Tomen-y-Bala

This earth and timber castle (motte and bailey type) was still fortified in 1202, when Llewelyn ap Iorweth (the Great) defeated Elis ap Madoc, Lord of Penllyn and then destroyed the castle. It is believed that Llewelyn then built the stone castle high upon a rocky crag at Carnddochan, near Llanuwchlyn.