Dolbadarn Castle

Overview

Dolbadarn Castle, or Castell Dolbadarn, is a Welsh castle built on a hill overlooking Llyn Padarn in Caernarfon, North Wales. Dating back to the late 12th century, the castle is on the outskirts of the Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) and offers spectacular views of the lake and the Llanberis Pass.

It is free to visit Dolbadarn Castle, and it makes a great stop off on a walk in the area. It’s suitable for families with children, couples, and solo travellers. Visitors will love immersing themselves in the castle’s rich history and taking in the stunning mountain scenery, while children can pretend to defend the castle from invaders.

Is Dolbadarn Castle free?

Yes, Dolbadarn Castle is free to visit. It is open all year round during reasonable daylight hours.

Who lived in Dolbadarn Castle?

The castle was most likely built by Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great) to defend the ancient kingdom of Gwynedd. It is strategically located on the route inland from Caernarfon to the upper Conwy Valley and was built not just for military use but also as a symbol of Llywelyn’s power and authority.

Later, Owain Goch (Owain ap Gruffydd) was imprisoned in the castle by his younger brother Llwelyn (Llywelyn the Last) as they argued over who would have control of North Wales in the 1250s. Owain was imprisoned on the upper floor of the castle for around 20 years.

Another brother, Dafydd ap Gruffydd, held the castle during the Welsh princes’ revolt against Edward I, before it was seized by the English army in 1282.

In around 1400, Owain Glyndwr led the Welsh uprisings and used the castle to hold prisoners. It was also used as a manor house for a while before it fell into disrepair.

Who owns Dolbadarn Castle?

The castle is now under the care of CADW: Welsh Historic Monuments. They are responsible for maintaining the site as a tourist attraction. Dolbadarn Castle is a Grade I listed building, so it is protected.

Architectural features of Dolbadarn Castle

The main feature of the site of Dolbadarn Castle nowadays is a sturdy round tower built using slate and rubble. The tower differs in style from the curtain walls that surround it. This is made from slate slabs constructed using a dry-stone method. Once this would have been around 15 feet (5 metres) high, but it is now only around 3 feet (1 metre) high.

The tower stands approximately 50 feet (15.2 metres) high, and its design is thought to be inspired by similar fortresses built in the borderlands of the southern Marches. Historians have referred to it as one of the finest surviving examples of a Welsh round tower.

There were once three stories inside the tower, which was home to a complex series of rooms and chambers. Inside the keep, you’ll find the remains of an interior staircase that once led to the upper story. You can still climb these steps.

The entrance to the tower is on the first story, rather than at ground level. It would originally have had a portcullis, which could have been drawn up past the windows on the second storey.

Only the lowest foundations of the outer buildings of the castle have survived, and you can see the outlines of what once was a courtyard surrounded by a large rectangular hall, several rectangular towers, and two open hearths.

Dolbadarn Castle in art

Dolbadarn Castle has been the subject of many artworks. One of the most famous is Dolbadarn Castle by J.M.W. Turner. In the painting, the keep of the castle is in silhouette against the sky with a backdrop of mountain scenery. Beneath the castle, soldiers are guarding a prisoner on his knees.

It is thought to be inspired by Owain Goch, who was thought to be imprisoned in the castle for over 20 years. This is one of Turner’s earliest oil paintings, and castles were one of his prevalent themes at the time.

It is also often used as a filming location for films and television programmes. The cast and crew of The Witcher were seen filming here in 2024.

How to get to Dolbadarn Castle from YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass

Dolbadarn Castle is around 4.8 miles (7.7 kilometres) from YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass.

By public transport: Catch the S1 bus to Caernarfon from the stop outside YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass. Alight at Llanberis Interchange, and from here it takes approximately seven minutes to walk to Dolbadarn Castle. The whole journey should take about 25 minutes.

Cycling: It takes about 20 minutes to cycle from the hostel to Dolbadarn Castle.

By car: It takes about nine minutes to drive from the Youth Hostel to the castle. There is a local authority pay and display car park across the road from the castle. The car park is between 10 and 25 minutes’ walk away from the castle via farm tracks. These tracks can be muddy, uneven, and slippery, depending on the weather conditions.