{"id":29605,"date":"2023-07-28T06:43:28","date_gmt":"2023-07-28T04:43:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/?p=149490"},"modified":"2023-07-28T07:41:13","modified_gmt":"2023-07-28T05:41:13","slug":"step-into-a-world-of-vikings-normans-and-clan-chieftains-with-these-10-must-visit-coastal-castles","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/step-into-a-world-of-vikings-normans-and-clan-chieftains-with-these-10-must-visit-coastal-castles\/","title":{"rendered":"Step into a world of Vikings, Normans and clan chieftains with these 10 must-visit coastal castles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Discover 10 of the UK’s most dramatic coastal castles, from Conwy Castle in Wales and Dunluce in Northern Ireland, to Tintagel in England and Eilean Donan in Scotland. <\/p>

By Dave Hamilton\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 28 July 2023 at 04:43 AM<\/p>

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Throughout history, from the Viking and Norman invasions to the Napoleonic and Second World Wars, Britain and the island of Ireland has been under constant threat of invasion by sea. For more than a millennium, these shores have been protected by forts and castles up and down our vast coastline.<\/p>\n

In Wales the grand Norman Castles were built to subdue the local population, in Scotland castles were built by clan chieftains to protect their lands from warring neighbours, and during the uneasiness of the Napoleonic era, gun towers were constructed to protect against our nearest enemy, just across the sea.<\/p>\n

Today, these castles betray their long and bloody pasts to become the subjects of painters, poets and artists. They have the power to fire the imagination of the young and old alike as we climb their towers and walls, dreaming of a long lost time.<\/p>\n

In this guide, we reveal 10 of the most dramatic coastal castles that you can visit today, from Conwy Castle<\/a> in Wales and Dunluce Castle<\/a> in Northern Ireland, to Tintagel Castle<\/a> in England and Eilean Donan Castle<\/a> in Scotland.<\/p>\n

Looking for more castles to visit in the UK?<\/h4>\n

Britain\u2019s ancient castles are woven into the rich heritage of our cities and countryside. Explore remote medieval ruins and iconic castles with our guide to the best castles to visit in Britain<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"Corfe<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>

10 spectacular coastal castles to visit in the UK<\/h2>\n

Tintagel Castle, Cornwall<\/h3>\n
\"Tintagel<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Today visitors can cross the impressive new 68.5m bridge spanning the gorge over to Tintagel Island to visit the ruin and the caves below\/Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Exposed on a rocky outcrop, with the raging Atlantic Sea below and the wide-open Cornish sky above, the very elements which make Tintagel a special place to visit have reduced it to a crumbling, romantic ruin.<\/p>\n

Despite its ruinous state, the castle sees nearly a quarter of a million visitors a year, attracted in part by its associations with King Arthur, the legendary king of the Britons.<\/p>\n