Castell Dinas Brân

Castell Dinas Brân occupies a steep hill rising sharply from the Dee valley above Llangollen. The ruins themselves are minimal — a few walls and towers — but the position is spectacular. On a clear day you can see across the Vale of Llangollen to the Berwyn Mountains, over the English border into Shropshire, and down the valley towards the distant flat lands of Cheshire.

The walk from the town takes 20 to 30 minutes up a clear path. It is steep but not technical. The summit at around 300 metres gives views that reward the effort, and the castle walls, though mostly fallen, still define the shape of the defences. Early morning in summer, before the cloud builds, is the best time for the views. The castle is freely accessible at all times.

things to do sight
A story
Dinas Brân means "Crow's Fortress" in Welsh, and the hill has been fortified since the Iron Age. The visible ruins date from the 13th century, built by the rulers of Powys Fadog. In medieval legend, the hill was associated with Bran the Blessed, a giant king of British mythology, and some scholars have linked it with the location of the Holy Grail in Arthurian stories. The castle was abandoned and in ruins by the early 14th century — only about 150 years after it was built.