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Snowdon Massif

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69-567: The Snowdon Massif , Snowdon Range or Yr Wyddfa massif is one of the three mountain groups in Snowdonia ( Eryri ), north Wales , to include mountains over 3,000 feet (914  m ) high. It occupies the area between Beddgelert , Pen-y-Pass and Llanberis . It is surrounded by the Glyderau to the north-east, Moel Siabod to the east, the Moelwynion to the south, Moel Hebog ,

138-461: 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

207-475: 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

276-408: 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

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

414-477: 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

483-544: 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

552-489: Is also very important for the local economy, including Bangor University and Further Education colleges, Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor and Coleg Menai , both now part of Grŵp Llandrillo Menai . Gwynedd has the highest proportion of people in Wales who can speak Welsh . According to the 2021 census , 64.4% of the population aged three and over stated that they could speak Welsh, while 64.4% noted that they could speak Welsh in

621-489: Is based on tourism: many visitors are attracted by the many beaches and the mountains. A significant part of the county lies within the Snowdonia National Park , which extends from the north coast down to the district of Meirionnydd in the south. But tourism provides seasonal employment and thus there is a shortage of jobs in the winter. Agriculture is less important than in the past, especially in terms of

690-508: 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

759-583: Is managed as a forest park by Natural Resources Wales . Gwynedd Gwynedd ( Welsh: [ˈɡwɨnɛð] ) is a county in the north-west of Wales . It borders Anglesey across the Menai Strait to the north, Conwy , Denbighshire , and Powys to the east, Ceredigion over the Dyfi estuary to the south, and the Irish Sea to the west. The city of Bangor is the largest settlement, and

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828-560: Is protected by the Llŷn AONB . Gwynedd also contains several of Wales's largest lakes and reservoirs, including the largest, Bala Lake ( Llyn Tegid ). The area which is now the county has played a prominent part in the history of Wales. It formed part of the core of the Kingdom of Gwynedd and the native Principality of Wales , which under the House of Aberffraw remained independent from

897-516: 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

966-617: 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

1035-520: 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

1104-458: 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

1173-470: The 2011 census . It is estimated that 83% of the county's Welsh-speakers are fluent, the highest percentage of all counties in Wales. The age group with the highest proportion of Welsh speakers in Gwynedd were those between ages 5 and 15, of whom 92.3% stated that they could speak Welsh in 2011. The proportion of Welsh speakers in Gwynedd declined between 1991 and 2001, from 72.1% to 68.7%, even though

1242-614: The Kingdom of England until Edward I 's conquest between 1277 and 1283. Edward built the castles at Caernarfon and Harlech , which form part of the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd World Heritage Site . During the Industrial Revolution the slate industry rapidly developed; in the late nineteenth century the neighbouring Penrhyn and Dinorwic quarries were the largest in

1311-576: The Local Government Act 1972 . It covered the entirety of the historic counties of Anglesey and Caernarfonshire , and all of Merionethshire apart from Edeirnion Rural District (which went to Clwyd ); and also a few parishes of Denbighshire : Llanrwst , Llansanffraid Glan Conwy , Eglwysbach , Llanddoged, Llanrwst and Tir Ifan. The county was divided into five districts : Aberconwy , Arfon , Dwyfor , Meirionnydd and Anglesey . The Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 abolished

1380-556: The Nantlle Ridge and Mynydd Mawr to the west, and by flatter land leading down to Caernarfon and the Menai Strait to the north-west. The Snowdon Horseshoe is the name given to the semi-circular ring of ridges and peaks on Snowdon 's ( Yr Wyddfa ) eastern side, i.e. facing down Dyffryn Mymbyr towards Capel Curig . The peaks in the Horseshoe are those of Y Lliwedd , Snowdon , Garnedd Ugain and Crib Goch . All

1449-642: 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

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1518-495: 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

1587-481: 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

1656-512: The 1974 county (and the five districts) on 1 April 1996, and its area was divided: the Isle of Anglesey became an independent unitary authority, and Aberconwy (which included the former Denbighshire parishes) passed to the new Conwy County Borough . The remainder of the county was constituted as a principal area, with the name Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire , as it covers most of the areas of those two historic counties. As one of its first actions,

1725-481: 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

1794-792: 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

1863-523: The Council renamed itself Gwynedd on 2 April 1996. The present Gwynedd local government area is governed by Gwynedd Council . As a unitary authority , the modern entity no longer has any districts, but Arfon, Dwyfor and Meirionnydd remain as area committees . The pre-1996 boundaries were retained as a preserved county for a few purposes such as the Lieutenancy . In 2003, the boundary with Clwyd

1932-512: 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

2001-514: 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

2070-610: The Snowdonia National Park Authority; Conwy County Borough Council appoints three; and the Welsh Government appoints the remaining six. There has been considerable inwards migration to Gwynedd, particularly from England. According to the 2021 census, 66.6% of residents had been born in Wales whilst 27.1% were born in England. The county has a mixed economy. An important part of the economy

2139-460: 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

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2208-430: The administrative centre is Caernarfon . The preserved county of Gwynedd, which is used for ceremonial purposes, includes the Isle of Anglesey . Gwynedd is the second largest county in Wales but sparsely populated, with an area of 979 square miles (2,540 km ) and a population of 117,400. After Bangor (18,322), the largest settlements are Caernarfon (9,852), Bethesda (4,735), and Pwllheli (4,076). The county has

2277-707: 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

2346-481: 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

2415-522: 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

2484-548: 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

2553-405: 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

2622-482: 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

2691-455: The highest percentage of Welsh speakers in Wales, at 64.4%, and is considered a heartland of the language . The geography of Gwynedd is mountainous, with a long coastline to the west. The county contains much of Snowdonia ( Eryri ), a national park which contains Wales's highest mountain, Snowdon ( Yr Wyddfa ; 3,560 feet, 1,090 m). To the west, the Llŷn Peninsula is flatter and renowned for its scenic coastline, part of which

2760-624: 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

2829-573: 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

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2898-614: 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

2967-404: 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

3036-515: 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

3105-502: 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

3174-979: The name and the Irish Féni , an early ethnonym for the Irish themselves, related to fían , 'company of hunting and fighting men, company of warriors under a leader'. Perhaps *u̯en-, u̯enə ('strive, hope, wish') is the Indo-European stem. The Irish settled in NW Wales, and in Dyfed , at the end of the Roman era. Venedotia was the Latin form, and in Penmachno there is a memorial stone from c.  AD 500 which reads: Cantiori Hic Iacit Venedotis ('Here lies Cantiorix, citizen of Gwynedd'). The name

3243-507: 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

3312-419: 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

3381-506: 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

3450-631: 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

3519-584: 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

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3588-510: 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

3657-425: The number of people who earn their living on the land, but it remains an important element of the economy. The most important of the traditional industries is the slate industry, but these days only a small percentage of workers earn their living in the slate quarries. Industries which have developed more recently include TV and sound studios: the record company Sain has its HQ in the county. The education sector

3726-408: 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

3795-418: 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

3864-478: The peaks listed here are Hewitts ; those marked with an asterisk are also Marilyns . 53°05′05″N 4°05′14″W  /  53.0846°N 4.0872°W  / 53.0846; -4.0872 Snowdonia 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

3933-498: 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

4002-440: 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

4071-511: 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

4140-483: 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

4209-510: 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

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4278-467: 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

4347-529: The world, and the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales is now a World Heritage Site. Gwynedd covers the majority of the historic counties of Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire . In the past, historians such as J. E. Lloyd assumed that the Celtic source of the word Gwynedd meant 'collection of tribes' – the same root as the Irish fine , meaning 'tribe'. Further, a connection is recognised between

4416-507: Was adjusted to match the modern local government boundary, so that the preserved county now covers the two local government areas of Gwynedd and Anglesey. Conwy county borough is now entirely within Clwyd. A Gwynedd Constabulary was formed in 1950 by the merger of the Anglesey, Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire forces. A further amalgamation took place in the 1960s when Gwynedd Constabulary

4485-461: 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

4554-407: Was formed in 1951. After the 1974 local authority reorganisation, the park fell entirely within the boundaries of Gwynedd, and was run as a department of Gwynedd County Council. After the 1996 local government reorganisation, part of the park fell under Conwy County Borough , and the park's administration separated from the Gwynedd council. Gwynedd Council still appoints nine of the eighteen members of

4623-630: Was merged with the Flintshire and Denbighshire county forces, retaining the name Gwynedd. In one proposal for local government reform in Wales, Gwynedd had been proposed as a name for a local authority covering all of north Wales, but the scheme as enacted divided this area between Gwynedd and Clwyd. To prevent confusion, the Gwynedd Constabulary was therefore renamed the North Wales Police . The Snowdonia National Park

4692-528: Was retained by the Brythons when the kingdom of Gwynedd was formed in the 5th century, and it remained until the invasion of Edward I. This historical name was revived when the new county was formed in 1974. Gwynedd was an independent kingdom from the end of the Roman period until the 13th century, when it was conquered by England . The modern Gwynedd was one of eight Welsh counties created on 1 April 1974 under

4761-414: 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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