Dolbadarn Castle, Llanberis, Gwynedd, Wales

Given that it is situated near Llanberis, not far from Snowdon and other rugged Welsh mountains of note, you would think that Dolbadarn castle is ideally situated from a photographic point of view. The fly in the ointment is the industrialisation of the landscape around here, largely due to the carnage that is slate mining. Thankfully, the quarrying around here has largely stopped though nature has yet to fully reclaim the landscape. What this means is that if, like me, you would rather the landscape to appear in its unscarred state, then you need to be careful with your composition. Of course, if contrasts are what you are after, then you are in the right place.

As regards the ruins of Dolbadarn Castle themselves, they are just a remnant of the original thirteenth century stronghold, a product no doubt of its troubled past. Its construction is mostly attributed to a Welsh prince although the building itself appears to betray Norman Marcher origins. Taking in the scenery was never guiding the decision regarding its location though: the site is ideal for controlling the area by virtue of the narrow valley to its east.