“How strange and beautiful it looked in the late afternoon light! I can still recapture that first glimpse – see the sheer grey stone walls and towers against the pale yellow sky, the reflected castle stretching towards us on the brimming moat, the floating patches of emerald-green water-weed.”
Dodie smith on Castles
How We Became Castle Hunters
Our fascination and love of castles, in effect, started on our very first day in Ireland. It was the inspiration that led us to coin ourselves Castle Hunters. Simply put, it was love at first sight. We have never wavered since on that energy and passion we found at our first castle, Trim Castle in Ireland.
The privilege of exploring these magnificent architectural wonders is truly a gift. They capture your imagination in ways it is difficult to put into words. Fairy tales are based on these whimsical structures for that reason. The mighty walls of these majestic fortifications have stood proudly for centuries.
These epic structures transport you back to when life was simple yet harsh. Life was cold, dark, and austere, even in the most elaborate medieval structures. These were the fortified residences of royalty and nobility. Existence was difficult for these castle residents. Nonetheless, there is something so romantic and charming about them and their inhabitants.
Castle designs were about protecting their owners and kingdoms from their enemies. As a result, the Medieval castle was the core of military defense for a thousand years. They were fortresses that took horrific beatings; however, they remain standing today in all their glory.
So you ask, are they not all the same?
To our surprise, the answer is no. These massive structures did not have modern machinery or highly educated engineers with computer models. Yet they remain standing, always captivating. They are iconic, a testament to time—many in extraordinary settings.
They are high atop mountains, deep in a forest, on beaches, or in the middle of a river. In the heart of a city or on treacherous precipices. Even a tiny backpack can prevent you from visiting some locations as the passages are extremely narrow. Despite this, our ancestors somehow built these structures without cranes, vehicles, or modern technology to carry the stones.
Each castle holds a unique character, style, stone, architecture, and magic. You sense its soul, its heartbeat, and you feel the life in it while you begin hearing the voices that once echoed through these huge stone chambers. Your imagination will transport you if you let it tell its story.
Even the simplest of ruins still capture our hearts. All of a sudden, in our minds, we can see it in all its glory.
Make no mistake about it. We love everything, castle. Without a doubt, it is a bit of an obsession.
Ed Sheeran’s song Castle on the Hill speaks to their presence to this day. There is nothing like spying on that castle on the Hill to make the heart happy.
To conclude, we hope our fascination with castles is contagious, and you find the magic “within their walls” as well. Once in a while, give them a try. They will steal your heart and imagination in time, and you can become part of the Castle Hunters tribe. Join us on the hunt!
Let’s test your knowledge
Our Castle Posts
Exploring Trim Castle: History, Architecture, and Visitor Guide
Along the river Boyne in the quaint village of Trim sits the mighty Trim…
November 13, 2024
Travel Through History at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
May you never forget what is worth remembering, nor ever remember what is best…
September 13, 2023
Obidos: Portugal Perfection
Obidos is Portugal at its very finest. This walled medieval town with an imposing…
July 19, 2023Castle Hunters Gallery
Check out our newest blog posts
Tokyo Unleashed: Delighting in the Fun Side of Japan’s Capital
Discover the vibrant and fun-loving spirit of Tokyo through thrilling experiences like sumo wrestling,…
November 19, 2024
Cinque Terre: A Journey through Italy’s Five Charming Villages
Discover the beauty of Cinque Terre with our ultimate guide to the five charming…
November 17, 2024
Exploring Trim Castle: History, Architecture, and Visitor Guide
Along the river Boyne in the quaint village of Trim sits the mighty Trim…
November 13, 2024
Level8 Luggage Review: A New Standard in Travel Gear
In this review of Level8 luggage, we found that its sleek design, durable construction,…
November 12, 2024
Why Milk is the Perfect Hydration Boost for Plane Travel
Milk isn’t just for breakfast; it’s also a great choice for hydration and energy…
November 12, 2024
Iceland’s Surprising Natural Wonders: Beyond the Famous Tourist Attractions
Iceland’s Surprising Natural Wonders: Beyond the Famous Tourist Attractions
November 12, 2024
Imperial Hotel Tokyo: A Fusion of Timeless Elegance, Unparalleled Luxury and Historic Legacy
The Imperial Hotel Tokyo, an iconic establishment opened in 1890, blends traditional Japanese aesthetics…
November 4, 2024
Europe Wine Wonders: The Most Unexpected Places to Sip and Savor
Discovering Europe’s lesser-known wine regions unveils a world of unique flavors and rich traditions…
October 31, 2024
Embracing Morocco’s Customs and Traditions: A Guide for Visitors
Discover the essential customs and traditions of Morocco that every traveler should know. From…
October 27, 2024
Our Top Recommended Travel Products and Services
Travel Insurance
Squaremouth.com
Our favorite travel insurance site!
We could not be stronger advocates of being well-insured—not just for the little stuff but for the big things like medical emergencies. We never leave home without it. Our go-to place is Squaremouth.com . It does a fantastic job with its user-friendly interface and uses top-rated and reputable insurance carriers. They also mediate on your behalf if you have problems.
To empower you as a consumer, we suggest you read our blog post on the importance of travel insurance and how to get the best coverage from top-rated companies for an affordable price.
MedjetAssist
Medical transport back home from anywhere in the world
They are the premier global air medical transport. One caveat to travel insurance is that medical evacuation usually gets you to the closest facility to care for you. Medjet gets you back to the U.S. to the hospital of your choice once you are stable enough to fly. A Medjet membership is only for medical transport. Medjet Horizon offers expanded coverage. They have individual trip policies starting at $99 and annual policies for around $300. Most of their policies limit the age to 74.
To learn more about how Medical Evacuation membership with Medjet Assist works, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.
Accommodations and Airfare
Expedia
and
VRBO
Hotels, home rentals, BNBs, flights, and other transportation & tours
Expedia is a US-based company whose mission is to power global travel for everyone and everywhere. focuses on independent travel, and using sites like Expedia makes that possible. Every aspect of travel you need, from airfare, accommodations, rental car, and cruises to activities to do at your destination, can be booked on Expedia .
Booking.com
Hotels, Home rentals, BNBs, Flights, and other Transportation & Tours
Booking.com connects millions of travelers to memorable experiences, various transportation options, and incredible places to stay – from homes to hotels and much more. It is one of the world’s largest travel marketplaces for established brands and entrepreneurs of all sizes. It is our preferred booking site.
Transportatio n
Daytrip
Personalized city-to-city private car transfer service
Daytrip is an affordable private car service for city-to-city transfers around the world. We love their service, and it costs much less than renting a car. You can enjoy comfortable, stress-free travel with the added bonus of scenic sightseeing stops along your journey. For example, we used them between Budapest and Vienna, making some fantastic stops along the way. Their professional drivers and customizable routes ensure a smooth ride while allowing you to explore hidden gems and local attractions.
To learn more about how Daytrip, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.
Travel Experiences
Viator
The leading marketplace for travel experiences
Viator believes that making memories is what travel is all about. And with 300,000+ experiences to explore—everything from simple tours to extreme adventures (and all the niche, interesting stuff in between)—making memories that will last a lifetime has never been easier. We use them often during our travels and love their liberal cancellation policy.
Communication products for seamless connectivity overseas
GigSky International eSIM Data Plans
Local Prices. No Roaming. Fastest Networks.
GigSky eSIM keeps travelers seamlessly connected worldwide without the hassle of swapping physical SIM cards or facing unexpected roaming charges. With affordable data plans and instant activation, you can enjoy reliable internet access in over 190 countries, making travel more convenient than ever. They have a great offer, a 100 MB data plan for free, and no credit card is required. They are that confident you will love their product!
Enjoy 10% off all GigSky Plans (except cruise and inflight) with our discount code WCOMPASS10
To learn more about how GigSky, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.
Shopping
Amazon Storefront
An excellent source for all travel essentials and guides that we have vetted ourselves
Amazon is one of the most comprehensive online shopping sources in the world. Teams worldwide provide lower prices, better selection, and rapid delivery on behalf of customers. They offer a vast inventory, and their 1.7 million small and medium businesses worldwide selling on Amazon.com offer extensive options to customers.
This article contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
Do you have a question for us or have a comment?
