to high seas and the effect of erosion. Work is under way to repair the damage.

It is amazing to think that this has been a working fort for almost 500 years.

This was my second visit to Hurst Castle. The first time I went was about 18 years ago. I had been camping in the New Forest with my young family, we parked up in Keyhaven and rather than take the ferry to the castle I thought it would be a good idea to walk along the shingle spit to make the most of the views across the Solent. I hadn't realised it was a 3 mile walk and although that isn't too far really the fact that it was on shingle made it really hard work. Also as we approached the castle the sky turned a very dark grey and I was dreading the walk back in case it rained. As the visit to the castle continued I heard a rumbling sound and rushed to the top of one of the towers to watch a Spitfire fly past. That was such an exciting and memorable moment but shortly afterwards the rumbling changed and rather than the sound of the Rolls Royce Merlin engine it was the rumble of thunder which was followed by the heaviest downpour.

Luckily the ferry back to Keyhaven arrived in time to rescue us and return us to the harbour and the carpark so we didn't get too wet.

This time round it was just my youngest son and I, we were also on a camping holiday and while I remembered the previous visit quite vividly my son was less sure. Nevertheless he wanted to take the ferry both ways so that's what we did. It was nice to go back and at one point I observed two spitfires flying over the Isle of Wight and then as we were boarding the ferry for the return trip we were treated to a flypast by a two seat spitfire which really topped off the day.

Topiary

 I had such a lovely time at Sizergh Castle, the gardens are really wonderful. I didn't get to explore everywhere because I didn't have an awful lot of time but I made the most of what time I had.

One of my favourite parts of the gardens was the topiary, it was just so peaceful and I like the view looking through the gates as they welcome you into this hidden gem.

I would normally try to avoid getting people in my shots and anyone who has been with me when I take photos will have been frustrated as they wait for me as I wait to get the perfect shot. As it happens I didn't have to wait long to get people free shots in this part of the garden however as you can see in the second image there is someone there. I had watched them walking towards the end of this passage and I knew that they added something special to the image.

I love the third image because I had sat for a few minutes just soaking up the atmosphere and wishing I could stay a bit longer

Medieval Masterpiece

There is a certain fairytale quality about the Chateau de Haut Koenigsbourg in Alsace. Perched high on a rocky hilltop it was apparently the inspiration for the design on the Citadel at Minas Tirith in Peter Jackson's Lord of The Rings Trilogy.

It is a marvelous castle, with turrets and walkways in the walls, spiral staircases, a deep will and beautiful tiled roofs as well as some amazing decorative murals and painted ceilings.

Knock Knock... Who's There?

The connection between all of today's images is Caernafon. The first picture is a knocker on the great door of Caernafon Castle. I liked the door as a whole but really like the detail of the cast iron knocker.

The anchor is placed on the harbour front as a feature resting on a large compass, pointing North.

The third shot was taken overlooking the harbour. I would really love to own a boat but a motor cruiser would suit me better than a yacht like this.

Evening on the Neckar

Today I have selected a few pictures from Heidelberg with views of the River Neckar, as you can see it was a beautiful evening and as the sun went down the lights in the city give it a magical quality.  It was ideal for an evening cruise or a pleasant walk along the  river banks. My evening ended in a small country inn with delicious rustic cooking... very nice!

Beautiful Northumberland

Today's pictures were taken in 2005 on a trip to Northumberland.  The first image is taken from Holy Island and the second picture shows Lindisfarne Castle now managed by the National Trust and worth a visit.

My favourite picture is the shot of the "boat houses" which were on the island in the shadow of the castle.  They are quite quirky but also a great example of recycling.

The final picture today is "Bridge End" the old road bridge across the River Tweed at Berwick close to the border with Scotland.  It was getting late in the evening and bad weather was coming in so the light wasn't too good but it is a remarkable construction.

Let me know if you have a favourite from today's selection in the comments box below...

Portchester

Over the next few days I am going to post pictures of a couple of castles.  

Today I have selected a few images from Portchester Castle in Hampshire which is a place I used to visit often as a child.  I spent many Saturdays running in the moat and walking the dog with my grandad before going to his local and having a glass of lemonade and a bag of crisps in the beer garden.

The first picture is of the Norman Keep which is the newest part of the castle, during the Napoleonic Wars the keep was used as a Prison for French Prisoners of War.  There are great views from the top of the keep if you are brave enough to climb the narrow spiral stairs, which I did this summer for the first time in many years and it was really memorable.

The second picture is of the sea gate in the Roman wall and the third image is of the gate into the main living area of the castle below the keep, it is accessed via a bridge across the inner moat.  Visiting the castle has become a bit of a tradition or even pilgrimage for me and I love to share this special place.

Tomorrow I will share a few more images from Portchester and over the weekend I will focus on a different type of castle, there's a lot to look forward to...