The remarkable ruins of Castell Dinas Brân stand overlooking the town of Llangollen in North Wales.
I visited the castle for myself and in this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know, from the castle's intriguing background and historical significance to practical tips for planning your own visit.
Quick Info
The best place to park for visiting Castell Dinas Brân is in the town centre at East Street long stay car park or Market Street short stay car park.
There is no charge to visit Castell Dinas Bran.
It takes around 30-40 minutes to reach the castle from the town centre. The path is paved for the first few hundred meters but mostly mud, grass and gravel beyond this. You can do it in regular trainers, although hiking boots are advised, especially after rainfall.
About Castell Dinas Brân
Castell Dinas Brân, located on the hill above Llangollen, is a ruined castle that was built around the 13th century by the Princes of Powys Fadog (northern Powys).
The castle was grand and luxurious, but it was burned down by its own garrison in 1277 during a period of unrest to prevent it from being used by English forces. Although partially repaired by King Edward I, it was abandoned in 1282 in favour of Holt Castle which was built nearby.
The castle consisted of a rectangular courtyard surrounded by a stone wall, with towers, a gatehouse, and a hall. It wasn’t the first fortification on this site as it was built on top of an Iron Age hillfort.
Today, only a few ruins remain but their location at the summit with picturesque views across the valley make it one of the top things to do in Llangollen.
What Does Castell Dinas Brân Mean?
Castell Dinas Brân is sometimes mistakenly thought to mean "The City of Crows" because the word ‘dinas’ translates to ‘city’ in modern Welsh.
However, in an older version of the language known as Middle Welsh, its meaning was closer to ‘fortress’. The word ‘Brân’ in Welsh means ‘crow’ so the full name of the castle is ‘the crow's fortress castle’.
How To Visit Castell Dinas Brân
Castell Dinas Brân sits at the top of a hill with no roads, so there are no prizes for guessing how you reach it. That’s right, some good old-fashioned leg work.
Where to Park? The best place to park for visiting Castell Dinas Brân is in the town centre at East Street long stay car park or Market Street short stay car park.
The closest you can get to Castell Dinas Brân by car is at this point on Tower Road, however, there is only roadside parking for about 2-3 cars here so it’s not advisable.
To reach Castell Dinas Brân from Llangollen town centre, head towards the canal and take the bridge over it.
Immediately after the bridge, head down the pedestrian alleyway with a few steps directly in front of you (shown in image below).
Continue to follow this path which heads down past Ysgol Dinas Bran and the leisure centre. The path is well signposted towards the castle.
At one point, you will reach a crossroad, remember to continue straight across. The path is paved to begin with but is mostly mud, grass and gravel.
The final stretch of path zig-zags up the hill to the fortress on top as you can see in the below image.
It takes around 30-40 minutes to walk up to the castle from the centre of Llangollen.
Return Journey
You have several options for the return journey:
- Return down the same path – this is the route I usually choose to take because it’s the quickest and still scenic most of the way.
ㅤ - Complete the Castell Dinas Brân circular walk – If you’d like a circular route, you can walk through the ruins and return down the other side of the hill where you’ll join the road. This walk can be found here on AllTrails.
ㅤ - Return halfway down the same path then divert along the canal – Return back down the hill using the same path, but when you reach the crossroads, turn right instead of continuing straight across. This will take you along Tower Road and you’ll eventually join the canal further up from the wharf.
If you fancy a longer hike, you could follow the 9.5km (6-mile) Llangollen History Trail which leads you to Valle Crucis Abbey and back along the canal. The walk takes around 6 hours in total but you’ll need to allow extra time for visiting the castle and the abbey. Find details about it here.
Essential Visitor Information
Cost and Opening Times
There is no cost to visit Castell Dinas Brân and it’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
How Hard is the Walk?
The walk up to Castell Dinas Brân is moderate, mostly due to the steep incline. The path is paved for the first few hundred meters after the canal wharf, however, beyond this it is mostly mud, grass and gravel so hiking boots are advised.
Is It Suitable For Prams and Wheelchairs?
No, the walk up to Castell Dinas Brân is steep and also involves going off-path at some points, it’s not suitable for prams or wheelchairs.
Is it Suitable For Dogs?
Yes, Dogs are allowed to visit Castell Dinas Brân, however, must be kept on leads for most of the walk due to sheep.
Facts About Castell Dinas Brân
1. It’s one of the few remaining castles in Wales built by the Welsh
Most of the castles in North Wales that are still standing were built by English forces to control the Welsh. But this one was different.
Although the exact builder of Castell Dinas Brân is not known, it was most likely built by Gruffydd Maelor II in the 1260s. He was the son of Madog ap Gruffydd Maelor who built the nearby Valle Crucis Abbey.
2. Castell Dinas Brân was a magnificent fortress in it's heyday
It consisted of a rectangular courtyard, approximately 82m by 35m, surrounded by a stone curtain wall. It had a massive rock-cut ditch and counterscarp bank, except on the north side where the slopes were steep.
Notable structures within the castle included a great rectangular tower and an ornate twin-towered gatehouse.
3. It was burned down by its own people
In 1277, during the conflicts of the late 13th century, the castle was set on fire by its own garrison to prevent it from being used by English forces.
The damage was not too bad as it was partially repaired by King Edward I. However, it was eventually abandoned after the construction of Holt Castle in 1282.
4. Castell Dinas Brân has inspired legends and poetry
According to legend, the Welsh princess Myfanwy Fychan lived at the castle and inspired romantic poetry.
Published: 1 June 2023 · Last updated: 12 November 2023