All walks › Newtown & the Severn
Newtown & the SevernDolforwyn Castle
A Welsh-built castle on a wooded ridge above the Severn, raised by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd in deliberate defiance of the English king.
- Distance
- 3.1 mi / 5 km
- Time
- 1 hr 50
- Ascent
- 200 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Shape
- Circular
Where it is
The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.
The route
Climb from the village through woodland to the castle ridge, explore the ruins, then descend on the far side and return by field paths and lane.
Worth knowing
- Free to enter, never busy, and the views along the Severn valley are excellent.
- This is one of very few castles in Wales built by a Welsh prince rather than a Norman lord.
- The path up is steep and muddy after rain.
What you’ll see
Castle ruins, the Severn valley, and mixed woodland on the ridge.
Background
Llywelyn began Dolforwyn in 1273 without royal permission, and Edward I took it in 1277 after a short siege. Its construction was one of the provocations that led to the conquest of Wales.