IS THIS THE WORLD'S SMALLEST CASTLE? CASTELL COCH, WALES

Cardiff managed to clear up for a few hours last Saturday, so my sister and I could enjoy the crisp sunshine during my visit. After weeks of rain, I think she was equally surprised and relieved to be outside without an umbrella.

We decided to drive to Castell Coch, a beautifully restored historic building just outside Cardiff City Centre. But, oh boy was the drive a nightmare. It wouldn't have been so bad if I was a more competent SatNav reader... sorry, Alice!

The castle is a 19th Century Gothic Revival castle which has been restored by the Bute family (embedded in Cardiff history, there are many Bute streets) from the original Norman castle structure and to reflect its use in the Middle Ages.

After paying the nominal entry fee (4.40 for students), my sister convinced me to do something I would never usually do: follow an audio-guided tour. If you visit, you must do this! The castle does not have information plaques so you would literally be walking around blind. The device is super easy to use and plays on speaker if you don't have headphones (no secondhand ear grossness!). The guide is informative and gives you the option to find out more details as well.

For something fun and fast to do in Cardiff once you've seen the city centre, Castell Coch is your best bet.

The castle is essentially a circle of open corridors with two towers connected to them. There are so few rooms, it almost doesn't feel like a castle at all.

 Lady Bute's room was the most ornate in the castle - and resembles a palace compared to her husband's. Poor guy.

The sitting room was painted in gorgeous dark emerald green and was decorated with murals from floor to ceiling. The lower walls were a darker green with floral imagery which then moved to sky and stars on the ceiling, emulating real scenery.

Just above eye level, murals depicting Aesop's Fables cover every wall. It was fun to see which stories we could remember just from the pictures.

What do you think, is this the world's smallest castle? It's definitely the smallest castle I've ever visited.