Dolwyddelan Castle

Dolwyddelan Castle is a rectangular storied keep dating from the medieval period, with fragmentary associated curtain walls and a much-ruined rectangular west tower. It is constructed from local gritstone and slatestone rubble, featuring a gently-battered base on rock and a renewed lead roof on the keep. The entrance is located on the northwest side of the keep, accessible via stone steps, and there are ruins of a former forebuilding. The entrance has a 4-centered, chamfered arch with a modern boarded door.

To the right of the entrance, there is a shallow pointed-arched window with a 19th-century iron grille, along with two similar windows on the southeast face and one window each on the northwest, southeast, and southwest sides at the second-floor level, with the latter being square-headed. The southwest side features a wide garderobe projection on the basement and first floors. The upper part of the tower has been largely reconstructed, showcasing slate-coped crenellations, 'arrow-slits', and a series of distinctive projecting mock slab drains below. There is also a projecting square turret at the roof level on the northeast corner, with Tudor-arched slatestone lintels above the openings.

Inside, there are two large chambers, one on each floor, above a basement that was originally accessed via a trap door. The second-floor ceiling has not been restored, creating a deceptive double-height room with a modern boarded floor and scant remains of original internal wall plaster. A wide lateral fireplace features a projecting, corbelled breast and a flat, depressed-arched slate lintel, which appears to have been partly restored. The window splays are wide and deep, with pointed inner arches. To the left of the fireplace, there is a window recess with an L-shaped mural stair leading off from the left reveal, which may have been added in the late 15th century. The presumed entrance to the second floor is missing, likely removed during 19th-century restorations, which would have provided access to the roof level and battlements. Additionally, there is a garderobe passage on the southwest side with a latrine chute visible externally, leading to a plain square-headed entrance.