Castell Dinas Bran Circular from Llangollen
Denbighshire
Castell Dinas Bran sits on a conical hill 321 metres above Llangollen, the ruins of a Welsh castle built around 1260 by the princes of Powys Fadog and abandoned within a few decades. Dogs can stretch out on the towpath at the start, then go looser near the ruins once clear of grazing sheep. This 6.5km circular walk starts at Llangollen Bridge over the River Dee, follows the Llangollen Canal towpath east for over a mile, then climbs through farmland past Llandyn Hall and Wern-uchaf to the castle. The final approach is a steep pull up open hillside on a zigzag path, with around 273 metres of climbing in total. From the ruins there are wide views over the Dee Valley, Llangollen and the Eglwyseg escarpment, and the descent returns by a fenced track and lane.
This is a dog friendly walk with a genuine change of character partway round. The canal towpath section is flat, hard surfaced and easy on paws, though it is shared with boats, cyclists and horse-drawn trips so dogs are best kept close. The farmland below the castle carries grazing sheep, so leads are needed there and on the open hill, denoted by cattle grids at field boundaries. Once clear of livestock, a dog with reliable recall can have some freedom on the final approach to the ruins. There is no water on the high ground and little shade, so take some for a warm day. Llangollen has several pay and display car parks, plus dog-friendly pubs and cafes at the start and finish.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 6.5 km (4.0 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 2 hr 40 min
- Walk Type
- Historic, Canal, Peak
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- Cafes, pubs and shops in Llangollen town at the start and finish; nothing on the hill itself.
- Parking
- Market Street Car Park (or other town centre car parks), Denbighshire County Council, pay and display.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Castell Dinas Bran Circular from Llangollen, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in DenbighshireFrequently Asked Questions
Is Castell Dinas Bran Circular from Llangollen dog friendly?
Yes, this walk scores 7 out of 10 for dog friendliness. Dogs are welcome on the canal towpath and the farmland and hillside paths up to the castle, but sheep graze the fields and open hill below the ruins, so leads are needed for a good part of the route. The climb is steep in places and there is no shade or water once you leave the canal, so it suits a fit dog more than a short walk suits.
Can dogs be off lead at Castell Dinas Bran Circular from Llangollen?
Off-lead time is limited to the final stretch near the ruins once you are clear of the grazing land, and only for a dog with a reliable recall, since the summit approach is open and exposed. The canal towpath and the farmland sections below carry sheep, cyclists, boats and horse-drawn trips, so a lead is the safer choice for most of the route.
What should I know before visiting Castell Dinas Bran Circular from Llangollen with my dog?
Allow around two and a half hours for the 6.5km circuit, as the final climb to the castle is steep with roughly 273 metres of ascent. Park in one of Llangollen's pay and display car parks near the bridge, such as Market Street. There is no cafe or water on the hill itself, so carry water for your dog, and keep to a lead through the farmland where sheep graze.
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Market Street Car Park, Market Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire LL20 8RT
52.9694, -3.1716
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