Windsor Castle, UK

We managed to pick a fantastic day to go out to Windsor Castle. It was a fantastic experience. A highlight was seeing Sir Ed's coat of arms (something we weren't allowed to photograph), unfortunately they'd just taken down his crest to make way for his successor: Prince William.

Statue of Queen Victoria at the intersection on the way to Windsor Castle entrance

Outer Castle wall

Inside the walls of the Castle, Keep centre and St George's Chapel on the left

Windsor Castle Keep (a.k.a The Round Tower)

The Royal Standard flying high
yes, the Queen was home, but alas we didn't see her

Cannon on the Castle wall

Sir Ed's Crest that they had taken down and given to Lady Hillary
This is a googled pic

Malaysian Guards on tour of duty at Windsor

The Quadrangle (where the Queen hangs out when she's home)

Ty and us in Windsor having a rest while searching for a pub along the Thames

Okehampton Castle Ruins, Castle Drogo and sights on the way home

Yes, we know we've been extremely slack in updating our blog... and just to confirm that here's what we did for the rest of the weekend after we came out very wet from the moors (almost 2 months ago now.)

As Murphies law would have it as soon as we'd paid for our hostel, had our showers and hot chocolates the rain stopped and the sun came out in Okehampton. But we were still pretty grateful to be warm and dry and out of the moors.

We quickly forgot that only an hour earlier we were feeling a little sorry for ourselves and we continued exploring Okehampton. Our New Zealand charm gained us access to Okehampton Castle Ruins just as the attendant was locking up (well it was actually the attendant's confidence that being from New Zealand that we should know how to jump fences that got us in - and out).

Okehampton Castle was of French (Norman) motte and bailey design: a Castle Keep (or place where the owner lived) on top of the hill (the motte) which over looks the rest of the castle (the bailey).

Unfortunately there's no grand story about these ruins or anything romantic - the castle was simply deserted and left to rot.

Okehampton Castle keep and motte

View towards the bailey and Okehampton from the top of the motte

Our last planned trip of the weekend was visiting Castle Drogo, the last Castle built in England in 1910-1920 by an English businessman. The gardens were beautiful and Richard was very excited to see them.

Formal entrance into Castle Drogo

An excited Richard

On the way home to London it started raining again and we popped into Salisbury cathedral (which was being restored - so the photo doesn't do it much justice) and drove past Stonehenge.

Salisbury Cathedral

Salisbury original city wall and entrance

Drive by picture of Stonehenge
please excuse the fence