Come With Me to a Lost Castle in the Welsh Woods!

Something a bit different today, as we take a tour around my very favourite medieval Welsh castle - Dolbadarn!
A striking, imposing keep hidden in the woods of Snowdonia, it has some wonderful original features, a history full of famous figures, and links to even older local Roman remains, and the mighty Caernarfon castle!
Get your wellies on, grab a hiking pole, and join me as we go for an adventure Tolkien would approve of!
Seriously, it'll be wet. And obviously full of sexy Welsh words. Cor!
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[@TheWelshViking]

Hi all! Two corrections: Dolbadarn was built by Llywelyn Fawr, then used by Llywelyn the Last, they were obviously two different people! And Segontium was built by the Roman general Agricola, who was not an emperor! Oops! Mea culpa maxima!

[@bujin1977]

Another quick correction. At 8:04 you say that Owain Lawgoch was kept prisoner there. Unless I've missed information and he was *also* kept prisoner there, I think you might have been referring to Owain Goch ap Gruffydd - Llywelyn and Dafydd's older brother, who was kept there for 20 years from 1255 after the Battle of Bryn Derwin. Owain Lawgoch was born about 80 years later and was the grandson of Llywelyn's younger brother Rhodri. Dolbadarn is one of my favourite castles in Wales, alongside Dolwyddelan. That's why I chose it as the first of my castles to recreate in Blender and insert into Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 in place of the silly little round house that the autogen scenery puts there... 😁

[@geekicusmaximusben9650]

Thought Segontium was far to neatly and professionally done to have been done by an Emperor on his own. Didn't know about the modern bunker there.

[@RhyfelwrOlaf]

What do you know about the, GWYLLTIAID COCHION..I think that how you spell it. A band of outlaws from mid Wales in the 15th century 👌 😀 👍

[@aliciavelice3806]

@@markfergerson2145 LOL I said the same thing about Washington State, fellow Washingtonians lol

[@magesalmanac6424]

"It's defended very heavily." *walks around the fence* 😆 Yes, more tours please. This was delightful.

[@annafirnen4815]

We would definitely want more narrated tours, this was lovely! Castles are awesome. And the area this one is located is very charming, the mist only added character to it.

[@AliciaB.]

I second this ! more narrated tours please

[@j3tztbassman123]

I too vote in favor of more castle tours.

[@rredd7777]

Yes!! Mwy cestyll cymreig, os gwellych yn dda, Jimmy!

[@adelecurry7405]

Yes - more narrated tours of interesting sites please!!!

[@SnappyDragon]

"You don't have to wear Edwardian clothes--" *stop taking away my excuses to dress up* I want to spookily wander through a lost castle in goth 1900s clothes!! Seriously, please do more of these, it's a big help in keeping my travel bug contained during the pandemic. Of course, the list of places to go afterwards will be miles and miles long . . .

[@roxiepoe9586]

Once upon a time in Wales I slipped at the top of a damp stair in a castle tower and my body slid down much in the manner of a bobsled. Skin was lost, the bruises were magnificent, and my head bounced more than once off the walls. This started my obsession with 'good shoes' for tourism and a careful survey of walking surfaces that has served me well from then to now. :)

[@m.maclellan7147]

O.m.word ! You poor thing !!!! Do beware of concussions ! Glad to hear you have changed your foot gear !

[@roxiepoe9586]

@@m.maclellan7147 It happened 35 years ago and I have been careful ever since! Thank you for the sympathy, though. I was pretty banged up. :)

[@sisuguillam5109]

@@roxiepoe9586 Concussions are awful!

[@katherinegallagher9081]

Yes- please more narrative tours; and also commentary of history and culture of Wales ( i see a lot about Ireland, Scotland, and England ...but not Wales)

[@beth12svist]

I didn't realise that Wales was underrepresented because for me Wales is the one, what with my father visiting several times when I was a child. But you're right. More Wales, please!

[@TorchwoodPandP]

I third that!

[@paulaunger3061]

Definitely! Welsh is very underserved.

[@themardbard9096]

Sooo true! I love learning about Welsh culture!

[@experimentallytheoretical3116]

Please, more narrative tours! Even the "dreary" winter was lovely to see, since I am a cold weather woman stuck somewhere far too warm and sunny. Thank you for sharing this with us

[@TealCheetah]

Learning that Jimmy wears Edwardian style makes me happy.

[@KenZchameleon]

Castles! Roman ruins! Rivers! Yes, please! I would love narration, weather permitting, and everything else you can edit in. My heritage includes Welsh, but I don't think I'll ever make it there, so whatever you share is SO appreciated!!

[@euansmith3699]

Edwardian Jimmy looks like he should be in "Lair of the White Worm" and about to come to a very... sticky end. The forest looks great, and is a wonderful setting for the castle. It is really interesting to see a castle made from slate. The shots inside the keep were really setting off my vertigo. Thank you for this tour. Edwardian Antiquarian Jimmy in his library is a great storytelling look. The riverside ASMR was a nice bonus.

[@lucie4185]

Vertigo sucks when you want to see cool castles. I get it and claustrophobia and those stairs made me so glad Jimmy was going up them and not me.

[@kfries1282]

Such a lovely little tour! Here in Canada it's unfathomable to think of taking an afternoon walk through a 900 year old building. Everything we have nearby either was not protected, or is now a very protected heritage site and not as open to the public

[@racheldear]

Buttresses heehee 😎😹✨ Thank you for sharing!

[@katybeaumont]

What an impressive site! So moody. Thanks for helping us imagine how it would have been. (And braving the dank weather). Love a good castle. After volunteering at rebuilding/excavating a ruined castle in France in my student days, I’m always boring people with nerdy castle facts and obscure French words for medieval building techniques. 😁

[@FeathPymArt]

I was in Wales a few years ago and did the whole touristy thing. Don't remember the name of a single place, but I remember almost every stone. What an amazing place! Thanks for showing me a new (for me) castle.

[@beth12svist]

Llanberis rang a bell. From my father's tales of Wales (he visited several times, many years ago, and some placenames including your hometown are burned into memory). The proximity to Caernarfon would explain it. I don't think he's been to the castle, so thanks for the tour! Also, I think filming this in terrible weather probably wasn't great for you but it's pretty good for us because I can imagine there would be more people in the background on a beautiful sunny day. So thank you for that, too.

[@okgibberish6771]

Jimmy, as someone who had to come down the glenfinnan monument staircase 1 step at a time on their bum I have very mixed feelings about your adventures up Medieval staircases. Thank you for documenting the experience so I will not have to try it myself but please be careful! P.s. definitely more tours please, this was very interesting & informative. Tha mi rudeigin fadalach ach fhathast - Bhliadhna math ùr dhut!

[@jellybeans3994]

Are you speaking Gàidhlig? Just out of curiosity.

[@seanmcgcostumes]

This was an absolute delight and I would LOVE more videos like this! As an American, it's soooo rare that we're shown Welsh historical sites; so often, it's the same British and Scottish ones. I would love to see more historical Welsh sites with you wealth of knowledge!

[@across2726]

Thank so much. I live in Manitoba Canada and we have nothing like that. I love seeing castles. Especially with a private tour guide dressed so handsomely. 5km from me is a stone trading fort that is absolutely beautiful. Built in the early 1800's. That is as close as you'll get to a castle here. Please do give more tours they are enjoyed very much 😊 thanks again 😊

[@crystallinecrow3365]

What an utter delight this video was! Thank you so much for bringing us along with you for this lovely meander through the woods and the past. Please do explore any other such castles as you can and would like! Particularly those nearby excellent pubs. 😉 Just remember your forest footwear and take every care to avoid accidents! 🖤

[@TheLonelyGod42]

I would totally enjoy more videos like this! Audio recorded whenever makes sense 😃

[@ladyliberty417]

Yes please more walks around beautiful Wales ❗️while explaining history and helping us pronounce words😊 Thank you for this excursion Jimmy, much appreciated ❣️

[@isaaqdoesstuff7623]

Yyyeeeessss this was a greeeaaat video. Being in Australia and not having been home for years, I reeeaalllyy appreciate this. When I go back nadolig nesaf, I will definitely be doing this walk!! Diolch yn fawr am y fideo Jimmy!!

[@jessitrue750]

I think it is safe to assume that we all want you to visit every castle and take us with you. Thank you for braving the slippery and twisty damp dark beauty for us

[@KathleenStidham]

THIS WAS BRILLIANT!!! :-) I so enjoyed the field trip.

[@emilywhitfield2780]

This is so beautiful!!! Wales is such a wonderful country!! I'm sure it would be a great place for birdwatching and for star gazing at night!!! Thank you for sharing this!!!😊😊😊😊

[@AnnAnonyme]

When I was 12 and visiting the UK for the first time (from Canada), I was disappointed that the castles were largely just ruins of castles, and not how castles were portrayed in books/movies at all. Clearly I needed Jimmy as my tour guide!

[@beth12svist]

That would probably be in part because the movies are usually filmed here in Central Europe where a lot of our castles are a lot better preserved - I suspect that's a combination of quite a few of the noble families deciding to update them as time went by instead of abandoning them, as well as a lack of the sort of weather you can expect to find in Britain... so even the abandoned ones are sometimes a bit better preserved. But when it comes to the ruins (we do have those, too), I agree it's really nice to have someone telling you what was what - I enjoyed that as well, especially the addition of the floor plan (is that the term?).

[@shawnagoddard4999]

😃Field Trip!! This was great and something new to add to the growing sights I must see when I can get back to Wales.

[@LaneBeScrolling]

Very cool! Love the virtual tour and history, love the starched collar.

[@SarahGreen523]

Wales is so beautiful! I get such wistful feelings when I watch landscape tours of the countryside in Wales. I hope I get a chance to see it in rl before I kick off. So, yes, please, take us on more tours of gorgeous Welsh historical or otherwise interesting sites. Thanks!

[@librasgirl08]

It's beautiful! Really worth it! It always try to see a bit more, when I'm over in the UK. I've been there about 10 times, still not enough!

[@inkymunster1591]

Are you Welsh? What you describe is hiraeth. ❤

[@SarahGreen523]

@@inkymunster1591 No, I'm not, but I'd be proud if I was.

[@inkymunster1591]

​@@SarahGreen523Diolch Sarah. Be proud, wherever you are from. I love where I live, it's the South Wales valleys, but no longer industrial grey. I live within half hour's drive of a national park, a city or the coast. Castles within a short drive and the fairytale Castell Coch. A folly, but beautiful. Last weekend, I was in a local ancient forest. Yes, it rains a lot here, but that keeps it green.

[@SarahGreen523]

@@inkymunster1591 Please don't misunderstand me, I love where I live and call home. The U.S. has a lot of beauty and history that I am proud of. Where I live there are prairies and buffalo and elk still. And a few old growth forests to wander in, on or off trail if you're brave enough. There are hidden ice caves up north too, and areas that the last glacier missed, so very old with gloriously rare plants. But I've read about Wales all my life, and I know some of it's history and culture. I think it would be a lovely place to call home, if you're lucky enough. And ... I love the rain.

[@westsaxoninwales]

Winter is officially the best time to visit castles. Fewer people, murky atmosphere, what could be better?!

[@emeraldh80]

"It's defended very heavily so ... you know, very difficult to get into this bunker" *footage of Jimmy walking around a fence*

[@Sandra-P.713]

Yes, please more narrated tours. I loved this! And thanks for the "Sounds of River". That was awesome. 💖

[@amaliaseven7]

Atmospheric, calm, and lovely ❤️ Would love more tours, more castles, anything. More history, more archeology, more knowledge of any kind. And I doubt I'll ever get to see Wales in person, so it's nice to have a friendly virtual tour ❤️

[@Zharkov1969A]

In my teens I used to draw detailed plans of castles and Dolbadarn was one that I drew on graph paper following a family visit. It’s been over 30 years since I visited it but I ought to take the family now. They can then learn what REAL rain feels like.

[@SiriusFeanor]

From a person who probably won't ever be able to go to Wales and see it all with their own eyes (aka me) YES PLEASE TAKE US TO ALL THE WELSH CASTLES thankyouverymuchindeed

[@nailguncrouch1017]

Thank you for the tour, it was very enjoyable. I would like to see more of these. The sound quality is always much better when narrated later.

[@TheMaggieMia]

A cold January day, I finally cleaned the snow off my car and landing and came in to warm up and watch this. I love misty days!

[@Fenrisaconite]

Being near castles and historic sites is definitely one of the things I miss most after having left Europe (I used to live next to a moat fort town!). Would definitely love to see a video on that Carnarvon (sp?) place.

[@lindsaydrewe8219]

I miss castles and old buildings,so any guided tours would be very much appreciated. Keep up the good work

[@beth12svist]

Carnarvon is the English spelling, Caernarfon the Welsh, FYI. :-)

[@CapriUni]

I'm glad you got down from the tower the safe way, rather than the fast way. Those woods you were walking through (especially the big rocks sticking out of the ground) remind me of where I grew up in the Hudson Highlands, in America... And now, I'm wondering about our Ancient Earth, and if, earlier in the tectonic drift, your neck of the woods and my (childhood) neck of the wood were neighbors. And yes. More tours please.

[@archaeogremlin]

Yes, PLEASE do a video on Caernarfon! My mom and I visited it during a trip to the UK when I was 12 and it remains one of my fondest memories over a decade later

[@annabeinglazy5580]

I was suspicious when i saw the thumbnail and started wondering what Kind of Magic you used to get beautiful blue skies in december... 😂 Also thanks for putting this on my bucketlist for when i move closer to Wales. Now i Just have to speedrun through the Scottish Castle Landscape...

[@uatu3021]

I think this kind content dovetails nicely with the your more standard stuff, and would like to see more of it.

[@FlybyStardancer]

That is so amazing!! Also more castles? Yes please!

[@canucknancy4257]

That was wonderful. Thanks for letting us travel vicariously through you. What an interesting and beautiful place.

[@jackiejames4551]

That was wonderful, thank you so much. I will probably never get to Wales, so seeing it this way is the closest I will get. The castle was fasinating and I did enjoy learning about it (even the poop hole😆). Please, please PLEASE do more of these. You looked very nice by the way.

[@KarelPKerezman]

A walking tour of very nifty very old places is an excellent idea, I fully endorse it for anyone who's able and willing.

[@douglasboyle6544]

As an American I appreciated your primer on Welsh pronunciations

[@dieschatten]

I am 5000% here for ancient castle content oh my god please do more!

[@chrisVNZ]

As someone living 12 million miles away in Wellywood, NZ, MiddleEarth.... Would love to see more castles I can't ever see for myself. Thanks for sharing!

[@elisabethmontegna5412]

Yes, tours of all of the castles ever, please and thank you. Narrated in whatever manner that keeps you from falling to your death down hundreds of slippery stone steps.

[@AStitchTooFar]

love the format, and just realised that the elven language in the witcher is probably also leaning heavily on welsh ? dol blathana (the Elven country known as the valley of the flowers) and kaer morhen (the witchers keep) are two that spring to mind immediately. If you're familiar with the books and/or games it may be a fun topic for a video?

[@ms.interpreted7110]

This was lovely! Would love to see other castles, but would also even enjoy just, like, lovely walks while you share historical stuff and whatnot!!

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thank you for the tour -- that was neat to see! And I appreciated the good quality audio. ☺️

[@juliaforsyth8332]

Would love to see more about Wales, and pronunciation of the beautiful Welsh language. I love the moody days when I go into the Ranges locally here in NZ. Real vibes of Tolkien.

[@anna_in_aotearoa3166]

What's your favourite place for winter-time exploring? 🙂 A misty day up the Ruapehu/Tongariro saddle is definitely a fairly spooky experience! 😆 (Haven't been back since a primary school trip, but the memories are still v vivid). Could 100% relate to Jimmy's slippery-feet problem too - plenty of adrenalin-inducing glissades & unplanned muddy butts when trying to descend various bush tracks on past family expeditions! 🙈 Although here it's mostly due to skating on wet leaves rather than wet stones...?

[@dansiegel333]

Beautiful and atmospheric. More castles please! Thanks.

[@merrianoliver-weymouth5265]

Yes please for more history and language tours. I love seeing the walking of places and seeing their stories unfold. There is after all, 'Welsh' as well as 'Viking' in your KZbin channel name

[@AgentPedestrian]

I don't think I'll ever be.. not poor enough to visit places like these myself so I really appreciate this even the sense of scale and whatnot. thank you

[@Nattfare]

Considering that the Welsh are both stylish and kooky and not really used to this style of castle, they probably used a small catapult to get up to the keep entrance.

[@medievaldruidess]

Oh to find a medieval lover to go with, running through the Welsh countryside and seeing old castles.

[@jacohrs88]

Was Owain of the Red Handed caught... Wait for it... RED HANDED?! More tour videos please! I like seeing the castles without the panic attacks over the stairs I had at Blarney!

[@miriamgillham6701]

Jimmy, please do so the other castle video as this one was fantastic. ‘I did it for you my friends, I did it for you!’ What a line…..Just loved it, such a cool place. No ancient castles or structures in the country I live in. Love this stuff! Much appreciated.

[@melima_]

"Don't say I never take you some where nice!" I don't think I've ever been taken somewhere as nice!

[@griffcats]

Have been to Dolbadarn a few times, (from the USA here) it has wonderful views of the valley. When I was there last a few years ago there was a race up Snowden and a lot of people on the road, but nobody in this little haven tucked away in the wood. I have many pictures of the place, have to go there again soon. There is a patch of Green so dense and full, my son disappeared in it, and eventually only his face appeared. Wonderful memory. Watching your channel for the history bits though, well done, Diolch yn fawr!

[@AlanGChenery]

Fun video... And since I've absolutely failed so far on my (2010!!) new year's resolution to visit every medieval fortified site in Wales I ABSOLUTELY support you doing more of these... :P

[@juadonna]

Greetings from Florida! Thank you for sharing this beautiful building and its environs with us. Much prefer the cozy dimensions of Dolbadarn to the endless expanses of Caernarfon! But since I won't have to actually do any real life walking, I'm up for anyplace, especially with you as the tour guide! Take care over there and see you soon!

[@Aswaguespack]

Excellent Video Tour, Castle Tour Guide Jimmy! Yes I cast my vote for another Castle Tour. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Thanks Jimmy

[@kaijello]

"er... maybe English people" got me laughing harder than expected

[@emb3863]

Man... Old and abandoned places/ruins make me so emotional, like not to be a softie but even if they were fortresses or whatever just knowing that someone was in them hundreds or maybe thousands of years ago and fooled around with their friends and sang songs and sat in front of the fireplace and maybe someone had a funny fall in the hallway or just some silly human thing like that makes me feel like crying

[@SigneofHorses]

You silly boy! Of course we want you to take us to Caernarfon!!

[@nixhixx]

Lovely little tour of something I'm not likely to ever get to see. Thank you.

[@aotearoawahine100]

loved this - anything about Llywelyn Fawr or his grandson Llywelyn ap Gruffudd will always be appreciated by me! I'm from New Zealand but have Welsh heritage and as a teenager was a bit obsessed with Welsh medieval history. Next trip to the UK has a full bucket list of places I need to visit in Wales, so more content like this would be great! 💜🏰🌲

[@nicoleallen3079]

You are the goodness I need in my very cold, snowy, 3 muddy pawed dogs life right now! 🐶🐶🐶🐾🐾🐾

[@sarareed6897]

Narrated tours of beautiful places that have historic interest? Yes, please! I very much enjoyed this. Finishing with the soothing sound of the river was a nice touch. ❤

[@colinp2238]

When I was a kid I used to wonder how the people living in castles managed when it rained or snowed, I couldn't imagine that the ruins I saw had roofs, or higher than ground floors. I also thought that Belafonte's song Islands in the Sun were literal islands on the surface of the Sun.

[@LaLisdeSable]

I would love to hear anything you have to share about Caerffili and/or Conwy. Also thank you for using Welsh pronunciations. As an American English speaker, Welsh can be difficult to figure out without hearing it.

[@debrapugh2317]

Yes, please. More castles!

[@AstheCrowTries]

My partner and I: Ah, for a series of videos in which Jimmy takes us on a tour of the most picturesque poopin' stools of Wales.

[@TheWelshViking]

On it.

[@AngelicFruitcakia]

More castles please….all the castles. Also gives me great places to visit.

[@katecapek3116]

Yes, please on more castles! Many castles!

[@ThomasAbthorpe]

Castles! Ruins! All the cool things please!

[@adrianwebster6923]

Loved this castle and Llanberis when I visited many years ago. Spent a few days in the area, got both the lovely grey, rainy days and sunshine. Such a nice area and with great views from everywhere.

[@michellecornum5856]

Absolutely do Caernarfon castle. Question. Um, James -- Are you an Edwardian? Thank you for braving the slippery steps for us. Yes, of course, please take us around to all the places! Talk outside or inside, whatever works. I know the weather there -- it's weathery, so whatever happens to work.

[@Bildgesmythe]

You don't have to ask me twice, let's go!

[@jamiebriggs4415]

Yes yes oh yes! would definitely love to see more historic sites! I love hearing the history, and the language lessons as well🤩 and don't wait to drink your tea until the end😉😄

[@Chibihugs]

Love the guided tour through cool historical site with Jimmy! This is welcome any time. Also hell yeah to rocking Edwardian fashion!

[@m.maclellan7147]

I second the Edwardian Fashion !

[@elvacoburg1279]

Thank you for braving the winter weather to show us this castle. A definite YES to more castle tours.

[@teresagabriela5806]

Caernarven castle! Yes please!

[@RosieCockshutt]

Yes please to more videos like this!!! It's like the best combination of travelling vicariously and also having the best tour guide 😍

[@persiswynter6357]

Yes! More narrated tours!

[@laulutar]

My decision to start learning Welsh may, or may not, be influenced by my wish to speak at least a 2nd language that influenced Tolkien in his creation of the different Elvish languages. And Finnish is one of my first languages, so I have that down pat, already :D

[@maryellencook9528]

Definitely more narrated videos, please. I would appreciate a video on the Welsh people's view on Edward Longshanks/Edward I.

[@rachmuffins7]

Yes, more tours!

[@m.maclellan7147]

Yes, narrated tours of historic Welsh places (or Scottish!) Or perhaps compare/contrast them ?! I admit I know next to nothing about Welsh History, but am enjoying learning a bit from you ! Though, I doubt I'll pick up the language anytime soon ! Lol !

[@HalflingSeamstress]

Yes to more narrated tours! Touring old sites vicariously sounds amazing!

[@sir_earl_grey_5530]

Definitely want to see some more Welsh castles have you been to Pembroke Castle

[@cypriennezed5640]

Eep YES, narrative tours! of castles! in snazzy outfits of your choosing!

[@TudorositiesbyMaureen]

Yes another castle video! Please and Thank you.

[@rd6203]

I applaud you, sir, from the comfort of my warm home, and thank you for braving such elements for sharing with us your beautiful homeland. 💚💜💙

[@astreaward6651]

OMG definitely more tours, in whatever way is most convenient for you of course! This was amazing :) As for the weather there, I'm envious here in dry-as-a-bone Central California. Thank you so much for taking all of us along!