62-636: Gwytherin is a village in Conwy County Borough , Wales. It lies in a small valley through which the River Cledwen flows and has been winner of 'Best Kept Village' on four occasions. Its church is dedicated to Saint Winefrid (Welsh: Gwenfrewy gwenfrewi; Medieval Latin: Winefrida). In the centre of the village opposite the Lion Inn is the Church of St Winifred, which was built and dedicated in 1869. The church
124-455: 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 the title Prince of north Wales and Lord of Snowdonia . The 18th century saw the start of industrial exploitation of
186-498: A carving and what appears to be a 'W'. The church is one of the major places visited on the North Wales Pilgrims Way . Gwytherin is the setting for much of the action in the novel A Morbid Taste for Bones , first published in 1977 by Ellis Peters . It was the first book in a series of twenty to introduce the fictional Brother Cadfael , the real Prior Robert Pennant , and the rest of the monks at Shrewsbury Abbey in
248-469: A companion fungus that grows on its roots producing toxins that are poisonous to any local flora and fauna for 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
310-408: 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
372-499: 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
434-458: A population of 114,290 in 2022, making it sparsely populated. The population is concentrated along the coast, along which are several seaside resorts and the county's largest towns: Colwyn Bay (34,284), Llandudno (20,701), and Conwy (14,753). Inland is much less populous, and the only town is Llanrwst (3,323). The geography of Conwy is shaped by the River Conwy , which forms a wide valley down
496-477: 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 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
558-533: 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 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
620-506: Is believed to have originated in the mid-600s CE up by Prince Eleri who then went on to set up a double monastery in the village. He was the Abbot to the monks, and his cousin's daughter, St. Gwenffrewi, was the Abbess to the nuns. In the churchyard are three ancient yew trees and a row of four ancient standing stones approximately one metre high and aligned roughly east to west. The first stone carries
682-503: 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 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
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#1732868735003744-556: 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 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
806-602: Is the only place in Britain where the Snowdon lily ( Gagea serotina ), an arctic–alpine plant, 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
868-507: 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 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
930-508: 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 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
992-623: 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 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
1054-484: The red kite . The rainbow-coloured Snowdon beetle ( Chrysolina cerealis ) is only found in northern Snowdonia. Snowdonia has 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
1116-577: 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 , 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
1178-497: The 12th century. This Conwy County Borough location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Conwy County Borough Conwy County Borough ( Welsh : Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy ) is a county borough in the north of Wales. It borders Gwynedd to the west and south and Denbighshire to the east. The largest settlement is Colwyn Bay , and Conwy is the administrative centre. Conwy has an area of 1,126 square kilometres (435 sq mi) and
1240-477: 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
1302-762: 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 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
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#17328687350031364-505: The Dovey ( Dyfi ) estuary and the small village of Beddgelert each of which attract large numbers of visitors. Other sizeable villages are Llanuwchllyn at 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
1426-503: 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 is no single hill, but a mountainous region, the loftiest part of which [is] called Y Wyddfa", making a distinction between the summit of
1488-702: The Snowdonia National Park Authority. Its total area is 1,126 km (435 sq mi), making it slightly larger than Hong Kong . The eastern part includes the larger section of Denbigh Moors . The vast majority of the population live on the coast; the only settlement of any size inland is Llanrwst. According to the 2001 census 39.7% of the population of the county borough have "one or more skills" in Welsh . In 2021 census 25.9% reported being able to speak Welsh, which ranks Conwy 5th out of 22 principal areas in Wales. The amount of Welsh spoken in
1550-457: 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 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
1612-656: 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 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
1674-481: 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 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
1736-522: 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 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
1798-539: 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 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
1860-463: 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 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
1922-479: 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 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
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1984-436: The county borough greatly varies from location to location, with generally the least being spoken on the coastal fringe, in which English is mainly spoken. Examples of the percentage of people age 3+ speaking Welsh by electoral ward, as of the 2011 census : The county borough was formed on 1 April 1996 by merging the districts of Aberconwy and Colwyn . It was originally named Aberconwy and Colwyn , but its council renamed
2046-577: The county borough is named, lies wholly within the area: rising in Snowdonia and flowing through Llanrwst and Trefriw en route to the Irish Sea by Conwy . The river here marks the border between the historic counties of Caernarfonshire and Denbighshire . One third of the land area of the county borough lies in the Snowdonia National Park , and the council appoint three of the 18 members of
2108-508: The county is Carnedd Llewelyn , at 1,064 metres (3,491 ft), which is on the boundary with Gwynedd and is the third-highest summit in Wales. Around Betws-y-Coed is the Gwydir Forest , which is mainly given over to plantations . There are several reservoirs in the valleys, the largest of which is Llyn Brenig , which has an area of 3.7 square kilometres (1.4 sq mi) and extends into Denbighshire. The River Conwy , after which
2170-645: The district a day later, on 2 April 1996, to Conwy . Conwy is represented in the UK Parliament by Labour Party politicians Gill German and Claire Hughes since the 2024 election . This election implemented new boundaries, making Conwy County Borough be in the Bangor Aberconwy and Clwyd North UK Parliament constituencies. In the Senedd , it is represented by Conservative Party politicians Janet Finch-Saunders and Darren Millar . Conwy County Borough Council
2232-624: 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 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
2294-563: The lakes within the area is found at List of lakes of Wales . In 2023, 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
2356-601: 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 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
2418-404: The largest sand/shingle spits in Wales. The Mawddach and Dwyryd estuaries form 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
2480-571: The main charge in the arms of Colwyn Borough Council, and its predecessor the municipal borough of Colwyn Bay. The motto adopted is Tegwch i Bawb , meaning "Fairness to All". The Conwy Valley Line , from Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog, runs through the borough. Snowdonia National Park Snowdonia , or Eryri ( pronounced [ɛrəri] ), is a mountainous region and national park in North Wales . It contains all 15 mountains in Wales over 3000 feet high, including
2542-515: 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 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
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2604-494: 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 the exception of southwest Llŷn and the Creuddyn Peninsula . In Snowdonia: The National Park of North Wales (1949), F. J. North states that "When
2666-503: 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 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
2728-419: 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 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
2790-496: The north are inseparably linked to the national park as they provide multiple visitor services. The lower terminus of 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
2852-616: 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 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
2914-572: The northern mountains; A4085 links Penrhyndeudraeth with Caernarfon , the A4086 links Capel Curig with Caernarfon via Llanberis and 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
2976-502: The northwest of the park from Bangor via Caernarfon to Porthmadog before turning in land to meet the A470 east of Maentwrog . The A5 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
3038-408: 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
3100-418: 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
3162-494: 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 the margins including those at Harlech and Conwy for military and administrative reasons. Most are now protected within
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#17328687350033224-440: The road and railway tunnels . There are only three towns within the park boundary, though there are several more immediately beyond it. Dolgellau 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
3286-453: The rural areas of the county borough. Above the shield, placed on the steel helm usual in British civic arms, is the crest . This takes the form of the Welsh red dragon supporting a Bible , rising from a wreath of oak leaves and acorns. The Bible is to commemorate the first Welsh language translation of the book, which originated in the area, while the oak circlet recalls that an oak tree formed
3348-521: The shield is coloured green, the main colour in Aberconwy's arms. In the centre of the chief is a severed head from the heraldry of Marchudd ap Cynan, Lord of Abergele and Rhos. On either side are two black spears embrued , or having drops of blood on their points. These come from the reputed arms of Nefydd Hardd, associated with the Nant Conwy area. In front of each spear is a golden garb or wheatsheaf, for
3410-505: 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 ", 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
3472-472: 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 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
3534-504: The towns of Tywyn and Barmouth on the Cardigan Bay coast are within coastal exclaves. Llanrwst in the east, Machynlleth in 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
3596-612: The western half of the county, bordered by the Denbigh Moors to the east and the mountains of Snowdonia National Park to the west. The River Elwy , a tributary of the Clwyd , drains the eastern half of the moors. The Conwy forms a wide estuary as it reaches the coast, which has by wide, sandy beaches and the limestone headlands of the Great Orme and the Little Orme . The highest peak within
3658-461: 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 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
3720-457: 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 the northern reaches of Sarn Helen . There are numerous memorial stones of Early Christian affinity dating from
3782-478: Was granted a coat of arms by the College of Arms in 2001. The new arms recall those of both Aberconwy and Colwyn Borough Councils. The main part of the shield depicts blue and silver waves for the river from which the county borough takes its name, and also recalls the gold and blue wavy field of Colwyn's arms. On top of the waves is placed a symbolic red tower, representing Conwy Castle . The chief or upper third of
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#17328687350033844-468: 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 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
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