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Castell Dinas today

Wales · Partial ruin

Castell Dinas

Castell Dinas is an Iron Age hillfort later reused as a Norman stone castle on a high summit in southern Powys, Wales. The site combines concentric prehistoric earthworks with the footprint of a medieval hall-keep, curtain walls, and a gatehouse; only low walls, earthworks and a short gatehouse fragment survive today. It occupied a commanding position above the Rhiangoll pass between Talgarth and Crickhowell and was finally destroyed in the early 15th century.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1235

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1235

What Castell Dinas looked like in its prime.

Perched on a rounded 450 m summit, the site reads as concentric terraced banks and ditches forming an oval hillfort with an inner bailey at the highest point. At the centre is the squared footprint and rubble of a stone hall-keep; low, turf-covered curtain-wall scars and scattered stone rubble mark former wall lines and square tower positions. A fragmentary gatehouse and postern occupy the northern outer ward; grassy slopes fall away to pasture and hedgerows below.

Its story

The story of Castell Dinas.

Castell Dinas began as an Iron Age hillfort, its concentric prehistoric earthworks later reused when a fortified Norman castle with stone walls was built on the summit, possibly by William Fitz Osbern or his son Roger de Breteuil, Earl of Hereford, between 1070 and 1075. At 450 metres it is the highest castle in England and Wales, positioned to defend the Rhiangoll pass between Talgarth and Crickhowell.

The castle remained part of the barony of Brecon until 1207, when King John granted it to Peter FitzHerbert. Finally destroyed in the early 15th century, the site preserves the footprint of a medieval hall-keep, curtain walls and a gatehouse, though only low walls, earthworks and a short gatehouse fragment survive today.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1235.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Castell Dinas, including 1 interior: interior of the hall-keep. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from the Rhiangoll passOuter ward ramparts and ditchesNorthern gatehouse and posternEastern curtain wall and baileyInner bailey and central hall-keepInterior of the hall-keepTower platforms and curtain scarsSummit battlements view to the Black Mountains

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The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1235, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Whose castle

Clans who held Castell Dinas.

The families that held Castell Dinas for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • FitzHerbert

    Granted to Peter FitzHerbert by King John in 1207.

Questions about Castell Dinas

What is the history of Castell Dinas?

Castell Dinas began as an Iron Age hillfort between 600 BC and 50 AD, before becoming a fortified Norman stone castle in the 11th century. It was built to defend the Rhiangoll pass between Talgarth and Crickhowell. King John granted it to Peter FitzHerbert in 1207, and it was finally destroyed by Owain Glyndŵr’s adherents in the early 15th century.

Why was Castell Dinas built, and what was it used for?

Castell Dinas was built to defend the Rhiangoll pass between Talgarth and Crickhowell. It began as an Iron Age hillfort and was later reused for a fortified Norman castle with stone walls, a hall-keep, curtain walls and square towers. The castle also became the caput of the Talgarth or Blaenllyfni barony.

Where is Castell Dinas?

Castell Dinas is in southern Powys, above the Rhiangoll pass between Talgarth and Crickhowell. It is located in the administrative area of Talgarth and stands on a high summit at 450 metres. The site overlooks Talgarth towards Brecon and has views towards the Black Mountains.

When was Castell Dinas built?

Castell Dinas was built in several phases, beginning as an Iron Age hillfort between 600 BC and 50 AD. The Norman stone castle was built in the 11th century, probably between 1070 and 1075. The site's first-raised year is not recorded, so no single construction year can be given.

Was Castell Dinas ever attacked or besieged?

Yes, Castell Dinas was attacked several times. Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth sacked it in October 1233, after which Henry III refortified it; Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffudd captured it between 1263 and 1268. It was finally destroyed by Owain Glyndŵr’s adherents in the early 15th century.

Which family or clan held Castell Dinas?

The FitzHerbert family held Castell Dinas after King John granted it to Peter FitzHerbert in 1207. The castle had previously remained part of the barony of Brecon until that grant. This is the recorded family connection for the castle.

What did Castell Dinas look like in its prime?

In its prime, Castell Dinas was a stone hall-keep surrounded by curtain walls and square towers, set within an inner bailey on a 450-metre summit. The wider site retained concentric terraced banks and ditches from the earlier oval hillfort. A gatehouse and postern occupied the northern outer ward, while tower platforms and curtain-wall scars marked the former defences.

Is Castell Dinas still standing, or is it a ruin?

Castell Dinas is a partial ruin, with only low walls, earthworks and a short gatehouse fragment surviving today. The remaining features include crumbling, mainly earth-covered walls, the outlines of the Iron Age ditches and ramparts, and part of the eastern bailey wall. The only extant building is a section of the northern gatehouse beside a postern gate.

Who built Castell Dinas?

Castell Dinas was possibly built by William Fitz Osbern or by his son Roger de Breteuil, Earl of Hereford, between 1070 and 1075. The supplied account does not identify a separate architect or designer. The Norman castle was built with stone walls, a hall-keep, curtain walls and square towers.

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