Dinas Bran -

With over a million books sold to date, Sarah Woodbury is the author of more than forty novels, all set in medieval Wales. For more information about her books or to sign up for her newsletter, see her web page:
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[@klauswigsmith]

My wife and I visited Wales in 2006 and 2007 and stayed primarily in Snowdonia, using Harlech as a base of operations. (thanks, Maelgwyn House B&B!) We loved the whole place. It was magical. But Dinas Bran maintains a special place in our memories as we made an unplanned hike up the hill to it, having seen the ruins as we drove into the valley from Wrexham. We hope to go back to Snowdina some day and visit all the Welsh castles we explored 15-16 years ago.

[@SarahWoodburyBooks]

It is definitely worth the trip!

[@lisethyblue2926]

The name 'Crow castle' is more exciting than you might think - crows (specifically, ravens) had sacred and mythical importance to the Celts, and they crop up in many place names.

[@SarahWoodburyBooks]

That's a good way to think about it!

[@m.w.]

Where i have lost my heart in 1993. Visited the Language school in Llangollen and worked in Swansea after that. Thank you so much keeping my memories alive ....🙏 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Greetings from Germany 🇩🇪

[@SarahWoodburyBooks]

Aw, thanks! Take care!

[@deena2517]

I’m glad you “rebuilt” this for Math & Anna! I love the story behind it.

[@SarahWoodburyBooks]

[@castlesandlegends]

Great video. Such a mysterious feel up at the top of Dina's Bran

[@SarahWoodburyBooks]

Thank you!

[@bujin1977]

One of my favourite places to go too. I'm lucky in that it's about a 15 minute drive from my house. Here's some aerial footage I took back in April: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3zFkHxsateLoJI

[@SarahWoodburyBooks]

Thanks for sharing that link! We were there most recently in May. I'll share this video with the readers in my Facebook group.

[@مرحبابك-ض1ن]

Sarah thank you for this! It is fascinating that they call this place crow castle - Andalusian sources mention another crow castle belonging to the Christian kingdoms in the far north-west of Iberia. It can't be a simple coincidence that Galicia and Wales have that same significant placename!

[@SarahWoodburyBooks]

Very cool!

[@Book_Snobs_Cafe]

These are the ancestors of Elon Musk, Elon Musk's 22cd Great Grandfather, Owain Gwynedd ap Gruffydd, King of Gwynedd & the legends of King Arthur

[@SarahWoodburyBooks]

Oh dear. Well, mine too!

[@chriscarey1478]

Beautiful video of the site/valley landscape. Thank you for sharing . I've heard from the welshmen Wilson and Blacket that the grail was not a cup, but rather a document/story committed to writing. Apparently, grail means book in both Hebrew and Welsh . Holy Grail would then be Holy Book or Holy Bible. This suggests Joseph brought the first written records of Christianity to Britain.

[@SarahWoodburyBooks]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing.

[@sylviastubbs2099]

Thanks for your blog on Welsh Pagan Halloween. It seems that it was practised originally by the Pagan Celts of Wales, Ireland and Brittany.

[@SarahWoodburyBooks]

Yes!

[@Dukkyjames200]

This is so amazing 🤩 I went to school in Llangollen and I never really thought there was anything remarkable about it. Seeing someone speaking so passionately about It really puts into perspective how lucky I am. Thank you so much. Diolch yn fawr.

[@SarahWoodburyBooks]

Oh I'm so glad. Croeso!

[@janblunt7516]

Thanks for telling the story of this "Administrative Center," as you described it, Sarah... one can visualize the castle not only in its defensive mode, but also as it facilitated trade, tax collection, and other day to day activities that would have gone on in its day. What an awe-inspiring and beautiful place, too. Another site for the bucket list...if there's any room left!

[@SarahWoodburyBooks]

Lots still to see for us too I'm sure!

[@annaclarepolttila6256]

Am addicted to all of your stories and anxiously await publication of the next after cilmeri installment in March of 2021 I hope? Thank you for sharing your brilliant imagination and knowledge with us all!

[@SarahWoodburyBooks]

I'm so glad! Thank you for telling me!

[@garethbryneithin]

Great video again. Pronunciation not 100% - most unusually! The A in Bran is much longer. NOT as in Bran (flakes) perhaps Braaaaan

[@SarahWoodburyBooks]

Oh yes, I know you are right. Some of these places I mistakenly pronounce in the way I did before I started learning Welsh and I don't even think about it. I will endeavor to pronounce it correctly in future! Thanks for pointing it out,

[@Jake-pm3pz]

@@SarahWoodburyBooks its ok welldone for trying, you actually pronounce a lot of the words very well.

[@RachelBGreen]

It's also called Crow Castle locally :)

[@SarahWoodburyBooks]

Yes, that would be right in English.

[@RachelBGreen]

@@SarahWoodburyBooks It's what we called it when I was a child. But these days I think everyone calls it Dinas Bran. Diolch!