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Tryfan
range, Snowdonia
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Snowdonia,
known in Welsh as Eryri (land of the eagles), is a land
of high peaks, steep, plunging valleys and open moorland
bounded on the west by the Lleyn Peninsula and the Cardigan
Coast. Rocky mountains, glacial lakes, waterfalls and
wilderness compete for attention.
Prehistoric
man and Celtic chiefs left their mark here. The Romans
built roads and forts. Pilgrims visited. The Welsh Princes
of Gwynedd reigned from mountain strongholds-armies disappeared
into the vastness of the remote countryside, eluding their
enemies. The English came to conquer and marked the landscape
by building castles. Industry destroyed mountains.
Today's
visitor can experience the culture of the past while enjoying
the beauty of today. Snowdonia
National Park's 840 square miles (1351 sq. km) stretches
from the Conwy river in the north to Machynlleth in the
south and eastwards to Bala. It includes the mountain
ranges of Tryfan, the Glyderau, the Moelwynion, Aran and
Arennig, Cader Idris and the most well known mountain,
Snowdon, the highest peak south of the Scottish border
at 3560 ft. (1113m.)
Bangor,
an historic university and cathedral city, lies at the
eastern entrance of the Menai Strait. This ancient town
began in 525AD with the building of a monastery. There's
an ornate Victorian pier-considered one of Wale's finest-that
provides a delightful countryside view. The Museum of
Welsh Antiquities contains collections of prehistoric,
Roman and other northern Wales finds. Nearby Penrhyn
Castle is a country house pretending to be a castle.
It was built for the slate magnate Lord Penrhyn and completed
about 1834.
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Caernarfon
Castle
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The
town of Caernarfon is famous for its castle and medieval
walls. The walls are 766yds (700m) long and are almost
complete. They include eight towers and two gateways.
Caernarfon
Castle, on the Menai Strait, is the site of the investiture
of the Princes of Wales. The first Prince of Wales, King
Edward's son, was born here in 1283. More recently Prince
Charles was invested here.
Encircled
by Caernarfon, the Roman fort of Segontium-once
the most western in the Empire-was occupied from 77Ad
to c394AD. The foundations are all that remain today.
Llanberis
is a popular mountain centre in the National Park. It
is flanked by two lakes, Llyn Padarn and Llyn Peris. The
beautiful Llanberis Pass is a not-to-be-missed driving
adventure. From Llanberis, take the rack
and pinion railroad to the summit of Mt Snowdon. It's
a scenic wonder on a clear day.
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Workshop
at the Welsh Slate Museum, near Llanberis
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The
Welsh Slate
Museum is at nearby Pardarn Country Park. On view
are the foundry, fitting shop, smithy, sawmill, carpenter's
shop, pattern loft and all the old machinery used to dress
the slate. Most spectacular is the 50.5 ft (15.4m) diameter
water wheel that provided the power in the workshops.
Roofing slate was made here for all of Britain.
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Swallow
Falls
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The
Snowdonia National Park Visitor Centre is located at the
Old Stables in Betws-y-Coed,
a popular resort. There are many interesting bridges in
the area. The iron Waterloo Bridge, built in 1815 by Thomas
Telford, is inscribed "This arch was constructed in the
same year the battle of Waterloo was fought". The famous
Swallow
Falls and its chasm are nearby. To the south of the
village is the Fairy Glen, a narrow gorge of the River
Conwy.
Blaenau
Ffestiniog, once the centre of the slate quarrying industry,
is now a tourist attraction. At the Llechwedd
Slate Caverns, Victorian mining conditions can be
observed, and you can learn how slate was mined on the
Miner's Tramway tour or the Deep Underground tour.
Beddgelert,
a wooded stone village located amid steep mountain slopes,
lakes and wooded hillsides, was featured on a stamp in
1997 and won a Gold Award for villages in a Europe in
Bloom competition. It's a desirable location for exploring
the Snowdon mountain range.
Bala
Lake, the longest lake in Wales, is a popular watersports
centre. A narrow-gauge railway skirts the southern shore.
This town was, at one time, the centre of the Methodist
Church movement.
The
Cardigan Coast and Bay area is known for its sandy beaches
and holiday resorts. Barmouth is an old harbour town made
popular by the Victorians. Look for the bridge built
in 1866, with its 113 trestles and enjoy the famous Panorama
Walk.
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Portmeiron
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Porthmadog
was a 19th century terminus for shipping slate. Nearby
Black Rock Sands provide a beach playground. Portmeirion
is a famous Italianate village near Porthmadog.
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Harlech
Castle
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Harlech
Castle was made internationally famous by the song
"Men of
Harlech". It is now a World Heritage site. Part of
its appeal is the viewpoint it commands from its 200ft
high crag over Cardigan Bay, the Lleyn peninsula and the
mountains of Snowdonia.
The
Lleyn Peninsula is an area of remote bays and cliffs,
wildlife- inhabited islands and coastal resorts. The largest
coastal town is Pwlleheli with a long sandy beach and
marina. It's a popular holiday resort. The old town still
hosts a market, and the harbour is filled with pleasure
craft. Nearby, in Aberech, is a large medieval church.
Aberdaron
is the most westerly village on the Peninsula. It, too,
has a sandy beach. Bardsey Island, two miles (3km) off
the end of the peninsula, is an ancient place of pilgrimage.
The
Island of Anglesey
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Anglesey
seascape
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The
island of Anglesey
is separated from the mainland by the fifteen-mile long
Menai Strait, carved by glaciation during the Ice Age.
The strait's tidal currents can reach up to 8 knots (15
km/h) in the narrow region between the island and mainland.
Many ferry and boat accidents occurred before the bridges
were built.
Anglesey's
125 miles (201 km) of coastline are a mix of rocky headlands,
sandy bays and resort towns. The varied habitats of Anglesey
mean that it abounds with birds, plants and other wildlife.
Apart from the coastline, most of the island is agricultural
or marshland. The entire island has been designated an
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
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Red
Wharf Bay, Anglesey
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The
beaches at Newborough and Red
Wharf Bay are particularly fine. At low tide, Red
Wharf Bay's sands encompass 10 square miles (25 sq. km),
attracting waterfowl and wading birds.
Anglesey
was the last stronghold of the Druids, who were finally
eradicated here by the Roman conquerors around 63AD, and
the island has been home to strange legends and myths
ever since. It is riddled with standing stones and burial
chambers. Cadw
is the best source for the location of these ancient sites,
with 14 on the Island under its care. One of particular
note is Barclodiad
y Gawres Burial Chamber.
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Beaumaris
Castle
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The
seaside resort of Beaumaris is home to beautiful Georgian
buildings and Victorian terraces as well as black and
white Tudor houses. Llywelyn the Great's wife, Joan (daughter
of King John), is buried in the parish church. 15th century
pubs and an early 17th century Court
House and Gaol
add to the architectural diversity of the town. The Gaol
is now a museum where visitors can see the terrors of
prison life. The Museum of Childhood is a bit more uplifting.
Moated Beaumaris
Castle, begun as part of Edward I's defenses to keep
Wales subdued, was never finished. It is a World Heritage
listed site.
Plas
Newydd, (not to be confused with the house of the
same name at Llangollen) home of the Marquis of Anglesey,
is an 18th century house built by James Wyatt in both
Classical and Gothic styles. It houses a massive mural
painted by Rex Whistler and an exhibition about his work.
It is two miles (3km) from the village of Llanfair
PG, blessed with the longest place name in the world:
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch,
which means "St. Mary's Church by the white aspen over
the whirlpool and St. Tysilio's Church by the red cave").
It's a 19th century name adopted for its tourist value,
and not the original name of the village. Call it Llanfair
PG.
The
town of Holyhead, located on Holy Island, eight miles
(13km) long and four miles (6km) wide, is separated from
Anglesey by a sandy strait. It is the largest town on
Anglesey and is a popular destination for sports and beach
activities. Ferries go from here to Dublin, Ireland. Ancient
hut circles are found on Holyhead Mountain.
At
the town of Llangefni, the Oriel Ynys Mon Museum contains
displays on Anglesey's history, culture and environment.
Web
links to places mentioned in this section:
For
more in depth information about Anglesey, Snowdonia and
area:
Hotels
North
Wales Attractions Map
Tourist Information
Centres
Continue
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