ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ก.ย. 2022
- Castell Dinas Bran, Llangollen, and the Holy Grail. WelshBloke Walking
Links:
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castell...
Today I'm visiting Castell Dinas Bran in Llangollen.
My walk starts here at the showground of the International Eisteddfod which is situated just outside Llangollen. This annual Eisteddfod attracts people from all over the world, and many famous people have performed here over the years including the amazing Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti
I'm starting at the car park here because it connects directly to the canal which is the path I'm going to use to get into Llangollen itself.
The Llangollen end of the canal will deposit me directly onto the Dinas bran path. I could of course have driven into Llangollen, but this way is much, much prettier.
and I just love this old barge horse, transport from a
byegone age still being used for the pleasure of visitors.
The Llangollen wharf with its gift shop and bustling tea room lets us know that we have arrived in the town.
Much as I'd like to stop for tea and cake, I have a castle to find, so I continue through and over the bridge
As I join the footpath, the weather takes a turn for the worse and it starts raining, so I shelter under some trees.
Through the rain, I get my first glimpse of Castell Dinas Bran. The rain eases slightly and I decide to go for it, but within minutes glorious sunshine breaks out again - That's Wales for you!
In fact, within five minutes it has become so hot I had to shed some clothing.
Inevitably, as soon as I had done so.... Yep! It started again.
Ah well, just keep going and hope for the best.
Dinas Bran is one of the few surviving Welsh-built stone castles, constructed in the 13th Century by Gruffudd ap Madoc, ruler of northern Powys.
It was said to be the seat of King Bran, Brân Fendigaidd, or Bran the blessed, was an ancient Welsh hero who was the son of Llyr and a descendant of King Arthur. It is said that the Holy Grail is buried beneath it.
King Bran is thought by some authorities to be an early Grail King, in one version of the legend, the Grail King is named as Bron. The association is strengthened by the similar wounds the two share, the grail King was wounded in the thigh and Bran in the foot:
With the help of the Holy Grail the king was cured, and in return for this cure offered to build a strong castle on top of a hill overlooking a fast-flowing river in which to house the Grail. Once the castle was finished a magic inscription appeared on the gates saying that this castle must be named Corbenic.
Dinas Bran is of course built on a high hill with the fast-flowing Afon Dyfrdwy below.
The clincher between the Grail Castle and Dinas Bran though is in the name Corbenic. Corbenic is an old French word meaning crow or raven, which in Welsh, is Bran so Dinas Bran is literally Corbenic, in Welsh.
Hashtags :
#King Arthur
#Holygrail
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#wales
#visitwales
#hiking
#cymru
#northwales
#snowdonia
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So gorgeous. When I was very young, I read a book by Susan Cooper called The Grey King, which is set in Wales. Seeing places like this in the rain, the story, comes to life. So kind of you to take us on this walk.
Nice of you to come with me Heather
its a excellent insight into welsh history, i love learning about our country, diolch brother.
Diolch i chi. Thanks for watching
Many thanks for this. I’ve walked up here on a few occasions, along the canal, across Pontcysyllte Aqueduct - this is such a beautiful area. I’ve been going to Llangollen as long as I can remember, and now live not far away. Another lovely place to visit is Chirk, just down the road: they have a castle too, and an aqueduct (fantastic views!), complete with a long tunnel just before you walk over the aqueduct for the canal (the tunnel’s over 400 meters - take a torch if you’re walking through it, it’s dark in there - local people call it ‘the darkie’). I have a relative who plans / leads walks in the local area: there are so many beautiful places close by.
Thanks for the info - and thanks for watching :)
Of all of the Welshbloke Walking videos you've done, I think this one might be the most beautiful. It helps a bit that I have fond memories of visiting Llangollen while on a Study Abroad course back in 2014; at the time my main interest was in a ride on the Llangollen Railway, which was fantastic and highly recommended, and to visit the International Eisteddfod, which sadly I think I rather overhyped myself for as I found it rather quiet and disappointing on the day I went. Still, I did find myself wandering aimlessly up to the very canal wharf that you passed. And a few weeks later my Industrial History class made a visit to the nearby Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which may also be well worth a hike, though hopefully not in the pouring rain while suffering a bad bout of bronchitis like I was. Even so, it was still stunning, and the view from atop it (when I could put my fear of heights aside) was something that will stick with me until I die.
For all that though, I had no idea that this castle was even there. It makes me want to return to Wales even more. Truly, the sight of such a stunning ruin perched high atop a glistening green mound among the rolling hills looks like something pulled straight from Middle Earth. Indeed, it's surely too beautiful to be real, it looks like a fantasy yet it's not. New Zealand ain't got nothing on Wales, that's for sure. Thank you again for sharing your adventures through this stunning and storied land. Here's looking forward to many more.
Thanks for those wonderful memories Sirrlif.
Oh yes. LLangollen. I was there 2019, my last vacation in UK 😢. Cute little Town with his River Dee and his little Trainstation. I really hope that someday i will be able to travel to the UK again. I especially miss Scotland.
Thanks for watching!
We have passed tho the town quite a few times going on holiday and thought it looked interesting but never stopped. Didnt realise it had a castle. Theres enought there for a short break. Great video and thank for the info
Thanks for watching Nige
Beautiful video mate!
Thanks a lot!
Great one Will. Diolch!
Diolch am wilio Baruch
Have you ever done a walking tour of my hometown of Bangor?
If not could you please?
I miss it so much
Not yet! I'll add it to the list Kathie
I lived in Bangor for a while- lovely place! And very close to Ynys Môn, somewhere else to explore.
Wonderful walk, I used to live Pontfadog in 1969, now in Finland. Nice to see the new gates etc. Diolch yn fawr
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for sharing, Will. I miss Wales. Was in Swansea for 6 week last summer and I climbed up Pen y Fan at the end of my holiday. Hope to go back and explore North Wales, especially Snowdonia.
Snowdonia is a lovely part of the world (It's real name is Eryri pronounced Er-ur-ee)
What a pleasure to walk hand in hand with you through such wonderful lands. Thank you.
Thank you for joining me. Glad you enjoyed it
Beautiful/hardd! I really like your videos,.
Glad you like them! Thanks for watching :)
Great video! Lovely walk
Glad you enjoyed it Jamie.
Thanks a lot for sharing you journey! So interesting to discover an ancient history of these places.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
What a beautiful place and wonderous views. It's setting reminded me a little bit of Glastonbury Tor. Thanks Will, really enjoyed watching and learning!
My pleasure! Thanks for watching Celeste
Really enjoyed the trip up the Castle Will. Remember Pavarotti singing at Llangollen, Was lucky enough to say hello to him at Soughton Hall where he was staying at the time..
Wow! great stuff.
Amazing camera work as always!
Glad you liked it!
Lovely part of the world, diolch yn fawr iawn...👍
Diolch am wylio
First time l have seen this channel. Nicely made. The only issue for me is there are a lot of You Tube videos with castles and very few say anything meaningful about the structures themselves- why they were built the way they were, how they functioned etc. If we were looking at a painting it’s like telling you about the artist but nothing about what we are looking at.
Thanks for watching :)
@@WillHuw OK but how about addressing the issue? Understanding castles is not very difficult but it’s surprising how few people have even basic knowledge. A little bit of knowledge would help viewers to understand not just one castle but all of them
@@jontalbot1 Hi Jon. I may one day do a series on the Castles of Wales I'll have to do some test videos first to see how they would go. This particular series though, is about Walking in Wales. Viewers watch for the scenery, the journey, and the quaint tales and legends attached to each trip. Education is always a good thing, but the demographic of this series is mainly people who just want to chill and enjoy the view.
@@WillHuw What you are doing is projecting your own lack of curiosity onto everyone else.
@@jontalbot1 Hi Jon, No I am hugely curious about most things. As for psychological projection, I can't accept that you know anything at all about my psychology or motivations, being as I am, a complete stranger to you. As for "Everyone else", I monitor the comments closely and the general thrust of why my viewers watch is not hard to discern, but, Dear Viewers, if you would indeed prefer in-depth history of castles to scenery, let me know in the comments.
Another great video my friend. A great history lesson for me to. Having walked passed the castle several times I never appreciated it's history.
Glad you enjoyed it Milmo
You didn't meet Rupert the Bear while out walking? 🙂
No, Just Paddington 🙂