Carrickfergus Castle

Welcome to Carrickfergus Castle, a towering monument to military engineering and political ambition perched right on the edge of Belfast Lough. I am delighted to be your guide through nine centuries of conflict, architectural…

We now approach the formidable entrance of the castle, an area designed specifically to inspire terror in the hearts of any attacking force. As you step under the heavy archway of the main gatehouse, I want you to look straight…

Having survived the terrifying gauntlet of the gatehouse, we now emerge into the open space of the outer ward. Take a look around at the massive curtain wall that encases this courtyard. …

We now step inside the modern resource and audiovisual room, a wonderful educational space tucked neatly into the historic architecture of the castle. As you look around, you will see informative displays, digital screens…

As we walk further into the inner ward, I want to draw your attention to this unassuming circular stone structure set into the ground. This is the castle well, and it represents a masterpiece of medieval foresight. …

We now step through a heavy doorway and enter the dark, oppressive space of the keep dungeon. The air in here immediately feels cooler, heavy with dampness and the unmistakable chill of solid stone. …

Leaving the darkness of the dungeon behind, we now begin our ascent up through the heart of the stone keep via this incredibly narrow, winding spiral staircase. As you climb, I urge you to pay close attention to the placement of…

We now emerge from the claustrophobic staircase into the expansive, magnificent space of the Great Hall. This room represents the absolute heart of the keep. …

Welcome to the summit. We have stepped out onto the open battlements of the great keep, and the first thing that strikes you is the breathtaking, panoramic view. …

We have descended from the windswept heights of the keep and returned to the solid ground outside the castle walls. As you take one final look up at the imposing stone structure of Carrickfergus Castle, I hope you feel a profound…