Birds and battles to descend upon Caerphilly

Chainmail-clad warriors, sword-wielding knights and a host of spectacular birds of prey will all be descending upon Caerphilly Castle this Monday to Friday (15th – 19th Feb), as the colossal Cadw site puts on a full programme of half-term Medieval events. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On Monday and Tuesday, The Prince’s Retinue re-enactment group will take to the Great Hall to practise traditional 12th century fighting techniques in front of an audience during one-on-one battles using Medieval weaponry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Experts will be on hand to teach families about early forms of protection – from heavy chainmail armour to defensive fighting stances. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Visitors will also be able try their hand at Medieval crafts as part of the takeover. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A variety of striking birds of prey – including owls, eagles & vultures – will then arrive at the castle on Wednesday for a day of family-friendly falconry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Children and adults alike will get the chance to meet and handle the birds throughout the day for a small £1 fee, while full falconry displays are set for 12.30pm and again at 2.30pm, during which trainers from Pembrokeshire Falconry will showcase the full flight power of these magnificent creatures. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Come Thursday and Friday, Caerphilly Castle regulars the Free Men of Gwent will take to the site to showcase battle re-enactments from the 14th and 15th centuries – allowing returning half term visitors to see how Medieval warfare changed over the course of 300 years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Have-a-go archery will also be on offer to visitors looking to get hands-on with Medieval weaponry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Both re-enactments shall be all-weather events taking place within the Great Hall, while the falconry session shall proceed in dry weather only. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ken Skates, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, said: “Cadw’s varied programme of events is specially designed to help locals and tourists alike discover the best of Wales during the 2016 Year of Adventure. I urge people to visit historic sites and take part in our exciting programme of events this half term to find out more about Wales’s remarkable history via fun, hands-on and truly adventurous experiences. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Whether it’s having a picnic at one of the World Heritage Site castles in north Wales or watching the summer solstice sunrise at a Neolithic burial chamber, we can be sure our historic monuments will live up to the expectations of adventure seekers heading to Wales this year.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Event fee covered by site admission (£5.50 adult, £16.50 family & £4.10 conc.) while Cadw members, including those who join during the event, will enjoy repeat visits for free. Events to run 11am – 4pm daily. For more information visit cadw.gov.wales/events. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​