Dolbadarn Castle, Llanberis, Gwynedd, Wales
Posted by: 
Meirion
N 53° 06.990 W 004° 06.849
30U E 425431 N 5885810
The ruins of Dolbadarn Castle in Llanberis, Gwynedd, Wales.
Waymark Code: WME3QV
Location: North Wales, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 03/30/2012
Views: 13
Dolbadarn Castle sits at the summit of a rocky hill overlooking the twin lakes of Llyn Padarn and Llyn Peris in Llanberis.
Built around 1230 by the native Welsh Prince Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great), the castle held a strategic position in the valley.
The most prominent feature of the castle ruins is the impressive keep which unfortunately is no more than a shell but is still 40 foot high, has a 40 foot diameter, and is still girded by walls 8 feet thick!
In 1282 the castle was seized by the English army and within two years the castle was abandoned with much of the stone and timber being used for other buildings.
There are a number of clearly marked footpaths leading up to the castle from Llanberis.
Apart from the castle the summit of the hill provided fantastic views along the valley.