Dolbenmaen

Dolbenmaen (Welsh pronunciation^ⓘ) is a village and community in the Welsh county of Gwynedd, located in Eifionydd, of which it was the administrative centre until 1239.^[1] The community includes the villages of Bryncir (Welsh pronunciation^ⓘ), Cenin, Garndolbenmaen, (the largest settlement) Golan, Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, Penmorfa (Welsh pronunciation^ⓘ), Pentrefelin, Wern, Glan-dwyfach, and the hamlet of Prenteg. It has a population of 1,300,^[2] increasing slightly to 1,343 at the 2011 Census.^[3] The summit of Moel Hebog is shared between Beddgelert and Dolbenmaen. It is a sparsely populated area and covers nearly 100 square kilometres.^[4]

St Mary's church

Dolbenmaen
Min y Ddol
Dolbenmaen Location within Gwynedd
Area	96.40 km2 (37.22 sq mi)
Population	1,343 (2011)
• Density	14/km2 (36/sq mi)
OS grid reference	SH506430
Community	Dolbenmaen
Principal area	Gwynedd
Preserved county	Gwynedd
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CRICCIETH
Postcode district	LL49
Post town	PORTHMADOG
Postcode district	LL51
Post town	GARNDOLBENMAEN
Postcode district	LL52
Dialling code	01766
Police	North Wales
Fire	North Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
UK Parliament	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
List of places UK Wales Gwynedd 52.964°N 4.224°W / 52.964; -4.224 Map of the community

A castle motte is located to the south of the village which is thought to have been the residence of Llywelyn the Great until the 1230s, when the court moved to a new castle at Criccieth. The castle guarded a ford on the Afon Dwyfor which may have been on the Pen Llystyn (Tremadog) to Segontium Roman road.^[5] The parish church of St Mary's is a grade II* listed building.^[6] South of Pentrefelin is St Cynhaearn's Church, Ynyscynhaearn.

Governance

An electoral ward of the same name exists. The extent of this ward differs slightly to the Community and the total population of the ward taken at the 2011 Census was 1,212.^[7]