Welsh Castles
The Welsh Princes didn't start building stone castles until the Normans arrived in the 12th century. Before this they built plas, which were simply fortified houses, and simple motte and bailey structures. Welsh castles were purely defensive - unlike Norman castles which were also a show of wealth and power.
In 1147 Prince Cadwaladr built a castle at Cynfael, near Tywyn and in 1149 Owain Gwynedd built one at Tomen y Rhodwydd. Giraldus Cambrensis wrote about two stone castles he'd seen in 1188 at Deudraeth in Einionydd and Madryn in Lleyn. Deudraeth is most likely Castell Aber Ia near Porthmadog, built by Cynan a son of Owain Gwynedd. Madryn is Carn Fadryn, built by another of Owain's sons, on an isolated hilltop on the western Lleyn.
Dolbadarn (Llanberis)
Situated on the left side of the A4086, as you leave Llanberis heading for Nant Peris and the Pass, are the remains of Dolbadarn Castle - still guarding the Llanberis Pass as it has for 800 years.
Built by Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (Llywelyn Fawr) around 1220, to control the important route from Caer-yn-Arfon to the Upper Conwy Valley. The round keep still stands to a height of 48 feet and consists of 2 storeys, above a basement and is entered through a first floor doorway, access to this is gained via an external stone staircase. The internal stairs are still intact and climbing them gives excellent views of the Llanberis Pass.
The castle was in use for around 200 years. Llywelyn ap Gruffydd (Llywelyn Fawr's grandson) imprisoned his elder brother Owain here. Owain had tried to gain control of Gwynedd following the death of their uncle Dafydd ap Llywelyn. When Llywelyn ap Gruffydd was killed in 1282 control of Gwynedd passed to his younger brother Dafydd ap Gruffydd. King Edward I eventually captured Dafydd, his wife and children at Dolbadarn in June 1283.
Records show that the castle was still inhabited in 1352. It was also used as a prison during the rebellion of Owain Glyndwr.
Today Dolbadarn is in the care of Cadw and is open to the public all year round.
Dolwyddelan
Dolwyddelan Castle was built by Llywelyn Fawr between 1210 and 1240, replacing an earlier motte and bailey structure. The site was strategically important, as it guards the route through Snowdonia along the Lledr Valley. The castle was defended by ditches cut into the rock with steep drops.
When Llywelyn ap Gruffydd was killed in 1282, his brother Dafydd (who succeeded him as ruler of Gwynedd) fled here with his family, but left shortly before the castle fell to Edward I army in January 1283. The English garrisoned the castle until 1290 and King Edward built a second tower, but the tower which remains today is the one built by Llywelyn Fawr. In the 15th century Dolwyddelan was leased by the crown to Maredudd ap Ieuan who added a second storey to the keep. After this Dolwyddelan fell into disrepair but was partially restored in the 19th century by Willoughby de Eresby. Today the original square tower still stands, the internal staircase should be climbed so that you can admire the views of the Lledr Valley.
The castle is now in the care of Cadw and is open all year round.
Criccieth
Criccieth Castle stands on a cliff commanding a spectacular location, looking out over Tremadoc Bay.
The location would have been chosen to defend the coast from attack but it also meant that supplies could be brought in by sea, making it more difficult to starve the garrison into submission.
Building was started around 1230 by Llywelyn Fawr. The inner defences were built by him as was the twin towered gatehouse. This is an early example of such a gatehouse design in Wales. Llywelyn Fawr had a strong alliance with the then Earl of Chester and the design may have been borrowed from the earl's castle at Beeston. The south west tower was added later by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd and the northern engine tower is thought to have been built by Edward I following his conquest of Gwynedd.
Dafydd ap Llywelyn imprisoned his half-brother Gruffydd (Llywelyn ap Gruffydd's father) here from 1240 to 1241. The castle was captured by Edward I men in 1283 and became part of his fortification of Wales. It was sacked and burned in 1404 during Owain Glyndwr's rebellion and has not been occupied since.
Now in the care of Cadw, the castle has a small visitors centre and is open all year round.
Deganwy (Near Conwy)
There had been a fortification on the twin cliffs above the town of Deganwy since Roman times. Deganwy guarded the mouth of the river Conwy, an important entry point into Gwynedd from both land and sea. A plas was built here in the 6th century, where Maelgwn of Gwynedd held court. Robert of Rhuddlan built a castle here around 1080, which was captured by the Welsh after Robert's death and was later destroyed, to prevent it falling back into Norman hands.
Llywelyn Fawr rebuilt the castle in 1213. He imprisoned his eldest son, Gruffydd, here in 1228. The castle was razed to the ground by Llywelyn's younger son, Dafydd, to prevent it falling into Norman hands, after his father's death in 1240. When Henry III and his army arrived in 1245 they had to camp in the ruins. Henry had the walls rebuilt and started to rebuild the castle, though the work was never finished. In 1263 a long siege resulted in Llywelyn ap Gruffydd capturing the castle and ordering it destroyed.
Following his conquest of Gwynedd in 1283, Edward I saw the military importance of the area and decided to build his castle (Conwy) across the estuary on the site of Aberconwy Abbey. This was a psychological blow to the people of Gwynedd, Aberconwy was Gwynedd's Westminster & was the burial place of many of their Princes.
Today little remains of any of the fortifications from Deganwy's past for the modern visitor to see.
Roman Forts | Welsh Castles | Norman Castles