Interesting Fact

Aberdaron

The village was the last rest stop for pilgrims heading to Bardsey Island, the legendary "Island of 20,000 saints". In the 18th and 19th centuries it developed as a shipbuilding centre and port.

Go To Map

Abersoch

Abersoch is a prime example of the two cultures which have become a way of life in the whole of Llŷn. In summer, it is a teeming tourist resort, but, in winter, the community reverts to the quiet, leisurely pace of living, indigenous to the area. However, a growing trend for holidaymakers to return as permanent residents of the burgeoning new estatesin the village serves to threaten the balance of the community. The village had good hotels and restaurants and facilities for watersports, including a lifeboat station, sailing club and several outlets selling water sport clothing and equipment.
Extract from the book 'Llŷn' by Elfed Gruffydd (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch 01492 642031)

Go To Map

Aircrash WW2

On the evening of 31 March 1943, RAF Bicester in Oxfordshire reported that a Bristol Blenheim Mk V1 with 3 on board had gone missing’. RAF Llandwrog was not informed until nearly a fortnight later that a plane had been seen crashing into the gully between Elidir Fach and Elidir Fawr. A search party discovered what remained of the aircraft the following day. Three bodies were recovered; all had been killed instantly and most of the wreckage itself was not recovered until the 1970’s.

Go To Map

Bethesda

Bethesda is a small town east of the A5, named Glan Ogwen originally, and its population is currently just over 4,000. After the Congregational chapel was built in 1823, the name was changed to Bethesda; biblical names became common in places across the country due to growth in the Nonconformist religion. A large proportion of Bethesda residents speak Welsh. The town grew enormously because of the slate and stone, especially from Penrhyn Quarry, the largest of the local quarries. At its peak, the blue or dark green slate was exported throughout the world, and became famous as the best slate worldwide. Bethesda home of the famous three-year strike led by the North Wales Quarrymen's Union began in 1900. Because the influence of the quarries, there is a historic atmosphere to the town as many buildings were built of stone and slate. It is notable for its many chapels and pubs, especially the Douglas Arms. The novel Un Nos Ola Leuad and the popular television series Amdani were located in Bethesda.

Go To Map

Betsi Cadwaladr - Wales' Florence Nightingale

One of the colourful characters of Bala, she was christened in Llanycil Church and started her adventures when, as a young teenage girl, she fled from Bala to Liverpool. There she became a maid for a large family, and in the service of her masters she visited many Continental countries which whetted her appetite for travelling. She later returned to Wales, but subsequently fled to London to avoid marriage, and there came across the city’s playhouses. The theatre became of great interest to her from then on. In 1820, after returning again to Bala (a 'dull’ place, she says!), she became a maid to a ship's captain and wandered the world for years. During her adventures, she performed Shakespeare on board the ship and met celebrities of the day such as William Carey and Bishop Heber. Back in Britain, she went to work as a nurse at Guy's Hospital, and in 1854 she helped take care of casualties in the Crimean war where she worked with Florence Nightingale, but the two headstrong women did not see eye to eye!
 

Go To Map

Bread and Cheese Baptists

Capel Ty’n Lôn was an important centre for Scotch Baptists in North Wales. They were named ‘Bread and Cheese Baptists,’ along with the cemetery, because they brought food with them to the chapel after a long journey. An old funeral ritual held here was placing a freshly baked cake or potato on the deceased’s chest by the bereaved family under the ‘sin tree,’ waiting for the ‘eater of sin’ to extract the sins from the food.

Go To Map

Bryn Fôn

Bryn Fôn is a well known Welsh singer and actor, born in Llanllyfni in 1954, and who still live in the area. He attended Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle studied physical education and environmental studies in college. He ventured into the entertainment world in 1977 by taking part in the rock opera Dic Penderyn. He formed the group Crysbas after leaving college, and then, in 1998 the  remarkably successful Sobin and Smaeliaid. He was the first artist to perform live on Radio Cymru in 1977, and Wales is indebted to him for expanding the popularity of Welsh pop among the youth. He won the competition Can i Gymru during the 1990s, and has released numerous albums both as a singer with Sobin and as an individual. Following the campaign burning second homes in 1979, he wrote a song belitteling thepolice for failing to catch those responsible. In 1990, he and his partner were arrested under suspicion of taking part in the campaign.

Go To Map

Bwlch y Groes

Bwlch y Groes, highest public mountain pass in Wales, leads to Llanuwchllyn. Known as ‘Hellfire Pass,’ it was used to test prototypes by motor companies Austin and Triumph.

Go To Map

Canu Plygain

Canu Plygain is an old Welsh tradition of singing carols by candlelight in church between three and six o'clock on Christmas morning. It is believed that the word plygain means as the cock sings, or originates from the word fold, and there are examples of word in Welsh manuscripts as early as the 13th century. The tradition was particularly prosperous during the 17th century, and the practice of composing and singing continued until the mid 19th century. The carols were long poems and cover religious, philosophical and secular topics. As part of popular folk tradition of the period, the carols were sung unaccompanied to familiar ballad airs, and the carol was often named after the farm where the family who sung the carol lived, The tradition continues in some areas in Wales, especially in Montgomery. One of the churches that keeps the ritual of Canu Plygain is St Tydecho Llanymawddwy, a small village on the road between Dinas Mawddwy and Llanuwchllyn over Bwlch y Groes.

Go To Map

Caradog Pritchard

Caradog Prichard was a poet, novelist and journalist – an author with his roots steeped in the Ogwen Valley but he spent much of his life in London. There he worked for the News Chronicle and Daily Telegraph and his home became a social centre for the expatriate Welsh. Although living in London, Caradog Prichard’s best known novel, Un Nos Ola Leuad (1961), testifies to influence of his birthplace upon him. With Bethesda as its backdrop, the novel is a study of madness. In it, we see clear echoes of his own background - the absence of the father, the mother's mental illness, religious hypocrisy and social pressures. He won the Crown at the National Eisteddfod in 1927, 1928 and 1929 and Chair in 1962 for his ode Llef Un yn Llefain. In addition to three volumes of poetry, the author published a collection of short stories and autobiography, Afal Drwg Adda (1973). Caradog Prichard died in 1980 and he is buried in Coetmor Cemetery, Bethesda.

Go To Map

Church of St Cadfan

Tywyn is noted for its Norman parish church of Saint Cadfan housing St Cadfan's Stone dating from the eighth or ninth century and inscribed with the oldest known written Welsh. The church was sacked by Vikings in 963 and, during the 12th century was the subject of a memorable poem by Llywelyn Fardd.

Go To Map

Chwilog

ChwilogPrimary Schoolwas opened in 1908 by Margaret Lloyd George, wife of David Lloyd George. The village was built around the railway station on the Caernarfonshire Railway Line situated at the centre of the village.

Go To Map

Cregennen Lakes

Llynnau Cregennen lie in the shadow of Cadair Idris which dominates the mountain range south of Dolgellau.  The lake may be recognizable as the area was used in the television mini series Merlin which starred Sam Neill.

In the series the lake Llyn Cregennen was inhabited by the Lady of the Lake who wore a living necklace of swimming fish.

Go To Map

Cricceieth

The spelling of Criccieth remains controversial today. Many regard this version as an anglicism, arguing that the Welsh form Cricieth should be used instead.

Go To Map

Dinas Mawddwy

The village was served by the standard gauge Mawddwy Railway which connected with the Cambrian Railways at Cemmaes Road Station. This was built to serve the slate quarries at Minllyn and Aberangell.

Go To Map

Duffy (Aimée Ann Duffy)

Nefyn's most famous singer. In 2008 she released herhighly successful debut album, Rockferry, which reached number 1 in the British charts, selling over 6 million copies worldwide. In 2009 she won a Grammy Award and 3 BRIT Awards. Born in Bangor on 23 June, 1984, and raised in Nefyn, she moved to Pembrokeshire with her mother and sistersat the age of 10. Duffy was inspired early on by films and music programs, such as Whoopi Goldberg’s Sister Act and the program Ready, Steady, Go! The desire to sing in it still, although she had to leave the school choir because her voice was ‘too big’ the desire to sing remained. In 2003 he appeared on the Welsh talent show Wawffactor and came second; she described the experience as the worst time in her life and decided to write music for herself alone. She moved to London in 2004 and started collaborating with Bernard Buttler, former guitarist of the band Suede. In 2007 signed a contract with A & M Records and since then hercareer has gone from strength to strength.

Go To Map

Gruff Rhys

Gruff Rhys is a famous Welsh musician as a solo performer and member of the successful band Super Furry Animals which was in its heyday during the 1990s. Maredudd Gruffydd Rhys Bowen was born in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire in 1970, son of the patriotic Welshman Ioan Bowen Rees. He was educated at Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen, Bethesda. He graduated in art at Manchester Metropolitan University, before going on to enjoy a varied career as a musician, composer and producer. It is a versatile musician who can turn his hand to the guitar, keyboards, drums and saz, as well as singing itself. After playing drums for the band Emily, he became to prominence in Wales first as lead singer of the band Ffa Coffi Pawb, one of the Wales’ most popular groups, which released three albums. In 1993, he became a vocalist and guitar player for the Super Furry Animals, which has been a huge success with albums in English and Welsh. The group was in great demand at music festivals. In recent years, he has ventured as a solo performer and has produced two albums. Recently, he formed the electro-pop group Neon Neon.

Go To Map

Gwyn Thomas

Professor Gwyn Thomas was born in Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog in 1936. An acclaimed poet and scholar with a wide body of academic and literary works, he has published 16 books of poetry including Chwerwder yn y Ffynhonnau (1962), Enw’r Gair (1972) and Apocalups Yfory yn (2005). Academically, he has published several studies and literary criticisms as well as translation of the Mabinogi into English. Traddodiad Barddol published in 1976 is a notable study of poetic tradition in Wales and a deliberate attempt to make the strict tradition of singing more accessible to the reader of modern Welsh. He has experimented with various mediums including literary studies of drama in Europe and published his own plays - Lliw’r Delyn (1969) and Amser Dyn (1972). Gwyn Thomas was appointed lecturer in the Department of Welsh Bangor University in 1961 and in 1980 he was given a personal chair. He became Head of Department in 1992. In 2006 he was appointed National Poet of Wales and in the same year, he published an autobiography Bywyd Bach
 

Go To Map

Led Zeppelin

There is an interesting connection between the Pennal are and the famous band Led Zeppelin. Robert Plant's interest in mystical words also from his experiences in Wales: because he grew up near the border, as a child he often visited the fascinating mountains of Snowdonia. He bought a Welsh sheep farm in 1973 and began attending Welsh classes and researching the nation’s folklore.

Go To Map

Llanbedrog

In 1856 a dower house, "Plas Glyn-y-Weddw", was built in lower Llanbedrog for Lady Love Jones Parry. The house is now an important centre for the arts.

Go To Map

Llanuwchllyn's small power station

In 1910,  Richard Edwards and his son Antur built a water wheel to generate electricity for a farm workshop. A dam on the River Twrch about half a mile from the village, and it took 3 men a year to dig the trench that would transport the water from the dam to the wheel. Some years later the water wheel was changed for a larger turbine and a building was built around the works where the small power plant still stands today. Electricity was very unusual in the remoteness of such places as Llanuwchllyn, and some believe that this was the first village in North Wales to have such power. The old turbine continues to this day to power two family houses.
 

Go To Map

Llyn Historical & Maritime Museum

The foundation of the ancient and, now, redundant St Mary's Church dates back to the 6th century. In the Middle Ages it was an important station on the pilgrim route to Bardsey and a priory was attached to it. Geraldus Cambrensis and Baldwin the Archbishop of Canterbury preached at the church on Palm Sunday 1188 during their recruitment campaign for the Crusades. They found, as Gerald testified, no shortage of recruits. The building now houses a maritime museum.
 

Go To Map

Llyn Padarn

Padarn Lake is the sixth deepest lake in Wales and is just over 30m (100ft) deep in places. It is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest because its deep waters are home to a fish called the Arctic Char, a species left over from the time of the last Ice Age. Certain rare Water Plantain can also be seen growing in the lake. As well as these uncommon life forms another feature that makes Padarn Lake an important site is its geomorphological features of Cambrian rocks overlying pre-Cambrian rocks.

Go To Map

Maentwrog Hydropower Station

The hydropower station at Maentwrog has been generating electricity since 1928, and is planned to continue operating until 2088. It’s only half-way through its working life. This compares with the twenty-six years of the nuclear power station at Trawsfynydd, which stopped generating in 1991 and will not be totally decommissioned until 2098!

The Maentwrog station was built in 1928 by the North Wales Power and Traction Company, which also built hydro stations at Dolgarrog and at Cwm Dyli, between Beddgelert and Capel Curig. Why “Traction”? In the early 1920s North Wales Power had controlling interests in the Ffestiniog, Welsh Highland, and Snowdon railways and the idea was to supply them with electricity. © Huw Jenkins

Click on the web link above for more information from Huw Jenkins
 

Go To Map

Michael D. Jones (1822 – 1898)

Famous patriot and one of the fathers of contemporary Welsh nationalism. He was born in Llanuwchllyn, son of Michael Jones, headmaster of a theological college in Bala. In 1837 he visited America, where he took a leading part in the social life of the Welsh immigrants. He was one of the founders of the ‘Brython’ Association formed to help new immigrants into the country. He returned to Wales in 1850 and went to work as a minister in Carmarthenshire. On his father's death he was appointed his successor as headmaster and college minister at churches in Bala. Like his father, his career was very turbulent. There was intense disagreement between him and some other members of the committee of the college. The discord was so severe that the college was divided between him and his opponents, but in 1892 he resigned to facilitate uniting the college again. His fiery nationalist spirit was raised by the tyranny of Tory landowners. This is probably why he was so enthusiastic in his support and so generous in its financial aid to the Welsh colony in Patagonia

Go To Map

Morfa Bychan

Morfa Bychan has a beach known as Black Rock Sands which stretches for two miles from the eastern end of the National Trust's Ynys Cyngar on the Afon Glaslyn estuary along Tremadog Bay to Criccieth beach which is accessible at low tide.

Go To Map

Mynytho

Mynytho's memorial hall occupies a significant place in the history of the struggle for the recognition of Welsh culture and the Welsh language.

Go To Map

Penrhyn Quarry Strike

The Penrhyn Quarry Strike, from November 1900 to November 1903 is one of the longest ever United Kingdom Industrial Disputes.

Go To Map

Puerto Madryn

The sign proclaims Nefyn to be twinned with the Argentinian town of Puerto Madryn a town that was established by Welsh colonists and where Welsh is still spoken today. It is appropriate that Nefyn, a town which reared so many seafarers, should be twinned with a town not in near Europe but in distant South America. In the same way as the Jewish agricultural colonies of Argentina were financed by Baron Hirch, the Welsh colonization project had the financial backing of 'Baron' Love Jones-Parry of Castell Madryn, 3 miles SW of Nefyn. It was in honour of the spendthrift Jones-Parry, who died penniless having spent his last £6000 on a single bet on a horse, that the initial settlement was called Porth Madryn, now Puerto Madryn.

Go To Map

Quays

In the early 19th century there were quays on the Dyfi where slate from the quarries around Corris, Aberllefenni and Abergynolwyn was brought by packhorse for loading onto sea-going vessels. This trade died out when the Corris Railway to Machynlleth and the Talyllyn Railway to Tywyn were built.

Go To Map

R Williams Parry

Robert Williams Parry (1884-1956) is one of Wales' most famous poets. Born in Talysarn in the Nantlle Valley, he was a cousin of the noted litterateur TH Parry-Williams. Studied at University for two years, but left without a degree and went to teach in primary schools in England and Wales. In 1907, he returned to his studies at Bangor University and this time, graduated in 1908. He won the National Eisteddfod chair at Colwyn Bay in 1910 for his poem The Summer, a poem from the romantic period which earned him the title The Summer Poet. He spent two years in military camps in England during the First World War, when composed some of his most famous poems, as poems in memory of Hedd Wyn and sonnets about the war. He taught at several schools before joining the staff of University College Wales, Bangor as a lecturer in the Welsh Department. Two collections of his poems were published, Yr Haf a cherddi eraill (1924) and Cerddi’r Gaeaf (1952). Among his most popular poems are Y Llwynog and Eifionydd pure poetry which offered commentary on the country, nature and condition of man.

Go To Map

Reading the Riot Act

In 1809, Asheton-Smith announced that he would be taking over the common land in Dinorwig to make it easier for him to open his quarry. The local population were faced with losing their common grazing lands. In an attempt to thwart Asheton-Smith a local man named Ellis Evans built a ‘tŷ unnos’ (a cottage raised and roofed in a single day to lay claim to the land) at Y Garnedd. When a number of ‘constables’ and a Magistrate turned up to demolish the cottage things turned very nasty. Waiting for them were a number of people, each throwing stones, mud and hot water. It was not until reinforcements arrived that the rioters were overpowered and eight thrown in jail. Because of this historic event, the Riot Act is still in force within the parish today.

Go To Map

Roman Fort

It was the site of a small Roman fort, known as Cefn Caer in Welsh, probably guarding a ford or ferry crossing of the Dyfi on the Sarn Helen Roman road. The remains of the fort lie under the 14th century house of Cefn Caer, overlooking the village.

Go To Map

Saint Pedrog

St Pedrog was a 6^th Century saint who was a missionary ministry throughout the Celtic countries - Wales, Ireland, Cornwall and Brittany. Son of the King Glywys Cornwall, it is assumed that he rejected the royal path expected of him and turn toward missionary work which led him throughout Britain, Europe and beyond. During his pilgrimages, he is believed to have visited Jerusalem, Rome and India. Back in Cornwall, a story is recorded that he overcame a huge serpent who savaged the enemies of the King Teudar of Penwith. During his pilgrimage between Cornwall and Ireland it is believed that he establish the church in Llanbedrog and two other churches on the Welsh coast - one in Pembroke and one in Cardigan. The 6^th century church founded by St Pedrog no longer stands, but the connection remains in the name of the current church and the name of the village. St Petrog died in the year 564 and his remains are kept in the monastery founded by him in Bodmin, Cornwall.

Go To Map

Ship Building in Nefyn

According to local records, the first ship was built in Nefyn in 1760. It’s name was  Hopewell, a 17 ton sloop. Between 1770 and 1880, 132 ships built were built there, only Porthmadog and Pwllheli were building more ships in Wales. The last ship to be built was Venus in 1880, a 107 ton schooner. The records also name some of the builders, for example, William Roberts, who built 7 ships between 1833-48; Robert Thomas, Y Dderwen, who built 13 ships between 1849-66; but John Thomas, Fron Oleu was far the most productive building 15 ships between 1813-39. Out of the 132 ships built in Nefyn during this period, 95 were lost to the sea, which shows just how dangerous life was like for sailors in the past. Nevertheless, 87 of them sailed for at least twenty years, and a quarter of these sailed for forty years - a long life for such a ship. These ships’ long survival is proof of the architecture of the builders and seafaring skills of the sailors of Nefyn.
 

Go To Map

Ted Breeze Jones

Ted Breeze Jones was one of Wales' foremost naturalists of the 20th century, an unsurpassed ornithologist, enthusiastic teacher, an excellent naturalist, talented photographer, prolific author and gentle and humble broadcaster. It is described as the man of the wide smile and by means of his infectious enthusiasm he was responsible for inspiring a whole generation of naturalists. He hailed from Blaenau Ffestiniog an area that remained close to his heart throughout his life. He wandered several continents recording the wonders of nature but is best remembered for his tremendous contribution to Wales and the Welsh language through his books and writings, his work on radio and television and for developing a repository of names of birds in Welsh.

Go To Map

The Funeral Path

One of the oldest cottages in the parish of Llanddeiniolen is Penybryn, near Dinas Dinorwic. Originally built in the 1650s, Penybryn was a traditional Welsh longhouse with the tenant family living one end and the lifestock the other. Remarkably, according to Parish records 27 men, women and children died in Penybryn during the 18th century, mostly from ‘Smallpox’. Because of this a Funeral Path was built to carry the dead to the church.

Go To Map

The Narrow Gauge Railway Museum

Recently re-housed in a purpose built building at the Talyllyn Railway's main station, the museum aims to tell the story of the Narrow Gauge Railways across the British Isles. An interesting place to spend an hour even if you are not a trainspotter! Free Entry.

Go To Map

The Old Roman Road from North to South

In the days when all roads led to Rome, this lane was part of Sarn Helen, or Sarn Elen, a Roman road which runs along the western side of Wales, from fort Canovium (Caerhun) in the north to the fort and town Maridunum (Carmarthen) in the south - a way which is approximately 160 miles long. It is possible that the route was named after Ellen Luyddog, wife of Magnus Maximus. Although there are no remains to be seen on parts of the road, it is believed that the road started at Caerhun and went through Trefriw, Cwm Penmachno and Ffestiniog, Trawsfynydd, Brithdir, near Dolgellau, and then to Pennal. From there it leaves Gwynedd and continues towards Carmarthen.

Go To Map

Tregarth

Bethesda was the site of a famous three-year strike led by the North Wales Quarrymen's Union from 1900. This led to the creation of the nearby village of Tregarth, built by the quarry owners, which housed the families of the workers who did not strike.

Go To Map

W J Gruffydd: Academic, Poet, Writer, Politician

One of Llanddeiniolen’s most famous sons was the scholar and writer WJ Gruffydd. He was born in Bethel on 14th February 1881, a quarryman’s son and was educated in Bethel, Caernarfon and Oxford University. After serving with the Navy he spent all his working life as a lecturer in Celtic Studies at Cardiff University. He was the leading expert on The Mabinogi and wrote many prominent books on Welsh literature. He died in 1954 and is buried at the parish church.

Go To Map

Whistling Sands

‘Whistling Sands’ is famous for its sand containing special properties. Only another one of its kind is found throughout Europe.

Go To Map

Wild Cars

Not a Mustang nor a Ferrari, but a skimpy piece of wood mounted on a wheel and a rod of iron racing 50 mph down a Welsh mountain.

Getting slate down the mountain from the high quarries of Ffestiniog was a feat of Victorian engineering ingenuity. The power was provided by a wagon full of slate going down to pull up an empty wagon on a pair of narrow gauge rails running the length of an incline. Between each pair of rails was a steel rope, running on rollers, which connected the dependent wagons.

The Craig Ddu quarry to the north of Manod Mawr had a set of three inclines to reach the road, and a fourth to link with the railway below running to Blaenau. This was the route to market. It was also the quickest way home for the workers after a hard day’s work. ©  Huw Jenkins

Click on the web link above for more information on the wild cars from Huw Jenkins

Go To Map