Today was an exceptionally sunny day so on a whim we decided to go out for the afternoon. Miss P is doing a module on castle at school so we thought we’d visit a castle at the nearby town of Carrickfergus so she could see one in real life.
I had last been to the castle many years ago with my dear Auntie Sandy who is no longer with us, I recall the day being very cold, wet and windy – no real surprises there for Northern Ireland. Today, however, the weather was glorious, blue skies and barely a cloud in the sky.
The castle is over 800 years old and last saw military action during World War 2. Following the short walk from the carpark, Miss E and Miss P were keen to get inside and explore.
We had to walk up quite a few steps to get to the top of the ramparts. This was the view that rewarded us when we got to the top – the marina and Belfast Lough.
There were several huge cannons on display. We then went inside the Keep (the fortified tower built within the castle) to investigate the different levels. There are 4 floors which we could visit. The ground floor contains the vaults, the 1st floor houses a model of the castle and the original well. There is also a room to watch a animated film on the history of the castle. The 2nd floor contains the Servery and Banquet Hall and the 3rd floor is the huge Solar Room. The Solar Room was the the girls favourite as it contained a giant chess game and a suit of armour and a chain mail suit.
Some of the rooms had windows that are little more than slits in the walls, but look how deep the walls are!
The castle contains a couple of original narrow and spiral staircases but we thought it best to stick to the user friendly modern day ones.
After leaving the castle, the girls got to play on the green outside and since we came prepared Miss P had a go with her new kite.
It really was perfect weather for a kite flying novice. Once we had enough we got ice creams from a van parked nearby and sat on a wall to eat them.
Overall we had a good afternoon, the girls enjoyed running around the castle both inside and outside and Miss P found it great that she could relate what she had learnt in school to something real.
We LOVE visiting Carrick castle, its a real favorite of ours. Looks like you guys had great weather for it too. x
I tell you that it was some drive cause of road works. I imagine it’s a nightmare drive during the week.
Wow, what a lovely day to go exploring!
Awesome to goo see a castle! Fun experience! Hugz Lisa and Bear
Thanks
Looks like perfect weather to be exploring a castle, lucky girls. Some lovely photos too:)
Thank you.
That sounds so fun! I love historical things like that and adore castles. Of course we don’t have those here but we do have military forts dating from the 1700s. Someday I’d love to travel your way and go on a castle tour!!
I’m going to try and visit a lot more places of interest this Easter and summer. The US does more Renaissance Fayres than we do in the UK, which is a shame at I think they’d be great fun to go to.
Beautiful view from atop the castle. Sounds like you had a wonderful day with great weather.
We were very lucky with the weather.
We went there last year, the views from the top are amazing! And now I want to get my boys a kite too!
Our one was just a cheapie plastic kite but now we want to get a proper sports kite.
What a fantastic looking place, well worth the visit I’d say 🙂
Well the weather helped make it a good place to visit, not so sure it’d be as welcoming in the depths of winter.
Ooh I do love a good castle, so much history. Great photos you have taken 🙂 #MMWBH
Sabrina x
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I want to see a castle so bad!!