176-600: The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley ( Welsh : Bryniau Clwyd a Dyffryn Dyfrdwy ) is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB; also known as a National Landscape ) located in north-east Wales , covering the Clwydian Range ( Welsh : Bryniau Clwyd ), and the valley of the River Dee ( Welsh : Afon Dyfrdwy ). Designated in 1985 as the Clwydian Range AONB , and expanded to its current extent in 2011,
352-717: A North East Wales National Park , which would be Wales' fourth national park . The AONB is underlain by sedimentary rocks dating from the Ordovician , Silurian , and early Carboniferous periods with Triassic age rocks on lower slopes. The highest peak in the AONB is at Moel Fferna , reaching 630 m (2,070 ft). The mainly Silurian Clwydian Range supports rounded, heather-clad hilltops which provide habitats for scarce flora and fauna and are home to Iron Age hillforts. Several areas have been designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Special Areas of Conservation , with
528-441: A Welsh Language Scheme, which indicates its commitment to the equality of treatment principle. This is sent out in draft form for public consultation for a three-month period, whereupon comments on it may be incorporated into a final version. It requires the final approval of the now defunct Welsh Language Board ( Bwrdd yr Iaith Gymraeg ). Thereafter, the public body is charged with implementing and fulfilling its obligations under
704-586: A Welsh-language edge inscription was used on pound coins dated 1985, 1990 and 1995, which circulated in all parts of the UK prior to their 2017 withdrawal. The wording is Pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad (Welsh for 'True am I to my country'), and derives from the national anthem of Wales, " Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau ". UK banknotes are in English only. Some shops employ bilingual signage. Welsh sometimes appears on product packaging or instructions. The UK government has ratified
880-581: A World Heritage Site in 2009. The CCW met in early February 2011 and agreed to move to the next phase of the process of expanding the AONB to the Dee Valley, which is to produce a draft designation order, formally outlining the CCW's proposals. For five weeks afterwards, the draft order would be open to external views, until it is sent to the Welsh Assembly Government. It would then be the responsibility of
1056-647: A census glossary of terms to support the release of results from the census, including their definition of "main language" as referring to "first or preferred language" (though that wording was not in the census questionnaire itself). The wards in England with the most people giving Welsh as their main language were the Liverpool wards of Central and Greenbank ; and Oswestry South in Shropshire . The wards of Oswestry South (1.15%), Oswestry East (0.86%) and St Oswald (0.71%) had
1232-518: A classic U-shaped glacial valley. Upon the retreat of the glaciers around 14,000 years ago, they left behind erratic boulders , sands, gravels and clays which form hummocky terrain in areas such as the valley of the River Wheeler. The valleys of the Alyn, Clwyd and Wheeler are thought to have started forming while underneath the ice sheet through erosion and deposition, which became the modern valleys upon
1408-482: A narrow gauge railway. At its peak in the 19th century the slate industry employed around 12,000 men. A further 1000 were employed in stone quarrying at Graiglwyd and Penmaenmawr. Mining for copper , iron and gold was undertaken during the 18th and 19th centuries, leaving a legacy of mine and mill ruins today. Ruins of the gold industry are found at Cefn Coch on the Dolmelynllyn estate . The Snowdonia Society
1584-542: A nearby Met Office weather station , located in Hawarden Airport , Flintshire, in the plains to the east of the range and not on the coast. The mean temperature is approximately 17 °C (63 °F) and shows a seasonal and a diurnal variation. January and February are the coldest months with a mean minimum temperature of 1.4 °C (34.5 °F). July is the warmest month, with a mean maximum temperature around 21 °C (70 °F). The limestone grasslands of
1760-547: A part in the development of geological science and continue to provide a focus for educational visits. Visiting Cwm Idwal in 1841, Charles Darwin realised that the landscape was the product of glaciation. The bedrock dates largely from the Cambrian and Ordovician periods with intrusions of Ordovician and Silurian age associated with the Caledonian Orogeny . There are smaller areas of Silurian age sedimentary rocks in
1936-499: A part is within the park), Berwyn (of which a part is within the park) and Migneint-Arenig-Dduallt . The three designated Ramsar sites are the Dyfi Biosphere (Cors Fochno and Dyfi), Cwm Idwal and Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake). The area's economy was traditionally centred upon farming and from the early 19th century increasingly on mining and quarrying. Tourism has become an increasingly significant part of Snowdonia's economy during
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#17328448509482112-760: A particularly high number of protected sites in respect of its diverse ecology; nearly 20% of its total area is protected by UK and European law. Half of that area was set aside by the government under the European Habitats Directive as a Special Area of Conservation. There are a large number of Sites of special scientific interest (or 'SSSIs'), designated both for fauna and flora but also in some cases for geology. Nineteen of these sites are managed as national nature reserves by Natural Resources Wales . The park also contains twelve Special Areas of Conservation (or 'SACs'), three Special Protection Areas (or 'SPAs') and three Ramsar sites . Some are wholly within
2288-541: A prehistoric fort. The easternmost parts of the Dee Valley are characterised by its pastoral and farming landscape, where the Carboniferous age millstone grits and the rolling hills of the late Carboniferous coal measures of Ruabon Mountain starts sloping downwards to give way to the Cheshire Plain, and the plains around the city of Wrexham with settlements such as Pen-y-cae and Garth. The southern part of this area
2464-490: A seven-year period after the Rhododendron infestations have been eradicated. As a result, there are a number of desolate landscapes. Mammals in the park include otters , polecats , feral goats , and pine martens . Birds include raven , red-billed chough , peregrine , osprey , merlin and the red kite . The rainbow-coloured Snowdon beetle ( Chrysolina cerealis ) is only found in northern Snowdonia. Snowdonia has
2640-544: A shallow tropical sea, forming the limestone deposits in modern-day Eglwyseg, Eryrys , Graig Fawr, Moel Hiraddug , Prestatyn Hillside, Loggerheads, and Bryn Alyn. Like in the Ordovician, the rock from this period was also layered in volcanic ash, although from volcanoes likely in the modern-day Derbyshire area. This ash smothered the marine life present in the shallow sea, which was home to organisms such as; brachiopods, corals , crinoids, fish , goniatites , and trilobites. As
2816-479: A single discourse (known in linguistics as code-switching ). Welsh speakers are largely concentrated in the north and west of Wales, principally Gwynedd , Conwy County Borough , Denbighshire , Anglesey , Carmarthenshire , north Pembrokeshire , Ceredigion , parts of Glamorgan , and north-west and extreme south-west Powys . However, first-language and other fluent speakers can be found throughout Wales. Welsh-speaking communities persisted well into
2992-741: A small inlier near Mynydd Cricor and Nant y Garth Pass, and an inlier near the town of Corwen, all three inliers form a syncline known as the Llangollen syncline (the first two form the northern limb, the latter forms the southern limb), dating to the Ashgill Epoch of the Ordovician Period . These sedimentary rocks are composed of deep-sea (sea-floor) mudstone and siltstone , with subsidiary sandstone and limestone bands. The rocks are additionally layered with volcanic ash, likely from periodic volcanic eruptions originating in modern-day Snowdonia and
3168-995: Is a Celtic language of the Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people . Welsh is spoken natively in Wales , by some in England , and in Y Wladfa (the Welsh colony in Chubut Province , Argentina ). It is spoken by smaller numbers of people in Canada and the United States descended from Welsh immigrants, within their households (especially in Nova Scotia ). Historically, it has also been known in English as "British", "Cambrian", "Cambric" and "Cymric". The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 gave
3344-476: Is a heritage railway which has been established along a section of the former mainline route between Bala and Llanuwchllyn. Other heritage railways occupy sections of former mineral lines, often narrow gauge and are described in a separate section. The national park is served by a growing bus network, branded Sherpa'r Wyddfa (formerly Snowdon Sherpa). The network was relaunched in July 2022 with this new brand to reflect
3520-551: Is a mountainous region and national park in North Wales . It contains all 15 mountains in Wales over 3000 feet high, including the country's highest, Snowdon ( Yr Wyddfa ), which is 1,085 metres (3,560 ft) tall. These peaks are all part of the Snowdon , Glyderau , and Carneddau ranges in the north of the region. The shorter Moelwynion and Moel Hebog ranges lie immediately to
3696-508: Is a registered charity formed in 1967; it is a voluntary group of people with an interest in the area and its protection. Amory Lovins led the successful 1970s opposition to stop Rio Tinto digging up the area for a massive mine. The park's entire coastline is a Special Area of Conservation , which runs from the Llŷn Peninsula down the mid-Wales coast, the latter containing valuable sand dune systems. The park's natural forests are of
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#17328448509483872-471: Is additionally known for its lack of light pollution and home to "cherished" dark skies for dark-sky gazing for astronomers, enthusiasts and casual observers. In addition, 60% of the flora and fauna in the AONB are nocturnally active; with light pollution having a negative impact on local wildlife and their behaviour. There are local initiatives in place to protect the AONB's skies and potentially gain "Dark Sky" status to become Wales' third dark sky reserve by
4048-600: Is available throughout Europe on satellite and online throughout the UK. Since the digital switchover was completed in South Wales on 31 March 2010, S4C Digidol became the main broadcasting channel and fully in Welsh. The main evening television news provided by the BBC in Welsh is available for download. There is also a Welsh-language radio station, BBC Radio Cymru , which was launched in 1977. Snowdonia Snowdonia , or Eryri ( pronounced [ɛrəri] ),
4224-667: Is considered to have lasted from then until the 14th century, when the Modern Welsh period began, which in turn is divided into Early and Late Modern Welsh. The word Welsh is a descendant, via Old English wealh, wielisc , of the Proto-Germanic word * Walhaz , which was derived from the name of the Celtic people known to the Romans as Volcae and which came to refer to speakers of Celtic languages, and then indiscriminately to
4400-477: Is constructed in consultation with the advisory committees such as the AONB partnership, which reports and advises the joint committee in the development and completion of the AONB Management Plan. The management plan sets out the policies the local authorities want to enact for the management of the AONB and how these policies would be implemented and achieved, providing a framework of permitted activities in
4576-515: Is found and the only place in the world where the Snowdonia hawkweed Hieracium snowdoniense grows. One of the major problems facing the park in recent years has been the growth of Rhododendron ponticum . This fast-growing invasive species has a tendency to take over and stifle native species. It can form massive towering growths and has a companion fungus that grows on its roots producing toxins that are poisonous to any local flora and fauna for
4752-708: Is home to the oldest rocks in north-east Wales, dating to the Ordovician era . Regarded to be part of the AONB since 2011, it comprises the areas south of the then Clwydian Range AONB including various hilly ranges sometimes regarded to be the southernmost hills of the Clwydian Range. The valley contains various natural and human features and the Nant y Garth pass forms a border between it and the Clwydian Range AONB section. Distinct limestone formations such as hills, walls, and buildings are present at Graianrhyd and Llandegla to
4928-751: Is located to the south of the AONB. The River Dee enters the AONB slightly west of the town of Corwen in Edeirnion . It then passes Caer Drewyn, Carrog, Glyndyfrdwy , and Llantysilio , with the Llangollen Railway following the river on its route between Llangollen and Corwen . At Berwyn the river passes over the manmade Horseshoe Falls , before flowing down a slight slope next to the Chain Bridge Hotel and flowing under its historic pedestrian bridge , first built in 1814, and rebuilt in its current form following flooding in 1929. The Dee then flows through
5104-421: Is no single hill, but a mountainous region, the loftiest part of which [is] called Y Wyddfa", making a distinction between the summit of the mountain and the surrounding massif. The Mountains of Snowdonia by H. Carr & G. Lister (1925) defines "Eryri" as "composed of the two cantrefs of Arfon and Arllechwedd , and the two commotes of Nant Conwy and Eifionydd ", which corresponds to Caernarfonshire with
5280-723: Is the Vale of Llangollen, characterised by steep valley sides, meanders of the Dee, and fossil terraces. Near Pentrefelin, the River Eglwyseg flows into the Dee. Upstream from the confluence, the Eglwyseg Valley is home to the Eglwyseg Rocks , a Carboniferous Limestone crag overhanging at a height of 445 m (1,460 ft), described as one of the most impressive scree slopes in Britain , and
5456-505: Is the label attached to the Welsh of the 12th to 14th centuries, of which much more remains than for any earlier period. This is the language of nearly all surviving early manuscripts of the Mabinogion , although the tales themselves are certainly much older. It is also the language of the existing Welsh law manuscripts. Middle Welsh is reasonably intelligible to a modern-day Welsh speaker. The Bible translations into Welsh helped maintain
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5632-477: Is the most populous followed by Bala on the eastern boundary and then Harlech overlooking Tremadog Bay . More populous than these is the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, which is within an exclave , that is to say it is surrounded by the national park but excluded from it, whilst the towns of Tywyn and Barmouth on the Cardigan Bay coast are within coastal exclaves. Llanrwst in the east, Machynlleth in
5808-704: The Cynfeirdd or "Early Poets" – is generally considered to date to the Primitive Welsh period. However, much of this poetry was supposedly composed in the Hen Ogledd , raising further questions about the dating of the material and language in which it was originally composed. This discretion stems from the fact that Cumbric was widely believed to have been the language used in Hen Ogledd. An 8th-century inscription in Tywyn shows
5984-494: The 2016 Australian census , 1,688 people noted that they spoke Welsh. In the 2011 Canadian census , 3,885 people reported Welsh as their first language . According to the 2021 Canadian census , 1,130 people noted that Welsh was their mother tongue. The 2018 New Zealand census noted that 1,083 people in New Zealand spoke Welsh. The American Community Survey 2009–2013 noted that 2,235 people aged five years and over in
6160-540: The 2021 Senedd election , Welsh Labour and First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford , pledged for the establishment of a new national park in Wales . If followed through, the newly designated (yet to be named) North East Wales National Park would become Wales' fourth national park and the newest one since 1957. Upon their re-election, the new administration stated that they are in the process of fulfilling this pledge, although no dates were given, however, they stated that announcements would be made in "due course", and that
6336-461: The 2021 census , 7,349 people in England recorded Welsh to be their "main language". In the 2011 census, 1,189 people aged three and over in Scotland noted that Welsh was a language (other than English) that they used at home. It is believed that there are as many as 5,000 speakers of Patagonian Welsh . In response to the question 'Does the person speak a language other than English at home?' in
6512-657: The A498 links Tremadog with the A4086 at Pen-y-Gwryd . Other roads of note include that from Llanuwchllyn up Cwm Cynllwyd to Dinas Mawddwy via the 545 metres (1,788 feet) high pass of Bwlch y Groes , the second highest tarmacked public road in Wales and the minor road running northwest and west from Llanuwchllyn towards Bronaber via the 531 metres (1,742 feet) high pass of Bwlch Pen-feidiog . Many sections of dismantled railway are now used by walking and cycling routes and are described elsewhere. The Bala Lake Railway
6688-615: The A55 road cutting at Rhuallt Hill, Llandegla Forest , from the Horseshoe Pass south to Llangollen , and the Chirk estate surrounding Chirk Castle . Wooded lowlands are present, near the village of Cwm in the north, along the Dee Valley (excluding developed land in the towns of Llangollen and Corwen ), and most of the Alyn Valley north of Llandegla . Open lowlands are mainly concentrated in
6864-686: The Berwyn and South Clwyd Mountains European Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The mountain is separated from Cyrn-y-Brain by the Horseshoe Pass, a mountain pass where the A542 road passes through from Llandegla to Llangollen. Moel y Gaer , an Iron Age hillfort is present at the summit of Llantysilio Mountain. Expansive moorlands cover the lower altitude sections of the southern ranges, including Cyrn-y-Brain Mountain, Llandegla Forest and Ruabon Mountain as well as
7040-725: The Carneddau , the Moelwynion and the Moel Hebog range. All of Wales' 3000ft mountains are to be found within the first three of these massifs and are most popular with visitors. To their south within the wider national park are the Rhinogydd and the Cadair Idris and Aran Fawddwy ranges. Besides these well-defined areas are a number of mountains which are less readily grouped, though various guidebook writers have assigned them into groups such as
7216-601: The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) to consider whether an AONB extension into the Dee Valley would be beneficial. The Countryside Council for Wales expressed its proposal to extend the Clwydian Range AONB to incorporate sections of the Dee Valley to recognise the area's "outstanding natural beauty". Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, which modified the National Parks and Access to Countryside Act 1949,
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7392-614: The Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 , which banned big cats as pets, leading to their subsequent release into the wild). The Clwydian Range in particular is believed to be a suitable habitat for the animals, although some sightings have been reported from the Dee Valley, in Corwen and near Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Excavations in the AONB have uncovered remains of animals such as the bear , lion , mammoth , spotted hyena , wolf , and woolly rhino . The presence of these remains reflects
7568-525: The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in respect of Welsh. The language has greatly increased its prominence since the creation of the television channel S4C in November 1982, which until digital switchover in 2010 broadcast 70 per cent of Channel 4's programming along with a majority of Welsh language shows during peak viewing hours. The all-Welsh-language digital station S4C Digidol
7744-530: The International Dark Sky Association . In May 2022, the AONB started operating a van to act as a "mobile observatory" to promote the Dark Skies initiative. The Clwydian Range forms the northern and oldest designated part of the AONB, designated in 1985. The broad upland range of rounded, heather-clad open hills runs from Nant y Garth in its south (bordering the Dee Valley section), and up to
7920-523: The Llantysilio and Maesyrchen mountains , or South Clwyd Mountains extend further south to Acrefair and Gwyddelwern . Alongside the (core–northern) Clwydian Range it also forms a ridge between the Cheshire Plain and Wales' interior but separates the plain from the Vale of Llangollen instead. Llantysilio Mountain, part of a large moorland, rises over 500m to the western sections of the Dee Valley. With its dry heaths covering an area designated to be part of
8096-662: The Marsh Award for Community Archaeology from the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) and the Marsh Christian Trust . Neanderthal remains dating to around 230,000 years ago were found in Pontnewydd cave at Cefn Meiriadog near St Asaph . The remains found were predominantly teeth from at least five individuals. Alongside the remains, hand-axes were also found indicated other later encounters of neanderthals and/or humans with
8272-406: The Moel y Parc radio transmission mast . Sections of the range are cut into by valleys of the range's two main rivers; the River Alyn, which flows north through the range, and the Wheeler. Limestone outcrops are present in the Prestatyn Hillside, Llanferres , and Loggerheads Country Park . The widest definition of the Clwydian Range was not included in the original designation, with some ranges of
8448-475: The Peak District National Park exclude the town of Buxton and its adjacent limestone quarries for a similar reason. The geology of Snowdonia is key to the area's character. Glaciation during a succession of ice ages has carved a distinctive rocky landscape from a heavily faulted and folded succession of sedimentary and igneous rocks . The last ice age ended only just over 11,500 years ago, leaving features attractive to visitors, which have also played
8624-428: The Polish name for Italians) have a similar etymology. The Welsh term for the language, Cymraeg , descends from the Brythonic word combrogi , meaning 'compatriots' or 'fellow countrymen'. Welsh evolved from Common Brittonic , the Celtic language spoken by the ancient Celtic Britons . Classified as Insular Celtic , the British language probably arrived in Britain during the Bronze Age or Iron Age and
8800-480: The Snowdon Mountain Railway is at Llanberis. Though adjacent to it, Llanfairfechan and Penmaenmawr are less obviously linked to the park. There are numerous smaller settlements within the national park: prominent amongst these are the eastern 'gateway' village of Betws-y-Coed , Aberdyfi on the Dovey ( Dyfi ) estuary and the small village of Beddgelert each of which attract large numbers of visitors. Other sizeable villages are Llanuwchllyn at
8976-450: The United States spoke Welsh at home. The highest number of those (255) lived in Florida . Sources: Calls for the Welsh language to be granted official status grew with the establishment of the nationalist political party Plaid Cymru in 1925, the establishment of the Welsh Language Society in 1962 and the rise of Welsh nationalism in the later 20th century. Of the six living Celtic languages (including two revived), Welsh has
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#17328448509489152-528: The Welsh Assembly Government Minister for the Environment Jane Davidson to make the final decision on the proposal as early as March 2011. At the meeting, the CCW also considered a further proposal of extending the AONB even further to residents of the Ceiriog Valley and Berwyn. The CCW stated that the proposed extended area is of "outstanding quality, nationally and internationally important for their natural beauty and equally worthy of protection as an AONB". The plan met opposition from local farmers who opposed
9328-403: The Welsh Government to represent the national interest. The authority's main offices are at Penrhyndeudraeth . The park authority used Snowdonia and Snowdon when referring to the national park and mountain in English until February 2023, when it resolved to primarily use the Welsh names, Eryri and Yr Wyddfa . There will be a transitional period of approximately two years in which
9504-458: The great climatic oscillations that occurred during the last Ice Age in the area. Between 2004 and 2010, the "Heather and Hillforts" lottery-funded project took place in the Clwydian Range AONB. The project involved a topographical survey of the Penycloddiau hillfort performed by the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT), and a geophysical survey conducted by Engineering Archaeology Services (EAS). The latter survey revealed roundhouses at
9680-404: The red desert sandstones of the Vale of Clwyd and the western side of the Clwydian Range were deposited, as the area underwent desertification . The final episode of significant modification of the landscape took place in the Quaternary Period as thick ice sheets covered the area from time to time, smoothing its hills and gouging cwms and valleys, such as the Dee Valley west of Llangollen,
9856-497: The "Arenigs", the "Tarrens" and the "Dyfi hills". Snowdon's summit at 1,085 metres (3,560 feet) is the highest in Wales and the highest in Britain south of the Scottish Highlands. At 905 metres (2,969 feet), Aran Fawddwy is the highest in Wales outside of northern Snowdonia; Cadair Idris , at 893 metres (2,930 feet), is next in line. Rivers draining the area directly into Cardigan Bay are typically short and steep. From north to south they include: A series of rivers drain to
10032-431: The "National Parks in England and Wales" included the Clwydian Range for consideration when National Parks in England and Wales were to be selected. This report alongside the subsequent Hobhouse Report by Sir Arthur Hobhouse would contribute to the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 which created the British National Park system. A natural conservation area covering 310 km (120 sq mi) of
10208-404: The "hugely important role", adding, "I look forward to working with the Welsh Government and organisations in Wales in developing the new system of standards. I will look to build on the good work that has been done by the Welsh Language Board and others to strengthen the Welsh language and ensure that it continues to thrive." First Minister Carwyn Jones said that Huws would act as a champion for
10384-532: The 1880s identified a small part of Shropshire as still then speaking Welsh, with the "Celtic Border" passing from Llanymynech through Oswestry to Chirk . The number of Welsh-speaking people in the rest of Britain has not yet been counted for statistical purposes. In 1993, the Welsh-language television channel S4C published the results of a survey into the numbers of people who spoke or understood Welsh, which estimated that there were around 133,000 Welsh-speaking people living in England, about 50,000 of them in
10560-409: The 1993 Act nor secondary legislation made under it covers the private sector, although some organisations, notably banks and some railway companies, provide some of their information in Welsh. On 7 December 2010, the Welsh Assembly unanimously approved a set of measures to develop the use of the Welsh language within Wales. On 9 February 2011 this measure, the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 ,
10736-428: The 20th and 21st centuries. The extensive farming of sheep remains central to Snowdonia's farming economy. Significant sections of the park were afforested during the 20th century for timber production. Major conifer plantations include Dyfi Forest , Coed y Brenin Forest between Dolgellau and Trawsfynydd, Penllyn Forest south of Bala, Beddgelert Forest and Gwydyr (or Gwydir) Forest near Betws-y-Coed which
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#173284485094810912-406: The A55 south past Betws-y-Coed to Blaenau Ffestiniog to Dolgellau . It exits the park a few miles to the southeast near Mallwyd . From Dolgellau , the A494 runs to Bala whilst the A487 connects with Machynlleth . The A487 loops around the northwest of the park from Bangor via Caernarfon to Porthmadog before turning in land to meet the A470 east of Maentwrog . The A5
11088-491: The AONB also home to multiple listed buildings , scheduled monuments , and part of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site . In 2018, an estimated 1.1 million people visited six key sites across the AONB, generating approximately £24.1 million for the Welsh economy, according to Natural Resources Wales . The earliest evidence of human occupation in the AONB is from stone tools dated between 30 and 40,000 years ago in caves near Tremeirchion , with
11264-474: The AONB extends to Chirk, covering the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal (designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009), and Chirk Castle. Sections of the Berwyn Range are within the AONB, namely the northern edges which slope down to the River Dee. The AONB boundary stops at the Dee Valley skyline on the range, to avoid the designation from continuing south on the range and into Powys . The Berwyn Mountains SSSI, SAC and European Special Protection Area
11440-437: The AONB in the Cheshire Plain providing less harsh weather and rainfall for areas near Deeside, Chester and Wrexham. Throughout Wales, the winter months are significantly wetter than the summer ones. Snow is comparatively rare near sea level in Wales, but much more frequent over the hills of the range, and the uplands experience harsher conditions in winter than the more low-lying parts. Using data between 1981 and 2010, provided by
11616-427: The AONB is Gop Cairn, an artificial mound near Trelawnyd , which is the largest in Wales, and second largest in Great Britain after Silbury Hill in Wiltshire . Ritual and burial monuments from the Bronze Age are present in significant quantity in the AONB, prominently placed on summits in the area. The earliest settlements in the AONB are the 10 Iron Age hill forts constructed around 2,500 years ago, leading to
11792-495: The AONB is largely characterised by; uplands ( 71%), then lowlands ( 28%), and small amounts of other uses ( developed land , inland water features, and amenity land; 0.049%). Upland moors are concentrated near the peaks of the summits of the ranges, such as Moel Famau , Ruabon Mountain and Moel Fferna , with open uplands often surrounding these upland moors, and in particular around Bryn Alyn and Graig Fawr . Wooded uplands are centred in areas such as north of Bodfari up to
11968-430: The AONB status was extended in 2011. The River Dee flows west to east in the southern end of the AONB, rising in Snowdonia to the west, and emptying into the Dee Estuary between the Wirral Peninsula ( England ), and Flintshire (Wales) outside the AONB. The entire AONB contains various uplands , hillslopes, valleys, lowlands , quarries , and some man-made structures. Using Natural Resources Wales' LMP09 designations
12144-519: The AONB support habitats for flora such as cowslip ( Primula veris ), rockrose ( Cistaceae ), autumn gentian ( Gentianella amarella ) and orchids (Orchidaceae). Invasive species such as Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed have been documented to be present beside rivers in the AONB, with the latter recorded to be more widespread around the River Dee. The flora of the AONB supports various invertebrates such as butterflies ( common blue butterfly ( Polyommatus icarus )) and moths (such as
12320-435: The AONB's area was to be extended southwards to include the Dee Valley, increasing the size of the AONB by 229 km (88 sq mi). The newly added Dee Valley area, includes Eglwyseg escarpment, Moel y Gamelin, Esclusham Mountain, the Horseshoe Pass and Castell Dinas Brân, the towns of Llangollen and Corwen, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site, Chirk Castle, and Valle Crucis Abbey . The Ceiriog Valley
12496-476: The AONB, such as Moel Fferna, peaking at 630 m (2,070 ft), making it the highest peak in the AONB. Moel y Gamelin is the highest summit in the Llantysilio and Maesyrchen mountains, peaking at 577 m (1,893 ft). With Moel Famau being the highest summit in (the core part of) the Clwydian Range, peaking at 554 m (1,818 ft). The oldest rocks in the area are present near Cyrn y Brain (extending towards Esclusham Mountain and Minera Mountain), at
12672-521: The AONB. The management plan is required to take into consideration various issues of the AONB and not be limited to only environmental priorities, but also to analyse and address social and economic issues in the AONB. The 2000 act mandates that management plans have to be revised no less than every five years, with Natural Resources Wales (formed from a merger including the Countryside Council for Wales in 2013) providing funding for AONB management to
12848-538: The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty includes: medieval field systems , open heather moorland , prehistoric hillforts , limestone crags , broad leaved woodland , wooded valleys, and farmland . The AONB falls within the jurisdiction of the local authorities of Denbighshire , Flintshire , and Wrexham County Borough , with the majority, 80% of the AONB in Denbighshire, and the remaining 20% split evenly between
13024-481: The Assembly which confirms the official status of the Welsh language; which creates a strong advocate for Welsh speakers and will improve the quality and quantity of services available through the medium of Welsh. I believe that everyone who wants to access services in the Welsh language should be able to do so, and that is what this government has worked towards. This legislation is an important and historic step forward for
13200-566: The Berwyn range. There were two large faults active in the region during this period; the Pontesford-Linley and Church Stretton faults . These rocks formed in a deep marine environment, with fossils such as; crinoids , brachiopods , trilobites and graptolites found in the rocks. During the Silurian Period , the mudstones, siltstones and sandstones that now make up the central spine of
13376-744: The CCW was awarded powers to designate any area in Wales that was not already a national park, as an AONB. The CCW's plan would add rural Denbighshire communities , in the southern parts of the Clwydian Range and the Vale of Llangollen, and Wrexham communities of Esclusham and Ruabon . The CCW hosted a four-month consultation in October 2010, and following its end on 31 January 2011, it received 314 responses mainly over concerns of new regulations imposed on landowners. The CCW replied in its proposal document that "AONB designation does not interfere with land management practices and designation does not bring about new restrictions on agricultural activities". The proposal
13552-479: The Clwydian Range Archaeology Group (CRAG) established in 2011, surveyed and excavated the area surrounding Moel Arthur for a number of years. Their excavations revealed signs of human activity from various periods, ranging from medieval to as far back as mesolithic times. Of the items excavated, stone tools dating up to 9,000 years ago were discovered in the excavation area. For their work, CRAG won
13728-501: The Clwydian Range and Llantysilio Mountains were deposited in a deep sea basin known as the Welsh Basin , and situated in the southern hemisphere at 30°S . These eventually became the slates present in the modern-day Horseshoe Pass and the Berwyn range, with a fold of these rocks visible at the A55 rock cutting near Rhuallt. There is minor mineralisation of the rocks near Rhuallt, where
13904-602: The Clwydian Range and extending southward to the Dee Valley was first proposed in the England and Wales Report of the National Parks Committee, commonly shortened to the Hobhouse Report, which was published in July 1947 by the Ministry of Town and Country Planning. The area was proposed to become a Conservation Area, alongside 51 others, for its "outstanding landscape beauty" and home to "great scientific interest", which
14080-568: The Clwydian Range later included in the Dee Valley extension. The range is situated between the mainly Permo - Triassic Vale of Clwyd and the Vale of Clwyd fault line to the west, and the Lower Carboniferous rock of the Alyn Valley and Cheshire Plain , and the Alyn Valley fault line to the east. The Dee Valley ( Welsh : Dyffryn Dyfrdwy ) follows the River Dee in the south of the AONB and
14256-684: The County Borough of Wrexham, passing south of Trevor , under the Llangollen Canal at Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, then under the Cefn Mawr Viaduct , carrying the Shrewsbury to Chester railway line across the Dee and the A483 Dee Viaduct. Separated by the Vale of Alyn, a second sister range, sometimes regarded (at least partly) as part of the Clwydian Range and included in the AONB since 2011,
14432-539: The Greater London area. The Welsh Language Board , on the basis of an analysis of the Office for National Statistics Longitudinal Study, estimated there were 110,000 Welsh-speaking people in England, and another thousand in Scotland and Northern Ireland. In the 2011 census , 8,248 people in England gave Welsh in answer to the question "What is your main language?" The Office for National Statistics subsequently published
14608-637: The Llangollen Canal, at either end of the Wheeler valley, and a single pocket recorded in the Alyn valley. American mink , an invasive species in Great Britain , has been recorded in all three river systems. Sightings of the British big cats , theorised to potentially be a puma or panther -like non-native feline , have been reported in the AONB and across North Wales , since the 1970s (likely in response to
14784-519: The National Park's promotion of Welsh place names. Thus the publicity and websites for the newly-branded service only use these Welsh names, even though the publicity is also directed at monoglot English speakers. Together with the TrawsCymru network of buses, this provides a car-free option for tourists and locals wishing to travel across the National Park. Snowdonia is one of the wettest parts of
14960-466: The National Parks and Access to Countryside Act 1949, covering 158 km (61 sq mi) until its extension. Its southern boundary was set to be much more northern than originally proposed in 1947. Reasons for this decision remain unclear, although it has been said that it was chosen to mark the border between the Clwydian Range and the uplands sometimes regarded to be part of the Berwyn Range. This
15136-532: The Pennant Mine extracted minerals such as galena , zinc , baryte and barium ore , commonly associated with the mineralisation of lead and zinc. The mine was designated as a SSSI in 2010. In the Early Carboniferous Period , the area was initially land with rivers, leading to the formation of red, purple and green mudstones and river beds of pebbles and fossils. The area was later submerged in
15312-502: The United Kingdom ; Crib Goch in Snowdonia is the wettest spot in the United Kingdom, with an average rainfall of 4,473 millimetres (176.1 in) a year over the 30-year period prior to the mid-2000s. (There is a rainfall gauge at 713 metres (2,339 feet)on the slopes below Crib Goch.) The earliest evidence for human occupation of the area dates from around 4000–3000 BC with extensive traces of prehistoric field systems evident in
15488-738: The Welsh Government, Cadw , Cadwyn Clwyd, Glandŵr Cymru - the Canal & River Trust in Wales , the National Trust , North Wales Wildlife Trust , and Public Health Wales . The partnership also includes other key stakeholders, such as community councils , statutory agencies, landowners, farmers , and members representing conservation and recreation interests and groups. Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 , local authorities are responsible for developing an AONB management plan. This plan
15664-489: The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011, all new signs have Welsh displayed first. There have been incidents of one of the languages being vandalised, which may be considered a hate crime . Since 2000, the teaching of Welsh has been compulsory in all schools in Wales up to age 16; this has had an effect in stabilising and reversing the decline in the language. Text on UK coins tends to be in English and Latin. However,
15840-673: The Welsh Language Scheme. The list of other public bodies which have to prepare Schemes could be added to by initially the Secretary of State for Wales, from 1993 to 1997, by way of statutory instrument . Subsequent to the forming of the National Assembly for Wales in 1997, the Government Minister responsible for the Welsh language can and has passed statutory instruments naming public bodies who have to prepare Schemes. Neither
16016-584: The Welsh language official status in Wales. Welsh and English are de jure official languages of the Welsh Parliament, the Senedd , with Welsh being the only de jure official language in any part of the United Kingdom, with English being merely de facto official. According to the 2021 census , the Welsh-speaking population of Wales aged three or older was 538,300 (17.8%) and nearly three quarters of
16192-578: The Welsh language, though some had concerns over her appointment: Plaid Cymru spokeswoman Bethan Jenkins said, "I have concerns about the transition from Meri Huws's role from the Welsh Language Board to the language commissioner, and I will be asking the Welsh government how this will be successfully managed. We must be sure that there is no conflict of interest, and that the Welsh Language Commissioner can demonstrate how she will offer
16368-481: The Welsh of the 16th century, but they are similar enough for a fluent Welsh speaker to have little trouble understanding it. During the Modern Welsh period, there has been a decline in the popularity of the Welsh language: the number of Welsh speakers declined to the point at which there was concern that the language would become extinct. During industrialisation in the late 19th century, immigrants from England led to
16544-606: The Welsh-speaking heartlands, with the number dropping to under 50 per cent in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire for the first time. However, according to the Welsh Language Use Survey in 2019–20, 22 per cent of people aged three and over were able to speak Welsh. The Annual Population Survey (APS) by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated that as of March 2024, approximately 862,700, or 28.0 per cent of
16720-443: The added restrictions the status would bring, whereas local tourist attractions welcomed the proposal, hoping it would promote and encourage tourism, in addition to making new developments in the area take into account its effects on, and be sympathetic to, the local countryside. On 22 November 2011, Welsh Government Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development John Griffiths AM (who succeeded Jane Davidson), confirmed that
16896-406: The area, Llyn Celyn and Llyn Trawsfynydd , whilst a number of the natural lakes have had their levels artificially raised. Marchlyn Mawr reservoir and Ffestiniog Power Station's Llyn Stwlan are two cases where natural tarns have been dammed as part of pumped storage hydro-electric schemes . A fuller list of the lakes within the area is found at List of lakes of Wales . In 2023,
17072-477: The area, namely near Glyndyfrydwy where his remains at his Motte can still be seen. During the late medieval period, the first open field systems of the area were lost to enclosed fields influenced by the newly present landed gentry , who contributed to the creation of historic designated parklands in the area, such as those at Penbedw . During the Industrial Revolution , mining for lead and coal, and
17248-459: The authority will continue to use the English names in parentheses — for example " Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)" — where the context requires. Unlike national parks in other countries, national parks in the UK are made up of both public and private lands under a central planning authority. The makeup of land ownership in the national park is as follows: More than 26,000 people live within the park, of whom 58.6% could speak Welsh in 2011. While most of
17424-585: The carboniferous limestone hillside on outskirts of Prestatyn to the north. The range forms a ridge separating the foothills of the Dee Estuary and the Cheshire Plain from the east, with the Vale of Clwyd to the west. The range is covered in moorland, limestone outcrops, and hillforts . Distinctive landmarks of the range include; the Jubilee Tower on the summit of Moel Famau, Penycloddiau hillfort, and
17600-504: The cave. The earliest evidence of human settlement in the modern-day AONB exists at Tremeirchion , in the Ffynnon Beuno Caves , where the discovery of stone tools dated to between 30 and 40,000 years ago, was made. Other caves along the Clwydian Range reveal various finds from various times, of animals once inhabiting the area, including the mammal bones of spotted hyenas, mammoths, and lynxes . The oldest human-made feature of
17776-456: The census. In terms of usage, ONS also reported that 14.4 per cent (443,800) of people aged three or older in Wales reported that they spoke Welsh daily in March 2024, with 5.4 per cent (165,500) speaking it weekly and 6.5 per cent (201,200) less often. Approximately 1.7 per cent (51,700) reported that they never spoke Welsh despite being able to speak the language, with the remaining 72.0 per cent of
17952-587: The coast between Porthmadog and Aberdyfi . The park was the first of the three national parks of Wales to be designated, in October 1951, and the third in the UK after the Peak District and Lake District , which were established in April and May 1951 respectively. The park received 3.89 million visitors in 2015. The name "Snowdon" means "snow hill" and is derived from the Old English elements "snāw " and "dūn ",
18128-474: The coast via Harlech to Maentwrog . The A4212 connecting Bala with Trawsfynydd is relatively modern having been laid out in the 1960s in connection with the construction of Llyn Celyn . Three further roads thread their often twisting and narrow way through the northern mountains; A4085 links Penrhyndeudraeth with Caernarfon , the A4086 links Capel Curig with Caernarfon via Llanberis and
18304-699: The coastal river deltas of the Wales-Brabant High, forming the coal deposits present in the northern Vale of Clwyd, and the North Wales coast stretching from Prestatyn to the Point of Ayr , and parts of the Dee Estuary (the Denbighshire and Flintshire coalfields ). During the Permian and Triassic periods, Wales was about 20° north of the equator , the equivalent latitude of North Africa today, and at this latitude,
18480-414: The course of the 20th century this monolingual population all but disappeared, but a small percentage remained at the time of the 1981 census. Most Welsh-speaking people in Wales also speak English. However, many Welsh-speaking people are more comfortable expressing themselves in Welsh than in English. A speaker's choice of language can vary according to the subject domain and the social context, even within
18656-489: The creation of Old Welsh, Davies suggests it may be more appropriate to refer to this derivative language as Lingua Britannica rather than characterising it as a new language altogether. The argued dates for the period of "Primitive Welsh" are widely debated, with some historians' suggestions differing by hundreds of years. The next main period is Old Welsh ( Hen Gymraeg , 9th to 11th centuries); poetry from both Wales and Scotland has been preserved in this form of
18832-470: The decline in Welsh speakers particularly in the South Wales Valleys. Welsh government processes and legislation have worked to increase the proliferation of the Welsh language, for example through education. Welsh has been spoken continuously in Wales throughout history; however, by 1911, it had become a minority language, spoken by 43.5 per cent of the population. While this decline continued over
19008-593: The east and south areas of the range respectively, highlighting the area's significant mining heritage. The AONB borders the North Wales Coalfield , home to former coal mining activities during the industrial revolution . It is also home to the Penbedw estate, a historical hall and garden, near Nannerch . The Llantysilio mountains are bounded by the Bala Lineament to the north, and the Dee Valley fault line to
19184-532: The eastern peripheries of the Llandegla Moors , Esclusham Mountain and Minera Mountain. Most of this moorland is also part of the Berwyn and South Clwyd Mountains SAC. Notable natural features include: Chwarel Pant Glas , a site of importance for the study of structural geology, Aber Sychnant's limestone pavements, and the Minera cave system. The range is host to numerous large limestone and slate quarries, present in
19360-537: The exception of southwest Llŷn and the Creuddyn Peninsula . In Snowdonia: The National Park of North Wales (1949), F. J. North states that "When the Committee delineated provisional boundaries, they included areas some distance beyond Snowdonia proper". Snowdonia National Park , officially Eryri National Park in English (since 2022) and Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri in Welsh, was established in October 1951. It
19536-485: The following decades, the language did not die out. The smallest number of speakers was recorded in 1981 with 503,000 although the lowest percentage was recorded in the most recent census in 2021 at 17.8 per cent. By the start of the 21st century, numbers began to increase once more, at least partly as a result of the increase in Welsh-medium education . The 2004 Welsh Language Use Survey showed that 21.7 per cent of
19712-418: The formation of a chain of these Celtic tribal structures across the ranges, such as Caer Drewyn, Moel Arthur, Moel y Gaer (Llanbedr) , Moel y Gaer (Llantysilio), Moel Fenlli , and Penycloddiau. Although in 2017, Bronze Age stone tools were uncovered in the area between Moel Arthur and Penycloddiau dating to 2000 BC, and are thought to be some of the oldest found in the range, older than the establishment of
19888-532: The glaciers' retreat. Along with the rest of Wales , the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley have a maritime climate , in the north temperate zone , with the predominant winds being the westerlies blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean . This means that the weather in Wales is generally mild, cloudy, wet and windy. The country's wide geographic variations cause localised differences in amounts of sunshine, rainfall and temperature. The Clwydian Range shelters areas east of
20064-574: The head of the valley is known as World's End . Offa's Dyke Path, and the Panorama Drive pass along the bottom of these rocks. The River Dee has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation due to its role as a habitat for Atlantic salmon and floating water plantain , and the area of the river in Wales, including the sections within the AONB, form the Afon Dyfrdwy (River Dee) Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The south-eastern section of
20240-512: The highest number of native speakers who use the language on a daily basis, and it is the Celtic language which is considered the least endangered by UNESCO . The Welsh Language Act 1993 and the Government of Wales Act 1998 provide that the Welsh and English languages be treated equally in the public sector, as far as is reasonable and practicable. Each public body is required to prepare for approval
20416-549: The highest peaks in the valley) instead. The campaign to make the then Clwydian Range AONB, a national park began in 2010, on the 25th anniversary of AONB status. Conservative AM for Clwyd West , Darren Millar called for National Park status , describing the area as a "national treasure" needing extra recognition for its unique biodiversity and archaeology, which would boost the local economy. On 16 February 2011, in an Assembly debate, Jane Davidson AM, then Environment, Sustainability and Housing Minister for Wales , dismissed
20592-469: The highest percentage of residents giving Welsh as their main language. The census also revealed that 3,528 wards in England, or 46% of the total number, contained at least one resident whose main language is Welsh. In terms of the regions of England , North West England (1,945), London (1,310) and the West Midlands (1,265) had the highest number of people noting Welsh as their main language. According to
20768-451: The history of Welsh, with rather indistinct boundaries: Primitive Welsh, Old Welsh, Middle Welsh, and Modern Welsh. The period immediately following the language's emergence is sometimes referred to as Primitive Welsh, followed by the Old Welsh period – which is generally considered to stretch from the beginning of the 9th century to sometime during the 12th century. The Middle Welsh period
20944-400: The land is either open or mountainous land, there is a significant amount of agricultural activity within the park. The national park does not include the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog , which forms a unique non-designated enclave within the park boundaries. The town was deliberately excluded from the park when it was established because of its slate quarrying industry. The boundaries of
21120-589: The landscape. Within these are traces of irregular enclosures and hut circles . There are burial chambers of Neolithic and Bronze Age such as Bryn Cader Faner and Iron Age hillforts such as Bryn y Castell near Ffestiniog. The region was finally conquered by the Romans by AD 77–78. Remains of Roman marching camps and practice camps are evident. There was a Roman fort and amphitheatre at Tomen y Mur . Roads are known to have connected with Segontium (Caernarfon) and Deva Victrix (Chester) and include
21296-587: The language already dropping inflections in the declension of nouns. Janet Davies proposed that the origins of the Welsh language were much less definite; in The Welsh Language: A History , she proposes that Welsh may have been around even earlier than 600 AD. This is evidenced by the dropping of final syllables from Brittonic: * bardos 'poet' became bardd , and * abona 'river' became afon . Though both Davies and Jackson cite minor changes in syllable structure and sounds as evidence for
21472-496: The language, its speakers and for the nation." The measure was not welcomed warmly by all supporters: Bethan Williams, chairman of the Welsh Language Society, gave a mixed response to the move, saying, "Through this measure we have won official status for the language and that has been warmly welcomed. But there was a core principle missing in the law passed by the Assembly before Christmas. It doesn't give language rights to
21648-546: The language. As Germanic and Gaelic colonisation of Britain proceeded, the Brittonic speakers in Wales were split off from those in northern England, speaking Cumbric, and those in the southwest, speaking what would become Cornish , so the languages diverged. Both the works of Aneirin ( Canu Aneirin , c. 600 ) and the Book of Taliesin ( Canu Taliesin ) were written during this era. Middle Welsh ( Cymraeg Canol )
21824-467: The largest indentations, and have large expanses of intertidal sands and coastal marsh which are especially important for wildlife: see #Natural history . The northern tip of the national park extends to the north coast of Wales at Penmaen-bach Point, west of Conwy , where precipitous cliffs have led to the road and railway tunnels . There are only three towns within the park boundary, though there are several more immediately beyond it. Dolgellau
22000-462: The latter meaning 'hill'. "Snowdonia" is simply taken from the name of the mountain. The origins of Eryri are less clear. Two popular interpretations are that the name is related to eryr , 'eagle', or that it means 'highlands' and is related to the Latin oriri ('to rise'). The latter is considered more correct, for eryri as a plural form means 'uplands', but it is not any direct form of
22176-458: The local authorities they represent. Denbighshire County Council is the leading council on the Joint Committee. The committee is supported by an Officers Working Group, which consists of officers from the three local authorities. In addition to the officers, the Joint Committee is supported by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), and the AONB partnership including 25 groups and organisations such as:
22352-524: The local authorities, allocated based on the AONB's management plan's policies. Joint committees are required to notify NRW when they are intending to publish their management plan. The same act places a duty on public bodies; including private utility companies to respect efforts made to conserve, protect, and enhance the AONBs natural beauty. Welsh language Welsh ( Cymraeg [kəmˈraːiɡ] or y Gymraeg [ə ɡəmˈraːiɡ] )
22528-455: The margins including those at Harlech and Conwy for military and administrative reasons. Most are now protected within a World Heritage Site . Some of Snowdonia's many stone walls date back to this period too. In the Middle Ages , the title Prince of Wales and Lord of Snowdonia ( Tywysog Cymru ac Arglwydd Eryri ) was used by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd ; his grandfather Llywelyn Fawr used
22704-504: The mixed deciduous type, the commonest tree being the Welsh oak . Birch , ash, mountain-ash and hazel are also common. The park also contains some large (planted) coniferous forested areas such as Gwydir Forest near Betws-y-Coed , although some areas, once harvested, are now increasingly being allowed to regrow naturally. Northern Snowdonia is the only place in Britain where the Snowdon lily ( Gagea serotina ), an arctic–alpine plant,
22880-610: The modern period across the border in England. Archenfield was still Welsh enough in the time of Elizabeth I for the Bishop of Hereford to be made responsible, together with the four Welsh bishops, for the translation of the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer into Welsh. Welsh was still commonly spoken there in the first half of the 19th century, and churchwardens' notices were put up in both Welsh and English until about 1860. Alexander John Ellis in
23056-597: The north coast. Largest of these is the Conwy on the park's eastern margin, which along with the Ogwen drains into Conwy Bay . Further west the Seiont and Gwyrfai empty into the western end of the Menai Strait . Part of the east of the national park is within the upper Dee (Dyfrydwy) catchment and includes Bala Lake , the largest natural water body in Wales. A fuller list of
23232-481: The north of the valley, with its Neolithic limestone cave sites protected as the Graig Site of Special Scientific Interest . The valley of Afon Morwynion marks the westernmost edge of the area, the river begins north of Llandegla Forest and flows south-west to meet the River Dee at Carrog . The Morwynion Valley is characterised by its long, wide formation, with gentle slopes of rich valley pasture bounded with hedgerows and man-made stonewalls, and contains Caer Drewyn ,
23408-444: The northern reaches of Sarn Helen . There are numerous memorial stones of Early Christian affinity dating from the post-Roman period. The post-Roman hillfort of Dinas Emrys also dates to this time. Churches were introduced to the region in the 5th and 6th centuries. Llywelyn the Great and Llywelyn ap Gruffudd had various stone castles constructed to protect their borders and trade routes. Edward I built several castles around
23584-448: The number of Welsh-language speakers to one million by 2050. Since 1980, the number of children attending Welsh-medium schools has increased, while the number going to Welsh bilingual and dual-medium schools has decreased. Welsh is considered the least endangered Celtic language by UNESCO . The language of the Welsh developed from the language of Britons . The emergence of Welsh was not instantaneous and clearly identifiable. Instead,
23760-409: The oldest human-made feature in the AONB being the mound , Gop Cairn. The area is now used for a range of recreational , tourism , and agricultural purposes. The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB is commonly regarded as split into two parts referenced within its name, the Clwydian Range, the original section of the AONB as first designated in 1985, and the later designated Dee Valley, across which
23936-436: The other two authorities. The AONB is the largest of only five AONBs in Wales , and one of the 46 in the United Kingdom . Additionally, it is one of only 8 protected areas of Wales . Long-distance footpaths; Offa's Dyke Path , and the Clwydian Way pass through the AONB. The area of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB is 390 km (150 sq mi), and has been proposed by the Welsh Government to be replaced by
24112-477: The park standardised its Welsh language lake names , to be also used in English. The national park meets the Irish Sea coast within Cardigan Bay between the Dovey estuary in the south and the Dwyryd estuary. The larger part of that frontage is characterised by dune systems , the largest of which are Morfa Dyffryn and Morfa Harlech . These two locations have two of the largest sand/shingle spits in Wales. The Mawddach and Dwyryd estuaries form
24288-408: The park boundaries, others straddle it to various degrees. There are numerous SSSIs within the park, the most extensive of which are Snowdonia, Migneint-Arenig-Dduallt, Morfa Harlech, Rhinog, Berwyn, Cadair Idris, Llyn Tegid, Aber Mawddach / Mawddach Estuary, Dyfi, Morfa Dyffryn, Moel Hebog, Coedydd Dyffryn Ffestiniog and Coedydd Nanmor . The following NNRs are either wholly or partly within
24464-418: The park: Allt y Benglog, Y Berwyn (in multiple parts), Cader Idris, Ceunant Llennyrch, Coed Camlyn, Coed Cymerau, Coed Dolgarrog, Coed Ganllwyd, Coed Gorswen, Coed Tremadog, Coedydd Aber, Coedydd Maentwrog (in 2 parts), Coed y Rhygen, Cwm Glas Crafnant, Cwm Idwal, Hafod Garregog, Morfa Harlech, Rhinog and Snowdon. The twelve SACs are as follows: The three SPAs are Dovey Estuary / Aber Dyfi (of which
24640-402: The people of Wales in every aspect of their lives. Despite that, an amendment to that effect was supported by 18 Assembly Members from three different parties, and that was a significant step forward." On 5 October 2011, Meri Huws , Chair of the Welsh Language Board , was appointed the new Welsh Language Commissioner. She released a statement that she was "delighted" to have been appointed to
24816-412: The people of the Western Roman Empire . In Old English the term went through semantic narrowing , coming to refer to either Britons in particular or, in some contexts, slaves. The plural form Wēalas evolved into the name for their territory, Wales. The modern names for various Romance-speaking people in Continental Europe (e.g. Walloons , Valaisans , Vlachs / Wallachians , and Włosi ,
24992-401: The period progressed, the waters receded and vast river deltas deposited mud and sand along the coasts; these deposits are present as the Ruabon Marl, Cefn y Fedw, Holywell Shale, and the Gwespyr Sandstone formations of the Millstone Grit Group in Gwespyr , Moel Garegog, Graianrhyd, Moel Findeg and Ruabon Mountain. In the Late Carboniferous Period , swamplands, and vast forests were present at
25168-436: The population in Wales said they had no Welsh language skills. Other estimates suggest that 862,700 people (28.0%) aged three or older in Wales could speak Welsh in March 2024. Almost half of all Welsh speakers consider themselves fluent, while 20 per cent are able to speak a fair amount. 56 per cent of Welsh speakers speak the language daily, and 19 per cent speak the language weekly. The Welsh Government plans to increase
25344-471: The population not being able to speak it. The National Survey for Wales, conducted by Welsh Government, has also tended to report a higher percentage of Welsh speakers than the census, with the most recent results for 2022–2023 suggesting that 18 per cent of the population aged 3 and over were able to speak Welsh, with an additional 16 per cent noting that they had some Welsh-speaking ability. Historically, large numbers of Welsh people spoke only Welsh. Over
25520-502: The population of Wales aged 3 and over, were able to speak the language. Children and young people aged three to 15 years old were more likely to report that they could speak Welsh than any other age group (48.4 per cent, 241,300). Around 1,001,500 people, or 32.5 per cent, reported that they could understand spoken Welsh. 24.7 per cent (759,200) could read and 22.2 per cent (684,500) could write in Welsh. The APS estimates of Welsh language ability are historically higher than those produced by
25696-407: The population of Wales spoke Welsh, compared with 20.8 per cent in the 2001 census , and 18.5 per cent in the 1991 census . Since 2001, however, the number of Welsh speakers has declined in both the 2011 and 2021 censuses to about 538,300 or 17.8 per cent in 2021, lower than 1991, although it is still higher in absolute terms. The 2011 census also showed a "big drop" in the number of speakers in
25872-408: The production of iron was increasingly present in the areas east of the AONB near the city of Wrexham and the slopes towards it. Slopes overlooking the settlements of Brymbo , Coedpoeth , Minera, and Pen y Cae, became central to the developing mining and metal producing industry. Construction of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct began in 1875, and was designed by Thomas Telford . John Dower 's 1945 report on
26048-405: The proposal, stating that if it were to follow through, it would have to be applied to all other AONBs in Wales and that the area already benefits from tourism support. Criticism to the proposal followed at the time, touted as "out of touch" with the wishes of the rural community, potentially limiting rural business opportunities and taking power away from local authorities. In their manifesto for
26224-402: The range's Iron Age hillforts. Radiocarbon analysis of the area is said to have revealed potential neolithic or mesolithic activity in the area. Castell Dinas Brân was built in 1260 by Gruffydd ap Madog , Prince of Powys Fadog , and Chirk Castle was built in 1295, in honour of Roger Mortimer and his role in overcoming Llywelyn ap Gruffudd in 1282. Owain Glyndŵr , Prince of Wales , is from
26400-512: The red-spotted burnet moth of the Zygaenidae family). The heaths of the AONB support birds such as the European stonechat , black grouse , red grouse , tree pipit , hen harrier and merlin , which migrate to the moorlands in the spring and summer for their breeding period . The broadleaved woodlands of the AONB are home to dormice , and the rivers Dee and Alyn provide a suitable habitat for freshwater pearl mussels , Atlantic salmon , and otters . Water voles have been recorded as present in
26576-403: The redesignation is a "multi-year" project. In June 2023, the Welsh Government commissioned Natural Resources Wales to investigate a potential designation of the area into a national park, involving data and evidence gathering and meeting with local communities, with a decision expected by 2026. While the proposed national park is centred on the AONB, the boundaries of the national park may not be
26752-409: The required fresh approach to this new role." Huws started her role as the Welsh Language Commissioner on 1 April 2012. Local councils and the Senedd use Welsh, issuing Welsh versions of their literature, to varying degrees. Road signs in Wales are in Welsh and English. Prior to 2016, the choice of which language to display first was the responsibility of the local council. Since then, as part of
26928-403: The rivers and tributaries within the area is found at List of rivers of Wales . There are few natural bodies of water of any size in Wales; Snowdonia is home to most. Besides Bala Lake, a few lakes occupy glacial troughs , including Llyn Padarn and Llyn Peris at Llanberis and Tal-y-llyn Lake south of Cadair Idris . Llyn Dinas , Llyn Gwynant , and Llyn Cwellyn to
27104-410: The same as the current AONB, with the exact boundaries being under discussion. The AONB is managed by a Joint Committee. Formed in 2014, through a joint agreement by the three local authority councils of Denbighshire County Council , Flintshire County Council , and Wrexham County Borough Council, it is made up of lead members from the three authorities, each of which holds the power to act on behalf of
27280-412: The shift occurred over a long period, with some historians claiming that it had happened by as late as the 9th century , with a watershed moment being that proposed by linguist Kenneth H. Jackson , the Battle of Dyrham , a military battle between the West Saxons and the Britons in 577 AD, which split the South Western British from direct overland contact with the Welsh. Four periods are identified in
27456-465: The site and a potential enclosure . In March 2014, remains of a firepit dating to the Bronze Age was discovered near Moel Arthur. Radiocarbon dating of the charcoal present in the firepit dates them to 4,000 to 4,500 years old and were used in the early Bronze Age. Burnt stones were also present in the firepit, and the overall purpose of the site still remaining unknown. Between 2012 and culminating in an exhibition in 2018 at Loggerheads Country Park ,
27632-431: The south and Porthmadog and Penrhyndeudraeth in the west are immediately beyond the boundary but still identified with the park; indeed the last of these hosts the headquarters of the Snowdonia National Park Authority. Similarly the local economies of the towns of Conwy , Bethesda , and Llanberis in the north are inseparably linked to the national park as they provide multiple visitor services. The lower terminus of
27808-405: The south and northeast and of Cenozoic era strata on the Cardigan Bay coast, though the latter are concealed by more recent deposits. Low grade metamorphism of Cambrian and Ordovician mudstones has resulted in the slates , the extraction of which once formed the mainstay of the area's economy. The principal ranges of the traditional Snowdonia are the Snowdon massif itself, the Glyderau ,
27984-492: The south and west of Snowdon feature in this category, as do Llyn Cowlyd and Llyn Ogwen on the margins of the Carneddau . There are numerous small lakes occupying glacial cirques , owing to the intensity of past glacial action in Snowdonia. Known generically as tarns , examples are Llyn Llydaw , Glaslyn and Llyn Du'r Arddu on Snowdon, Llyn Idwal within the Glyderau and Llyn Cau on Cadair Idris . There are two large wholly man-made bodies of water in
28160-427: The south. The national park has an area of 823 square miles (2,130 km ) (the fourth-largest in the UK), and covers most of central and southern Gwynedd and the western part of Conwy County Borough . This is much larger than the area traditionally considered Snowdonia, and in addition to the five ranges above includes the Rhinogydd , Cadair Idris , and Aran ranges and the Dyfi Hills . It also includes most of
28336-412: The south. The range of hills in the north-east of Wales is regarded to have three distinct areas of spurs ; the Clwydian Range (Moel Famau, Moel Llys y Coed, and Moel Arthur ), Llantysilio Mountain ( Moel y Gamelin , Moel Morfydd, Moel y Faen, and Moel y Gaer), and Maesyrchen Mountain (Ruabon Mountain, Cyrn y Brain, Esclusham Mountain , and Eglwyseg Mountain ). Some peaks of the Berwyn Range are within
28512-417: The southwest end of Bala Lake ( Llyn Tegid ), Dyffryn Ardudwy , Corris , Trawsfynydd , Llanbedr , Trefriw and Dolwyddelan . Six primary routes serve Snowdonia, the busiest of which is the A55 , a dual carriageway which runs along the north coast and provides strategic road access to the northern part of the national park. The most important north–south route within the park is the A470 running from
28688-421: The title Prince of north Wales and Lord of Snowdonia . The 18th century saw the start of industrial exploitation of the area's resources, assisted by the appearance in the late part of the century of turnpike trusts making it more accessible. The engineer Thomas Telford left a legacy of road and railway construction in and around Snowdonia. A new harbour at Porthmadog linked to slate quarries at Ffestiniog via
28864-428: The town of Llangollen and under the 16th-century Llangollen Bridge . The bridge is a Grade I listed bridge, a Scheduled Ancient Monument and considered one of the Seven Wonders of Wales . Further east, the Dee passes karstic limestone exposures of the Eglwyseg Rocks ( Welsh : Creigiau Eglwyseg ). With Castell Dinas Brân (meaning: Castle of Dinas Brân) overlooking the Dee at a nearby hilltop. The river then enters
29040-458: The use of Welsh in daily life, and standardised spelling. The New Testament was translated by William Salesbury in 1567, and the complete Bible by William Morgan in 1588. Modern Welsh is subdivided into Early Modern Welsh and Late Modern Welsh. Early Modern Welsh ran from the 15th century through to the end of the 16th century, and the Late Modern Welsh period roughly dates from the 16th century onwards. Contemporary Welsh differs greatly from
29216-445: The valleys surrounding the River Alyn south of Llandegla, River Wheeler , and River Morwynion. Developed land is concentrated in quarry sites, the towns of Llangollen and Corwen, and other settlements along the AONB's peripheries. Sections of the range can be seen from as far as Liverpool and Shropshire , whereas from parts of the range, the mountains of Snowdonia, the Irish Sea and the skyline of Liverpool can be seen. The AONB
29392-473: The word eryr in the meaning 'eagle'. Before the boundaries of the national park were designated, "Snowdonia" was generally used to refer to a smaller upland area of northern Gwynedd centred on the Snowdon massif . The national park covers an area more than twice that size, extending south into the Meirionnydd area. This difference is apparent in books published before 1951. In George Borrow 's 1907 Wild Wales he states that "Snowdon or Eryri
29568-429: Was built as a mail coach road by Thomas Telford between London and Holyhead ; it enters the park near Pentrefoelas and leaves it near Bethesda. Other A class roads provide more local links; the A493 down the Dovey valley from Machynlleth and up the coast to Tywyn then back up the Mawddach valley to Dolgellau , the A496 from Dolgellau down the north side of the Mawddach to Barmouth then north up
29744-498: Was complete by around AD 550, and labelled the period between then and about AD 800 "Primitive Welsh". This Primitive Welsh may have been spoken in both Wales and the Hen Ogledd ('Old North') – the Brittonic-speaking areas of what are now northern England and southern Scotland – and therefore may have been the ancestor of Cumbric as well as Welsh. Jackson, however, believed that the two varieties were already distinct by that time. The earliest Welsh poetry – that attributed to
29920-449: Was deemed worthy of protection and management through statutory designation. Conservations Areas eventually became " Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty ", however this particular area as eventually designated was much smaller than originally proposed, only covering most of the Clwydian Range. The Clwydian Range was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1985 by the Secretary of State for Wales Nicholas Edwards MP , under
30096-447: Was due to local opposition to designations for the Berwyn Range, such as the then proposed Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), proposed during the AONBs consultation period. This potentially influenced the decision to exclude the Berwyn Range, and therefore the Dee Valley, from becoming part of the AONB in 1985. In 2005, a Pathfinder partnership was set up by the three local authorities of Denbighshire, Flintshire, and Wrexham, with
30272-404: Was not added to the AONB, due to the valley's physical relationship with the Berwyn mountain range which crosses the local authority border into Powys, where an extension of the AONB is not supported. An artificial cut off point of the AONB at the Wrexham—Powys border was deemed illogical, so the southernmost boundary of the AONB was defined as the skyline of the Dee Valley (the southern summits of
30448-518: Was passed and received Royal Assent, thus making the Welsh language an officially recognised language within Wales. The measure: The measure required public bodies and some private companies to provide services in Welsh. The Welsh government's Minister for Heritage at the time, Alun Ffred Jones , said, "The Welsh language is a source of great pride for the people of Wales, whether they speak it or not, and I am delighted that this measure has now become law. I am very proud to have steered legislation through
30624-399: Was probably spoken throughout the island south of the Firth of Forth . During the Early Middle Ages the British language began to fragment due to increased dialect differentiation, thus evolving into Welsh and the other Brittonic languages. It is not clear when Welsh became distinct. Linguist Kenneth H. Jackson has suggested that the evolution in syllabic structure and sound pattern
30800-451: Was supported by Wrexham County Borough Council , as it would extend the AONB by 10 miles west-to-east bringing it into the boundaries of Wrexham County Borough. The council stated that the extension would bring huge benefits to the area, protecting the local landscape, improve the securing of money for environmental projects, and encouraging tourism to the area, in addition to complementing the then-recent designation of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct as
30976-403: Was the third national park in the United Kingdom, following the Peak District and Lake District in April and May of the same year. It covers 827 square miles (2,140 km ) in the counties of Gwynedd and Conwy , and has 37 miles (60 km) of coastline. The park is governed by the Snowdonia national park authority , which has 18 members: 9 appointed by Gwynedd, 3 by Conwy, and 6 by
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