Misplaced Pages

#426573

69-642: Dyffryn Mymbyr is a valley in Snowdonia , in north-west Wales , approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) in length, and leading up from Capel Curig to the Pen-y-Gwryd hotel. The river Nantygwryd , originally called Y Mymbyr in Llywelyn the Great 's charter of 1198, starts at Llyn Cwm-y-ffynnon , high above the Pen-y-Gwryd hotel, and flows into Llynnau Mymbyr going towards Capel Curig . The valley, like

138-552: A cellar underneath what is now the dining room. A less well-known activity was that of "Farmers' Night" which was instigated very early on and still continues today. Its function was to foster good relations, not only with local farmers but with people who lived in Capel Curig. Plas y Brenin is now a vibrant outdoor centre and is managed by the Mountain Training Trust (MTT), on behalf of Sport England , and

207-488: 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

276-560: 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

345-506: 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

414-771: 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

483-496: 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

552-480: 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

621-566: 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

690-508: 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

759-480: Is actively used for kayaking and canoeing both by Plas y Brenin and many local education authorities . The lake has also been used for fly fishing and sub-aqua courses, although these are no longer active. Some believe there are no fish in the lake, but this is incorrect. The fish are small but like most brown trout are very feisty when on the hook. The Dragon Ski (The Welsh Junior & Senior Ski Team) used to train here every year, based at Plas y Brenin, using

SECTION 10

#1732790138427

828-520: 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

897-667: Is managed as a forest park by Natural Resources Wales . Plas y Brenin In the late 18th century, Richard Pennant, 1st Baron Penrhyn , built a road from Bangor through the Nant Ffrancon and Dyffryn Ogwen to Betws-y-Coed , and eventually through to Shrewsbury (in use by 1798). In 1801, Lord Penrhyn built the then named Capel Curig Inn. In 1808 the Mail coach which ran from Holyhead to Shrewsbury began running via Capel Curig . The Mail coach ceased operation in 1848 following

966-421: 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

1035-421: Is one of three remaining National Centres owned by the sports council, the others being Lilleshall and Bisham Abbey. It is widely regarded as providing gold standard instruction in all aspects of mountaineering, mountain biking and paddling, as well as in rescue. It also supports a range of organisations to develop new coaching and leadership awards, and works with a broad range of groups to get more people active in

1104-543: Is the location of the Capel Curig weather station, which on many occasions has recorded the wettest weather in Wales [1] . Dyffryn Mymbyr is also the location of 'Dyffryn', the farm in Thomas Firbank 's best-selling autobiographical novel (first published in 1940) entitled "I bought a mountain". In the book he describes life in Dyffryn Mymbyr after he bought the 2,400-acre (9.7 km) farm in 1931 when he

1173-483: 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

1242-665: 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

1311-554: The British Mountaineering Council treated the existence of Plas y Brenin with a deal of politically motivated negativity. Plas y Brenin is uniquely positioned below Llynnau Mymbyr at the foot of Dyffryn Mymbyr , the broad valley leading to the Pen-y-Gwryd hotel and the Snowdon Horseshoe . The centre's purpose is to offer the highest quality training courses, playing a key role in developing

1380-753: 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

1449-555: 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

SECTION 20

#1732790138427

1518-608: 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

1587-656: The Snowdonia Society , the farm acting as home to the society before it moved to Ty Hyll ("The Ugly House"). The location of Dyffryn Mymbyr, the farm, dates back to 1350, and the current property is now owned by the National Trust . The farmhouse and cottage are now available to rent from the National Trust as holiday cottages, the money raised from their rental helps the National Trust with conservation work. Dyffryn Mymbyr can lay claim to one of

1656-576: 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

1725-621: 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

1794-469: The "Friends of St. Julitta's Church" in Capel Curig, circumnavigates the whole village and takes about 3 hours. The photographs illustrate the scenery to be seen, when it's not raining. [2] There is Moderate (Mod) to Very Difficult (V Diff) climbing on "The Racks" near Dyffryn Farm, "The Pinnacles" ( Y Pincin to the locals) in the centre of Capel Curig. There are two outdoor shops in Capel Curig which cater for all outdoor needs. The lake Llynnau Mymbyr

1863-481: 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

1932-606: 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

2001-532: 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

2070-509: 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

2139-406: 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,

Dyffryn Mymbyr - Misplaced Pages Continue

2208-507: 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

2277-659: 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 ",

2346-478: 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

2415-456: The cooled and solid ignimbrite layer distorted the solidified pilli from spheres into elliptical shapes reflecting the structural changes undergone by the entire rock layer. There are many walks in the valley, and also walks that lead out of the valley. From Plas y Brenin an old path leads up and over Moel Siabod . This route goes past the old slate mine and then into hill farming country. The ascent of Moel Siabod affords commanding views of

2484-757: The dry ski slope, dry cross country ski slope, local footpaths as running tracks and the training pool. The Dragon Ski Club was successful both in the UK but also abroad, culminating in winning the home championships beating, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, held in Val D'Isere, France. The club had at least six boys and one girl at international standard in downhill ski racing. The woods, surrounding hills, footpaths and forestry tracks are used for camping, walking and orienteering. 53°05′48″N 3°57′00″W  /  53.096536°N 3.950134°W  / 53.096536; -3.950134 Snowdonia Snowdonia , or Eryri ( pronounced [ɛrəri] ),

2553-646: The entire valley. There is a great deal of history to this mountain. In the 1990s Esme Kirby established a low level walk along the length of the valley, starting from and returning to Capel Curig, via Gelli, which used to be the stagecoach Inn before becoming the Capel Curig Hotel, again changing its name to the Royal Inn around 1870. It is now Plas y Brenin , the National Mountain Centre in Wales. The "Heritage Walk", produced by

2622-550: 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

2691-532: The finest examples of a self-taught botanist, certainly in the UK, if not wider - Evan Roberts (Botanist) . Evan Roberts lived at Gelli in Capel Curig where he lived and would explore all of Snowdonia, and in doing so compiled an unparalleled knowledge of the plant life in North Wales. Although he spent the first 40 years of his life as a quarry worker, he went on to become the colleague of academics. He

2760-505: The hotel etched their names into the windows of the then cocktail bar (now the reception area); these were still in place into the 1970s. In 1955 the Royal Hotel was renamed "Plas y Brenin", which means "The King's Mansion" in Welsh, as a memorial to King George VI, whose trust fund had bought the building for use by The Central Council of Physical Recreation (CCPR) and it became "The Snowdonia National Recreation Centre". Plas y Brenin

2829-400: 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

Dyffryn Mymbyr - Misplaced Pages Continue

2898-593: 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

2967-467: 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

3036-466: 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

3105-461: 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

3174-505: 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,

3243-615: 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

3312-444: 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

3381-523: The opening of the Chester and Holyhead Railway . The inn wasn't built on the road (now the A5 ), but some distance from it on the present site to facilitate enjoyment of the superb view of Llynnau Mymbyr (the lakes) and the Snowdon horseshoe. Sometime between 1869 and 1871 the building's name was changed again from the Capel Curig Hotel to the Royal Hotel. Since its opening in 1801 the most famous guests over

3450-530: The outdoors as part of its national centre role. MTT is a registered charity, set up by the British Mountaineering Council and the training boards, Mountain Training UK and Mountain Training England, primarily to run the centre. The latter point should be considered as a justification of the original intent of Plas y Brenin that for the first twenty five years of the existence of the centre that

3519-645: 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

SECTION 50

#1732790138427

3588-408: 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

3657-418: 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

3726-492: The people who develop the sector. A broad range of courses are offered under the 'climb, hike, paddle, bike' banner in addition to holding a range of cpd events for a broad range of groups – from those active in university clubs to those working professionally in the outdoors. Courses are run all year round, not only at Plas y Brenin in Snowdonia but in the north west of Scotland and in the Alps. On site facilities include: There

3795-471: The river, lies both in Gwynedd and Conwy County Borough . Today there are at least two active, hill rearing, sheep farms; Garth, featured in the 1967 BBC Wales documentary "Shepherds of Moel Siabod", and Cwm Farm. The area commands excellent views of the Snowdon horseshoe , which (viewed left to right) takes in the peaks of Y Lliwedd , Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), Crib Goch and Crib y Ddysgl . The valley

3864-403: 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

3933-520: 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

4002-460: 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 ,

4071-492: 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

4140-533: 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

4209-515: 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

SECTION 60

#1732790138427

4278-421: 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

4347-586: 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

4416-419: The years have been Queen Victoria , Edward VII , George V , and Edward VIII . Other well-known people who have visited included Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond on 6 September 1807 (there is a plaque commemorating his visit), Sir Joseph Paxton (1856) (designer of The Crystal Palace ), Bishop Samuel Wilberforce (1858), Lord Byron (1913) and Sir Walter Scott (1818). Some distinguished visitors to

4485-555: Was awarded the honorary degree of M.Sc. of the University of Wales , in 1956, at the same ceremony as the architect Frank Lloyd Wright , and his portrait was painted by Kyffin Williams . The valley contains the location of an unusual pisolitic ignimbrite. Very soon after eruption roughly spherical pilli - droplets of siliceous magma - of similar density to the ignimbrite fell into the still hot and fluid deposit. Later folding of

4554-584: 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

4623-498: Was just 21. The farm included the southern slopes of the Glyders , and neither Firbank nor his wife, Esme , whom he married in 1934, had any previous experience of farming. However, they succeeded in winning the respect of their employees and neighbours, and slowly built up a healthy stock of 3000 sheep. The couple later divorced, and Esme (as Esme Kirby: see her obituary ) and her husband Peter Kirby went on to be founder members of

4692-403: 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

4761-698: Was visited by H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh (president of the CCPR) on 1 June 1956. G.I. Milton was its first Warden/Director. John A Jackson , initially Chief Instructor for two years, became its second Director from 1960 to 1976. This was to be Plas y Brenin's formative and hard-fought period and it eventually became the "gold standard" for other such centres around the world. The earliest outdoor courses such as horse riding, surveying, subaqua and flyfishing were later discontinued. Less well known sports such as archery and even javelin were taught; these sports were located in

#426573