Launceston Castle, a “must visit” for all castle fans. Originally a “motte and bailey” type of castle, it is almost unique in design. The shell keep sits on top of a motte with a central tower rising up above it. Standing on the staircase and looking over at the motte, it is easy to see why this style of castle was built. It is almost impossible to attack it by riding up the motte because it is far too steep for horses. It is also very steep for foot soldiers to charge up trying to defend themselves and attack with appropriate weapons. It is easy to see how such a design can be defended by shooting arrows at the enemy trying to clamber up the steep motte and making rather indefensible targets. Looking from the top of the tower gives an amazing view of the surrounding town and countryside. Such a view would give an early warning of an advancing army. The masonry of the keep, thin pieces of local shale stone is very different from most castles which are usually made of large oblong blocks of limestone or sandstone. Building with this thin stone seems to me to be a lot harder than using big stone that make up the Tower of London or Bodium Castle.