Dolbadarn Castle — Attraction in Wales

This character filled small Welsh Round Tower was constructed in the early 1200's by Welsh Prince Llewellyn ab Iorwerth in the most splendid and scenic of locations near Llanberis. It has it's own car park which is a pay and display one that operates via a card payment system. Parking was free when I visited a few weeks before Christmas. The walk to the castle is steep and potentially slippery. There is a handrail part way up the walk but this is not for disabled people sadly and small children will need to be watched carefully. On a wet day real care is essential getting to and from the castle. The walk up the stone staircase to the top of the castle is steep and narrow but it is worth it for the draw dropping views on a fine clear day. There is protective metal fencing at the top of the castle for the safety of anyone climbing up there. It is worth noting that there is a potential Neolithic burial chamber known locally as Parc Bach on a steep hill in the forest below the castle which can be reached by the pathway below the castle outside it's walls. It's history is fascinating as some say it is a Victorian folly (false structure) created by a wealthy landowner to use as a leisure building that only resembles a genuine burial chamber. It was indeed used as a kind of outhouse/ picnic spot at some point, but I feel it's origin is indeed ancient as do people much more...

I've been very lucky. Today I return to Bangor to do the cathedral and museum, but both do not open until 11:00. What to do in the meantime?

Fifteen minutes drive from the hotel is Dolbadarn Castle. I know it through a famous work of art, namely a landscape by Turner. It's a Cadw site and it's website shows it doesn't open until 10:00, but I drive up and arrive at 08:30 just in case!

I was right. I think it must be the cabin/shop that opens then, because the site is free to enter and explore. (Luckily I had bought the guidebook yesterday at Conwy Castle, on the off-chance.) I had the castle all to myself for an hour before the first tourist appeared. The only sounds were woodpeckers pecking and a pair of jackdaws gathering twigs for their nest in the castle keep.

Instead of the Edwardian castles seen so far, Dolbadarn was built by the thirteenth-century princes of Wales themselves, in a time before Prince of Wales became the title of the first son of the ENGLISH king.

You can go inside the round keep and climb to the top for some amazing views. The foundations of other buildings including a hall are clearly visible. The castle was small but in a well-defended position.

For an hour I was king of the castle and you were a...

TLDR: This is a great place to visit. It’s free (bonus) and characterful, though it’s not a trip which will take you long.

The castle is a short woodland walk off of the road near Llyn Padarn. There’s some nice photography opportunities on the way up, such as the rocky river and the castle itself with the gorgeous backdrop.

There’s plenty of parking at the bottom of the castle - pay and display by the hour. It’s definitely worth it if you don’t mind a walk as you can walk into the town nearby and enjoy the shops and coffee etc. I guess it’s worth it if you like seeing castles too, though I personally wouldn’t visit this area just for this castle as it’s smaller than others in North Wales, and a fairly quick visit.

There’s steps to the top of the castle up a spiral staircase which is one of the narrowest and tightest I’ve experienced in any building! Please don’t attempt it if you’re unsure on your feet.

Gorgeous scenery surrounds the place. There’s a nice woodland walk nearby, but this is pretty much all there is here. It’s a lovely stop as part of a trip to Dinorwig or the town nearby.

If this was helpful, give it a like so that...