A Day Trip to South Wales: Caerphilly Castle and Tintern Abbey

On a recent family trip to Bath, England, my husband, two children and I decided to drive an hour into Wales to take in some of the country's rich history. Caerphilly Castle and Tintern Abbey, located about 45 minutes from one another in South Wales, provided both a wealth of history for us and exploring opportunities for our young children. When planning a trip to Wales or southwest England, Caerphilly Castle and Tintern Abbey should top the list of attractions travelers won't want to miss.

Caerphilly Castle
Located in Caerphilly and near the capitol of Cardiff, Caerphilly Castle is a castle ruin surrounded by a moat in the city centre. It's location in the city makes in ideal for a morning or afternoon trip, topped off by shopping or a cup of tea in town. Parking is located in town, and within easy walking distance of the castle. A defensive castle, Caerphilly Castle has three exterior walls and drawbridges. It is possible for travelers to climb up onto one of the walls and walk around, viewing Caerphilly and the moats below. The highlight of Caerphilly Castle is a leaning tower that travelers can approach and explore. The grounds inside were ideal for my children to walk around and explore, and we were able to spend as much as an hour walking around, reading about the history of this fortress, and taking pictures. Then, it's convenient location to the town made it possible to pop into town for a walk, shopping, and something to eat.