Probably the most exciting thing is getting there, especially to Beaumaris Castle which is located on the island of Anglesey at the northwestern tip of Wales. The motorway follows the coast and takes you through a series of tunnels. After each tunnel the clouds became darker, the wind stronger and the rain more persistent. It feels as if you're approaching the end of the world.

I finally arrived at Beaumaris via the modern bridge and some narrow, winding roads. It is a small town, with the castle prominently located in the center. My visit was a bit hurried because of the rain pouring down, and because I had not paid for the parking as I had no coins left. Actually, all parking spots I have had over this weekend had to be paid in small change, strangely there was no other way to pay.

Beaumaris Castle has all the usual features of a medieval castle. What is left is the complete outer ring, surrounded by water. Inside there's not a lot to see - about as much as you can expect during a half an hour visit and for a 3.80-pound entry fee.

I then drove on eastwards again, to Conwy, via the Menai-bridge (another Industrial Revolution design by Thomas Telford). Conwy has a very different set of fortifications from Beaumaris. They are located higher up on a rock, and the castle is adorned with lean turrets. It's an impressive piece of work from a distance, more palace-like in features than Beaumaris. It also has two elaborate suspension bridges from a later date that complete the view.

Conwy not only comprises a castle, but also the old town is enclosed by walls built by James I. A visit here is a popular outing on a Sunday afternoon: there were hundreds, probably thousands of tourists around. Conwy is close enough to Liverpool for example for an easy day trip. I started with lunch and tried the local mussels which were very tasty indeed. Then I went into the castle. Like the one in Beaumaris it is mainly the walls that are still standing. The design of the towers makes them more picturesque. I climbed some of them to enjoy the views.

In all, I wasn't completely taken over by these castles. They're said to be a kind of prototype of all medieval castles in Europe (or at least among the oldest surviving ones from that period), so it's more their age we should appreciate than their visual uniqueness.