Llyn Geirionydd
Encyclopedia
Llyn Geirionydd lies in a valley in North Wales
where the northern edge of the Gwydyr Forest meets the lower slopes of the Carneddau
mountains. The lake is almost a mile long and covers an area of 45 acres (182,108.7 m²), but is never any deeper than 50 ft (15.2 m) according to Jehu’s survey (see references). The lake can be reached by car from Trefriw
or Llanrwst
in the Conwy valley, the lane passing through the hamlet of Llanrhychwyn
, or from the road through the Gwydir Forest
. Access is not particularly easy by either route, but this has not stopped the lake being the only one designated in Snowdonia
to permit power boats and water skiing. Many visitors also walk to the lake from the village of Trefriw (it is on one of the Trefriw Trail routes http://www.trefriwtrails.org.uk/) or from the neighbouring lake of Llyn Crafnant
, which runs parallel to it, but a mile distant, the two being separated by Mynydd Deulyn – “mountain of the two lakes”.
The lake has a car park (with toilets) and the location is very popular in the summer. This car park site was once a waste tip site for the Pandora mine above, and indeed the planting of conifers in the area of the lake has considerably softened the effects of mining. There are few, if any, fish in the lake, and this, it is believed, is the result of the poisoning of the waters from the adjacent metal mines.
Afon Geirionydd, the outflow of Llyn Geirionydd, flows down a steep gorge which is popular for gorge walking. At the bottom of this gorge are the remains of Klondyke Mill, which was powered by water from the river. This mill, apart from processing its own metals (which did not amount to much) also received lead and zinc ore from the Pandora mine, and the route of the tramway from that mine ran partly along the route of the lakeside road (which did not exist at the time), and can be clearly seen running between the road and the lake along the northern half of the lake where the road rises somewhat. This tramway continues to a point above Klondyke mill, from where wagons entered the mine via an aerial ropeway. This last part of the tramway is a right of way which runs above the valley, eventually reaching Trefriw. Below Klondyke Mill Afon Geirionydd joins Afon Crafnant, the outflow from neighbouring Llyn Crafnant, which itself is a tributary of the River Conwy.
The current road follows what some believe to be part of Sarn Helen
, the Roman road
which ran southwards from the fort at Caerhun (between Trefriw and Conwy
) to the fort at Tomen-y-mur (near Trawsfynydd), and beyond, ultimately reaching Moridunum at Carmarthen
.
The nearest settlement to Llyn Geirionydd is the hamlet of Llanrhychwyn, which has connections with Llywelyn Fawr, a Welsh Prince, who had a hunting lodge in Trefriw, but who used Llanrhychwyn church, regarded by many to be the oldest church in Wales.
Llyn Geirionydd has a number of literary connections -
(Note that some sources retain the older spelling of Geirionydd, i.e. with two n's)
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
where the northern edge of the Gwydyr Forest meets the lower slopes of the Carneddau
Carneddau
The Carneddau , are a group of mountains in Snowdonia, Wales. It includes the largest contiguous areas of high ground in Wales and England, as well as six or seven of the highest peaks in the country—the Fourteen Peaks...
mountains. The lake is almost a mile long and covers an area of 45 acres (182,108.7 m²), but is never any deeper than 50 ft (15.2 m) according to Jehu’s survey (see references). The lake can be reached by car from Trefriw
Trefriw
Trefriw is a village in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It lies on the river Conwy in North Wales, a few miles south of the site of the Roman fort of Canovium, sited at Caerhun. The parish population in 2001 was 924....
or Llanrwst
Llanrwst
Llanrwst is a small town and community on the A470 road and the River Conwy in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It takes its name from the 5th century to 6th century Saint Grwst, and the original parish church in Cae Llan was replaced by the 12th-century church....
in the Conwy valley, the lane passing through the hamlet of Llanrhychwyn
Llanrhychwyn
LlanrhychwynConwyLlanrhychwyn is a hamlet in Conwy county borough, Wales. It lies in the Conwy valley in North Wales, less than a mile south of Trefriw, and a mile north-west of Llanrwst...
, or from the road through the Gwydir Forest
Gwydir Forest
Gwydir Forest, also spelled Gwydyr, is located in Conwy county borough and the Snowdonia National Park in North Wales. It takes its name from the ancient Gwydir Estate, established by the John Wynn family of Gwydir Castle, which owned this area....
. Access is not particularly easy by either route, but this has not stopped the lake being the only one designated in Snowdonia
Snowdonia
Snowdonia is a region in north Wales and a national park of in area. It was the first to be designated of the three National Parks in Wales, in 1951.-Name and extent:...
to permit power boats and water skiing. Many visitors also walk to the lake from the village of Trefriw (it is on one of the Trefriw Trail routes http://www.trefriwtrails.org.uk/) or from the neighbouring lake of Llyn Crafnant
Llyn Crafnant
Llyn Crafnant is a lake that lies in a beautiful valley in North Wales where the northern edge of the Gwydir Forest meets the lower slopes of the Carneddau mountains and, more specifically, the ridge of Cefn Cyfarwydd. The head of the valley offers a profile of crags which are silhouetted at...
, which runs parallel to it, but a mile distant, the two being separated by Mynydd Deulyn – “mountain of the two lakes”.
The lake has a car park (with toilets) and the location is very popular in the summer. This car park site was once a waste tip site for the Pandora mine above, and indeed the planting of conifers in the area of the lake has considerably softened the effects of mining. There are few, if any, fish in the lake, and this, it is believed, is the result of the poisoning of the waters from the adjacent metal mines.
Afon Geirionydd, the outflow of Llyn Geirionydd, flows down a steep gorge which is popular for gorge walking. At the bottom of this gorge are the remains of Klondyke Mill, which was powered by water from the river. This mill, apart from processing its own metals (which did not amount to much) also received lead and zinc ore from the Pandora mine, and the route of the tramway from that mine ran partly along the route of the lakeside road (which did not exist at the time), and can be clearly seen running between the road and the lake along the northern half of the lake where the road rises somewhat. This tramway continues to a point above Klondyke mill, from where wagons entered the mine via an aerial ropeway. This last part of the tramway is a right of way which runs above the valley, eventually reaching Trefriw. Below Klondyke Mill Afon Geirionydd joins Afon Crafnant, the outflow from neighbouring Llyn Crafnant, which itself is a tributary of the River Conwy.
The current road follows what some believe to be part of Sarn Helen
Sarn Helen
right|thumb|250px|A section of Sarn Helen near Betws-y-coed.Sarn Helen was a Roman road in Wales, running from Aberconwy in the north to Carmarthen in the south.It was some 160 miles in length...
, the Roman road
Roman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
which ran southwards from the fort at Caerhun (between Trefriw and Conwy
Conwy
Conwy is a walled market town and community in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales. The town, which faces Deganwy across the River Conwy, formerly lay in Gwynedd and prior to that in Caernarfonshire. Conwy has a population of 14,208...
) to the fort at Tomen-y-mur (near Trawsfynydd), and beyond, ultimately reaching Moridunum at Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
.
The nearest settlement to Llyn Geirionydd is the hamlet of Llanrhychwyn, which has connections with Llywelyn Fawr, a Welsh Prince, who had a hunting lodge in Trefriw, but who used Llanrhychwyn church, regarded by many to be the oldest church in Wales.
Llyn Geirionydd has a number of literary connections -
- Ieuan Glan Geirionydd (1795 – 1855) was born on the banks of Afon Geirionydd, and he was renowned for his poetry and hymns.
- TaliesinTaliesinTaliesin was an early British poet of the post-Roman period whose work has possibly survived in a Middle Welsh manuscript, the Book of Taliesin...
(c. 534–c.599), was a 6th century Welsh bard, and the earliest poet of the Welsh language whose work has survived. He was an inhabitant of the area, namely living on the shores of Llyn Geirionydd, and this is also where many say he is buried. The Red Book of Hergest XVIIRed Book of HergestThe Red Book of Hergest is a large vellum manuscript written shortly after 1382, which ranks as one of the most important medieval manuscripts written in the Welsh language. It preserves a collection of Welsh prose and poetry, notably the tales of the Mabinogion, Gogynfeirdd poetry...
contains the line - "I being Taliesin, from the borders of the lake of Geirionnydd." Some sources claim that he was also born in this area, but it is more likely that he was born in Powys, as demonstrated by the contemporary poems to Cynan Garwyn, King of Powys.
- John Roberts (1828-1904) was a native of neighbouring Trefriw, and he used that name in his job as a printer and bookseller. In Eisteddfods he would assume the bardic name of Gwilym Cowlyd. He was critical of the Anglicization of the Eisteddfods and in 1865 he founded a separate festival to rival the big National Eisteddfod, and called it Arwest Glan Geirionydd (‘Music Festival on the Banks of the River Geirionydd’), and the meeting point was Bryn y Caniadau (hill of verse). The Taliesin Memorial by Llyn Geirionydd commemorates these Eisteddfods, although the memorial is not actually on Bryn y Caniadau itself (which is a little further back from the lake).
- David Francis (1865-1929) made his name as “The Blind Harpist of Meirion” at these alternative Eisteddfods.
(Note that some sources retain the older spelling of Geirionydd, i.e. with two n's)