Castell Dinas

Castell Dinas at 450 m ( 1,476 feet ) (SO179301) has the highest elevation of any castle in Wales and England.

Location

The castle, in southern Powys, Mid Wales, is positioned to defend the Rhiangol pass between Talgarth and Crickhowell.

Iron Age Hillfort & Norman Castle

This site was originally an Iron Age, 600 BCE to 50 AD, hill fort. A fortified Norman castle with stone walls was built on the site possibly by William Fitz Osbern or his son Roger de Breteuil, earl of Hereford in the period 1070 to 1075. The castle was eclipsed with the building of Brecon castle before April 1093. The fortress seems to have been constructed in stone from the first with a hall-keep surrounded with curtain walls and square towers. Historically the castle remained a part of Brecon or Brycheiniog barony until 1207 when King John of England granted it Peter fitz Herbert. It then became caput of what was to become Talgarth or Blaenllyfni barony.

The castle was sacked by Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth in October 1233 and subsequently refortified by King Henry III of England before being returned to Peter Fitz Herbert. The castle was again captured by Llywelyn's grandson, Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffydd in the period 1263 to 1268. The castle was finally destroyed by the adherents of Owain Glyndwr in the early 15th century rebellion.

What remains now are crumbling walls mainly covered with earth and the outlines of ditches and ramparts from the original iron age fortifications, commanding extensive views up into the Black Mountains, Wales and over Talgarth towards Brecon.

It takes approximately 30 minutes to ascend though fields uphill to the castle from the pub car park at Pengenfford and maybe 15 minutes to descend.

References

* Remfry, P.M., "Castell Bwlch y Dinas and the families of Neufmarché, Hereford, Braose, Fitz Herbert, Mortimer and Talbot" (ISBN 1-899376-79-8).

* http://www.castles99.ukprint.com/Essays/dinas.html