Tuesday 4th September – (Sand) Castles and my final day in Wales

It is official, I am all Castle-d out.

Wales is full of them – ruined ones, lived in ones, big ones, small ones, famous ones and un-known ones. And today I went to one of the best known – Pembroke Castle.

I decided that I should move away from the coast for a bit and see some of the history of this area of Wales and thought this was a good place because, as we learnt yesterday, Henry Tudor (later King Henry the 7^th and Father to King Henry the 8^th) was born there.

Found Pembroke easily and parked in the castle car park (Pretty sure it wasn’t there when it was built though!) and paid £2 for 5 hours 🙂

Walked up a pretty steep hill to get to the entrance and paid £6.60 to get in and bought myself a guide book as I’d missed the tour by 10 mins and the next one wasn’t for two hours – damn.

Made my way inside the castle walls and started climbing the first of the stone spiral staircases (to keep the fighting arm free when under attack and to make it harder to get into the tower) and got lost within the confusing twists and turns of the exhibitions! There were rooms and rooms, staircase after staircase and I ended up not sure what I had seen and what I hadn’t! Lots of information boards in each room and plenty of wax models (which make me feel a little uncomfortable) but I mean LOTS of information.

Ended up walking out onto the castle ramparts to get some air and take a walk around the parameter of the first few towers. The sunshine was out and the castle looked glorious.

I made my way around all of the rooms and the ruins, all buildings from different periods of time and different owners of the castle. It was great to be able to do this and not have lots of areas taped off.

There was a wax work tableau of where they believe Henry Tudor was born. This shows Henry in the arms of his nurse, together with his Mother Lady Margaret Beaufort seated before the fire and a maid servant warming linen. This tower didn’t know what it was witnessing – the start of the infamous Tudor dynasty! If only walls really could talk.

Where did that saying come from? – ‘They are very Upper Crust’

We already know that in medieval times, people used bread as a plate, called trenchers. White was considered superior to brown and was solely for the wealthy. However, the very best, the uppercrust, was reserved for the Lord and Nobles, hence the term ‘upper crust.’

The Great Tower is one of the earliest, tallest and certainly finest cylindrical Great Towers (or Keeps) in Britain. Built around 1200, it was the work of the great Earl William Marshall – the greatest and most famous warrior in the world.

There was also some graffiti carved into the wall of the Monkton Tower during the Middle Ages, showing the arms of the de Barri family of Manorbier (Where I visited yesterday).

There was the First archaeological dig at Pembroke Castle for over 70 years – you can read more on  the link.

After a couple of hours exploring, I left the castle to take a stroll around Pembroke. It didn’t take long. The only thing I found I wanted to linger at was the small museum in the Town Hall, where there used to be a courtroom.

It was free to get in (small donation welcomed) and had some interesting items from Pembroke over the years. There was a whole wall covered with photos of the Mayors and Mayoresses over the year. Some amusing images that were clearly of their time!

There were also some beautiful hand-painted murals on the history of the town too. They were very interesting to look at.

And I found an old picture of the high street, that I then went and took a modern photo of – here they are…

I was in need of lunch and there was one place I couldn’t get out of my mind since visiting there yesterday afternoon for tea and cake, so I made my way back to ‘WaveCrest’ at West Angle beach.

This time I was in time for lunch and the sun was so beautiful that I sat outside. I had their vegetable platter, which was delicious. If you ever go near here – go there”. I spent a wonderful hour eating, drinking, reading and contemplating life. (I still don’t have a clue about life, but what a wonderful place to contemplate it!)

Back to the campsite next as I wanted to go back into Tenby before its time for me to leave Wales tomorrow. So, I walked back towards town and found some steep stairs to climb down that took me on to the beach.

No narrative needed for these photos – just breath taking.

Check out the size of this jellyfish! That, my friends, is why I won’t swim in the sea!

Found a lovely small church on the harbour side, St Julian’s – very pretty.

I walked through town and towards the other beach and again, no words needed. I managed to get nearer the island you’re not allowed on too…..

Back to the van to relax and watch bake-off!

I’m slightly concerned that I have developed a small obsession with guidebooks. Please check with me before you visit anywhere in the UK as I probably have the guidebook you can take with you. For all my fellow book sniffers – they smell glorious.