The English language is rich and varied, yet it doesn't include a word that means lover of castles. We can make one I suppose, viz, castlephile, but that doesn't convey the sheer delight and wonder felt by the connessieur of castles.

Of all the world, West wales is the best location for the serious castle-o-holic to settle and live out his days. Within an area of a few tens of square miles are over ten castles, ranging from the beautifully preserved and still lived in, to an old wall surrounded by scaffolding.

First stop on our castle crawl was Llawhaden, a well preserved Norman beauty. First surprise - it was owned by the bishops of St David's - powerful men whose title of bishop belies their high secular standing. the Bishop of St David's See covered a huge area across to Hereford in Western England, and receiving tithes from all that land made them rich and needing of protection.

The moat is still visible, as are the twin gate houses.

After the reformation, when the bishops moved their

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