Dolwyddelan Castle

Bit of a trek to get there but well worth it. Very peaceful location and useful that it had some information about the history, which not every castle does in Wales. Not the easiest to find one you've parked the car, and the experience of knocking on a ladies door to pay the fee is a bit weird, then walking around between some barns and up a path leads you there.

Visited in September 2019 in my Wales holiday. I already spotted this castle on the map and one day I had the chance to visit on the way back to the cottage. It has a car park on the very side of the road, and here we can find some information about the castle. Then a walking path leads up to a not too friendly looking farm, where after knocked a door or ring a bell (can't remember now), a similar not too friendly looking lady opened the upper part of the door, asked for the money(CASH ONLY), and then show up to a fields gate saying, cross the gate and follow the path. That' was the only guide/map/instruction. The path leads up to the castle with sheep grazing around. We can get up to the ruins on uneven rock steps and even later we have to be careful, because it is full with rocks around and no comfortable path. The weather was very windy that day and I already had a bad experience at another attraction, so I was in a bad mood, and just wanted to pop in, see the castle and tick it on my list. Which I did. The area is nice, the view is lovely, but it is not a huge place to spend hours here. Also, I did not visit the show room of the castle, because the only rail was at the wall and the very uneven rock stairs were not sympathetic at all without rails at the outer side.

Great little castle with a steep walk. Sadly at the moment Cadw have decided not to open the keep up. You can still get up and see the ruins. Of interest to castle lovers is the earlier castle Tomen Castell a large motte over the road.

A beautiful visit to the castle. Grounds open to public and accessible as described on CADW website. No access inside of this one at this time anyway.

As recommended by CADW, we parked at a layby located at 53.053588, -3.897053 on the A470 500m to the east of the monument. Approximately 200 meters west of the layby is a public right-of-way leading up to the monument.

What a great little castle! It is in great nick for something from the 1200s. The main carpark was closed when we went (September 2022) but there's a lay-by just to the north with plenty of space.

The Cadw car park was locked last week so we walked from the layby closer to the village. The walk passed by a waterfall. The Castell was interfered with by English kings (Edward I) and toffs (19th century) but is still a potent symbol of Gwynedd power and a lovely spot to muse on what might have been!

Lovely easy walk up and great views

Dolwyddelan Castle is a Welsh castle located in a magnificent place, deep in Snowdonia, near Dolwyddelan in Conwy County Borough in North Wales.

It is thought to have been built in the early 13th century by Llywelyn the Great, Prince of Gwynedd and Wales

The castle-building project was the most ambitious ever for a Welsh prince.

To the Welsh of Llywelyn's time a castle was both a stronghold and a statement. To build in stone was
expensive; a symbol of wealth and power.

The castle at Dolwyddelan guards a pass through the mountains behind it and intimidates the valley below. From its lofty position it dominates the land around; just as Llywelyn did.

By the 19th century Dolwyddelan had become a romantic ruin. Its Victorian owner, Lord Willoughby de Eresby, restored the tower for his rich guests to visit. As a result it is now slightly taller than it was in Llywelyn's time.

As castle ruins located right at the top of the hill is it very good visibility all around. Can be very windy though and nowhere to hide in case of rain. :)

Castle is temporary closed at the moment due to Covid restrictions.

Not so much of ruins, but such an amazing views from the top of the hill though.

Definitely recommend to visit!