Leisurely walk to Deganwy Castle

It had been a tiring week. On Monday I had a bit of an intense night with Neil, and on Tuesday I was on the track, in rather awful weather. That makes the track running a bit trying, and the biking home as well. Then on Wednesday we had the underground trip, and on Thursday I was back on the hills. And, of course, I work too. By Friday I was really glad I didn't have anything on in the evening. And then on Saturday I went to Neil. 

We had decided we were going to do something not awfully strenuous, hadn't made up our mind on what exactly. But on the day we decided we were going to walk to Deganwy Castle. I was aware of its existence, and I also know there wasn't an awful load left of it. But that was about all I knew!

We descended the Orme, and walked to Deganwy over the beach. That was very scenic. And we had lunch in a structure that was probably designed exactly for that: it was basically a highly decorative bus stop where there was no bus route. Just benches and a roof. But this is greater Llandudno, so there were pillars. 

On the beach

We crossed through Deganwy and ascended a hill. Immediately, it was very peaceful! And soon we so the first remnants of a stone wall. The castle!

Reaching the remnants of the castle 

View from the castle over the estuary 

The ruins span two hillocks

I read up about it a bit afterwards. On this site, there definitely had been Roman activity, but it is quite possible the strategic location of this volcanic plug had been used by people before that time. There had been an actual castle there from the 7th century. In the 13th century, it had been seriously rebuilt, and later equally seriously destroyed.  And that is why there is so little of it left now. It was actually the Welsh who destroyed it; they didn't want to fall into the hands of the English.

After that we just walked back home. I thought it was enough for the day. When we sat on the sofa for a bit later on, I dozed off on Neil’s shoulder. It is highly unusual for me to sleep during the day! If I do there is something wrong. I am either ill or really exhausted. That week had taken it out of me more than I had even realised. But I had still managed to see remnants of a mediaeval castle I have never seen before!