Whenever I'm asked by people from outside the area where I come from I always reply, "Caerphilly - it's seven miles from Cardiff, we have our own cheese and the second largest castle in Europe." Pretty well summed up I think!

The Norman castle stands in its 30 acre site and boasts its own ghost the Green Lady. It has a leaning tower, which I believe leans more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and only Windsor beats it for being the biggest Castle in Europe.

Every summer, the site is host to the Big Cheese festival (right). This free event, which brings in thousands of visitors, combines historical re-enactments, arts and crafts displays, a funfair and a fireworks display.

And the cheese? Well, despite the myth that Caerphilly cheese stopped being made in 1995 because of Euro legislation (which banned delivery of unpasteurised milk in metal churns) it is still made by Castle Dairies on the Pontygwindy Industrial Estate in the town, and is sold at the local tourist information centre.

The town has lots of parks, a leisure centre and Virginia Park (home of Caerphilly RFC) but there seems to be a lack of things to do. The nearest cinema and bowling complex is out of the town in Nantgarw.

However its not as bad as it sounds - one bonus of Caerphilly's location is that it's so close to Cardiff, so all the entertainment and shops that the capital city has to offer are within easy reach.

There are frequent bus & rail services, saving the worry of having to find a parking space in the city.

In Caerphilly town centre, next to the Castle stands the Castle Court shopping centre (left) built in recent years, featuring a few high street chain stores. The top of town has older shops, an array of charity shops, and plenty of pubs.

My favourite place in Caerphilly is the Court House. The pub where Caerphilly Cheese was once made has a beer garden which overlooks the castle.

Nothing can beat a summer's day, a cold drink, and quite possibly the nicest view in the town!