Caerphilly Castle was the first of many castles we saw in Wales. We arrived at around 6pm, it was pitch black, freezing and we considered turning the car around and just coming back the following morning. But we convinced ourselves to at least walk around the castle and enjoy it at night. Thank the Gods we did! We noticed a long queue of people heading into the castle so we decided to follow them and see what was happening. The lady in reception asked us if we were here to see the screening of Beauty and the Beast. OMG ARE YOU SERIOUS?? We managed to get a seat (it was fully booked but people missed out due to traffic - sorry not sorry!!) So we watched my favourite movie of all time inside a 13th Century Castle. What an amazing start to Wales!
We headed back to Caerphilly the following morning, there was snow over the mountains, and honestly it was the coldest I have ever been in my life. But that castle! Look at it! Caerphilly was built between 1268-1290 and is the second largest castle and has the most elaborate water defences in all of Britain.

Just a 25 minute drive north of Inveraray and I came across Kilchurn Castle. A 25 minute drive! There are so many reasons why I love living in Scotland, but the vast number of castles to explore would have to be number one. 

My sat nav broke down on the way to the castle, and I was nervous that I would miss it completely, before coming across a tour bus and about 6 cars parked alongside the road, and I knew I had made it. I attempted to walk down to the Loch but literally got stuck in the mud and had to rip my foot out of the ground before fetching for my shoe. So instead I drove around and found the actual entrance to the castle and stuck to the designated path. I still managed to slip into a puddle and get mud absolutely everywhere. 

Kilchurn Castle was built around 1450, served as a garrison during the Jacobite risings in the 1700s and then turned to ruins after major lightning damage a few decades later.