Most people have heard of moats & drawbridges and they make a castle quite iconic as well as very well defended. A moat is a steep, defensive trench or ditch, sometimes dry or filled with water. A drawbridge is a bridge that can be raised or lowered over the moat. The moats could also be stocked with fish for the residents to eat. Visiting castles with moats is quite a treat. Visually they are stunning, grand fortified islands reflecting in the water.
 |
Moat surrounding the impressive Caerphilly Castle in Wales, the largest castle in Wales and second only to Windsor Castle in the UK
 |
Caerlaverock Castle, Scotland
A wooden bridge spans across the moat where a drawbridge once would have been.
|
|
 |
| Moat & Bridge around Caerlaverock Castle, Scotland |
 |
| Bridge over moat, Raglan Castle, Wales |
 |
Moat at Raglan Castle, Wales, full of lily pads
|