Abersoch
Encyclopedia
Abersoch is a large village
in the community
of Llanengan
in Gwynedd
, Wales
. It is a popular coastal seaside resort
with approximately 1,000 inhabitants, on the east-facing south coast of the Llŷn Peninsula
at the southern terminus of the A499. It is about 7 miles (11 km) south-west of Pwllheli
and 27 miles (43 km) south-west of the county seat, Caernarfon
. The village takes its name from the river, Afon Soch, which reaches the sea in the village.
Originally a fishing port, Abersoch is now a tourist centre specialising in dinghy
sailing and other watersports such as windsurfing
and jet-skiing. Over the last 60 years it has become one of Britain's most important sailing centres, leading to significant immigration, mainly from England. This has jeopardised the Welsh character of the village and its use of the Welsh language. Nearby Porth Neigwl or Hell's Mouth, is also popular for surfing
; it can hold large swells in the winter which can reach 1.5m however south westerly prevailing winds can affect quality.
Each year since 2000 Abersoch has been host to Wakestock
a wakeboarding
event. The Big Air competition on the main beach is held in July.
Central Abersoch has a variety of small shops as well as bars, restaurants, cafes and hotels. Boat trips around St Tudwal's Islands to see the seals and other wildlife are available from the village. It is also popular for its close proximity to Snowdonia National Park, with Snowdon
being visible from Abersoch Bay on clear days. There is an 18 hole golf course.
Abersoch has come to represent the crisis in rural housing in Wales, as the area's popularity as a resort and retirement destination has resulted in local property prices being significantly higher than the regional average. A small strip of beach
at Abersoch, with planning permission
for the construction of a beach hut, was sold for £
63,000 in May 2005. In June 2007, a mobile home on the Warren holiday park was put on the market by the Haulfryn Group at £
500,000.
In February 2008 a wooden shed, 5.5 metres by 4.5 metres, was advertised for sale at £150,000. It was located 10 minutes walk from the beach, had no countryside or sea view, and was described as being in a dilapidated condition.
Virtually all the indigenous residents of Abersoch are Welsh language
speakers.
Abersoch has a primary school for 3 to 8 year olds. The neighbouring village of Sarn Bach has a primary school for 3 to 11 year olds. The two schools between them educate 74 pupils. The closest specialist school is Ysgol Hafod Lon in Pwllheli
.
Year 7 pupils travel to Ysgol Botwnnog
, 5 miles (8 km) inland, which is a Welsh
speaking school. Non Welsh speakers tend to attend Ysgol Glan y Mor in Pwllheli, 7 miles (11.3 km) away.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in the community
Community (Wales)
A community is a division of land in Wales that forms the lowest-tier of local government in Wales. Welsh communities are analogous to civil parishes in England....
of Llanengan
Llanengan
Llanengan is a small village and community south west of Abersoch in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It has a population of 2,024.In its centre is the parish church of St...
in Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It is a popular coastal seaside resort
Seaside resort
A seaside resort is a resort, or resort town, located on the coast. Where a beach is the primary focus for tourists, it may be called a beach resort.- Overview :...
with approximately 1,000 inhabitants, on the east-facing south coast of the Llŷn Peninsula
Llŷn Peninsula
The Llŷn Peninsula extends into the Irish Sea from north west Wales, south west of the Isle of Anglesey. It is part of the modern county and historic region of Gwynedd. The name is thought to be of Irish origin, and to have the same root Laigin in Irish as the word Leinster...
at the southern terminus of the A499. It is about 7 miles (11 km) south-west of Pwllheli
Pwllheli
Pwllheli is a community and the main market town of the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, north-western Wales. It has a population of 3,861, of which a large proportion, 81 per cent, are Welsh speaking. Pwllheli is the place where Plaid Cymru was founded. It is the birthplace of Albert Evans-Jones -...
and 27 miles (43 km) south-west of the county seat, Caernarfon
Caernarfon
Caernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
. The village takes its name from the river, Afon Soch, which reaches the sea in the village.
Originally a fishing port, Abersoch is now a tourist centre specialising in dinghy
Dinghy
A dinghy is a type of small boat, often carried or towed for use as a ship's boat by a larger vessel. It is a loanword from either Bengali or Urdu. The term can also refer to small racing yachts or recreational open sailing boats. Utility dinghies are usually rowboats or have an outboard motor,...
sailing and other watersports such as windsurfing
Windsurfing
Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...
and jet-skiing. Over the last 60 years it has become one of Britain's most important sailing centres, leading to significant immigration, mainly from England. This has jeopardised the Welsh character of the village and its use of the Welsh language. Nearby Porth Neigwl or Hell's Mouth, is also popular for surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
; it can hold large swells in the winter which can reach 1.5m however south westerly prevailing winds can affect quality.
Each year since 2000 Abersoch has been host to Wakestock
Wakestock
The Wakestock Action Sports and Music Festival is a wakeboarding contest and Canada’s largest action sports and music festival. It is held in Ontario, Canada on the Toronto Islands, Toronto, Ontario. The name Wakestock refers to the famous outdoor music festival Woodstock.-History:In 2005, the...
a wakeboarding
Wakeboarding
Wakeboarding is a surface water sport which involves riding a wakeboard over the surface of a body of water. It was developed from a combination of water skiing, snow boarding and surfing techniques....
event. The Big Air competition on the main beach is held in July.
Central Abersoch has a variety of small shops as well as bars, restaurants, cafes and hotels. Boat trips around St Tudwal's Islands to see the seals and other wildlife are available from the village. It is also popular for its close proximity to Snowdonia National Park, with Snowdon
Snowdon
Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales, at an altitude of above sea level, and the highest point in the British Isles outside Scotland. It is located in Snowdonia National Park in Gwynedd, and has been described as "probably the busiest mountain in Britain"...
being visible from Abersoch Bay on clear days. There is an 18 hole golf course.
Abersoch has come to represent the crisis in rural housing in Wales, as the area's popularity as a resort and retirement destination has resulted in local property prices being significantly higher than the regional average. A small strip of beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
at Abersoch, with planning permission
Planning permission
Planning permission or planning consent is the permission required in the United Kingdom in order to be allowed to build on land, or change the use of land or buildings. Within the UK the occupier of any land or building will need title to that land or building , but will also need "planning...
for the construction of a beach hut, was sold for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
63,000 in May 2005. In June 2007, a mobile home on the Warren holiday park was put on the market by the Haulfryn Group at £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
500,000.
In February 2008 a wooden shed, 5.5 metres by 4.5 metres, was advertised for sale at £150,000. It was located 10 minutes walk from the beach, had no countryside or sea view, and was described as being in a dilapidated condition.
Virtually all the indigenous residents of Abersoch are Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
speakers.
Abersoch has a primary school for 3 to 8 year olds. The neighbouring village of Sarn Bach has a primary school for 3 to 11 year olds. The two schools between them educate 74 pupils. The closest specialist school is Ysgol Hafod Lon in Pwllheli
Pwllheli
Pwllheli is a community and the main market town of the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, north-western Wales. It has a population of 3,861, of which a large proportion, 81 per cent, are Welsh speaking. Pwllheli is the place where Plaid Cymru was founded. It is the birthplace of Albert Evans-Jones -...
.
Year 7 pupils travel to Ysgol Botwnnog
Botwnnog
Botwnnog is a village and community in Gwynedd in Wales, located on the Llŷn Peninsula. It has a population of 955.It lies between Mynytho and Sarn Meyllteyrn, and is the home to two schools, a primary Pont Y Gof Primary School, and secondary . It also has the main branch of general practician ...
, 5 miles (8 km) inland, which is a Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
speaking school. Non Welsh speakers tend to attend Ysgol Glan y Mor in Pwllheli, 7 miles (11.3 km) away.
External links
- Llanbedrog.info - all you need to know about our village and surroundings
- Llyn.info - Your online guide to the Llŷn Peninsula - Eich arweiniad arlein am Ben Llŷn
- Abersoch website
- Abersoch guide*www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Abersoch and surrounding area
- Abersoch heads Website - Forum devoted to everything Abersoch
- Wakestock.co.uk