Plas y Brenin
Encyclopedia
Plas y Brenin, is currently the The National Mountain Centre for Wales
(UK). The Centre is situated in Dyffryn Mymbyr
, the Mymbyr Valley, in Snowdonia
and is less than a quarter of a mile south-west of the centre of Capel Curig
on the A4086 road.
, 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 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 yet again from the Capel Curig Hotel to the Royal Hotel. Since its opening in 1801 http://www.cabernet.demon.co.uk/JAJ/pyb/pyb-register.jpg the famous guests over the years were Queen Victoria
, and Kings Edward VII
, George V
, and Edward VIII
.
Other well-known people who visited included Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond
on September 6 1807 (there is still a plaque commemorating his visit, which is still there to this day), 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 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.
G.I. Milton was its first Warden/Director. John A Jackson, initially Chief Instructor for two years, then became its second Director from 1960 to 1976. This was to be Plas y Brenin's formative and hard fought period and 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 throwing were taught, evidence of the latter sports were located in a cellar underneath what is currently 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 the farmers but with people who lived in Capel Curig.
, and is one of five National Sports Centres
. MTT is a registered charity, set up by the British Mountaineering Council
and the United Kingdom Mountain Training Board, specifically 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 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 mountaineering, climbing and canoeing training. Courses are also offered to the dedicated mountaineering fraternity with opportunities to gain progressive qualifications.
Courses range from governing body award courses to multi-activity holidays, from advanced techniques in alpine climbing to accredited safety and rescue courses.
On site facilities include:
There is accommodation with up to 65 beds. There are also conference and function room facilities, six lecture rooms, a dining room, bar and shop.
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...
(UK). The Centre is situated in Dyffryn Mymbyr
Dyffryn Mymbyr
Dyffryn Mymbyr is a valley in Snowdonia, North Wales, approximately in length, and leading up from Capel Curig to the Pen-y-Gwryd hotel....
, the Mymbyr Valley, 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:...
and is less than a quarter of a mile south-west of the centre of Capel Curig
Capel Curig
Capel Curig is a village and community in Conwy County Borough, in Wales. It lies in the heart of Snowdonia, on the River Llugwy, and has a population of 226...
on the A4086 road.
History
In the late 18th century, Richard Pennant, 1st Baron PenrhynRichard Pennant, 1st Baron Penrhyn
Richard Pennant, 1st Baron Penrhyn was a slave owner, anti-abolitionist Member of Parliament and Irish peer.Richard Pennant was educated at Newsome's academy in Hackney and Trinity College, Cambridge...
, built a road from Bangor
Bangor, Wales
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. It is a university city with a population of 13,725 at the 2001 census, not including around 10,000 students at Bangor University. Including nearby Menai Bridge on Anglesey, which does not however form part of...
through the Nant Ffrancon
Nant Ffrancon Pass
The Nant Ffrancon Pass in Snowdonia, North Wales, is the long steady climb of the A5 road between Bethesda, Gwynedd, and Llyn Ogwen in Conwy. The summit at is at Pont Wern-gof, about one-third of a mile beyond the eastern end of Llyn Ogwen. From here the road descends through Nant y Benglog to...
and Dyffryn Ogwen
Dyffryn Ogwen
Dyffryn Ogwen, or Ogwen Valley, is a valley mostly located in the Welsh county of Gwynedd. The upper section of the valley, east of Llyn Ogwen lies in the county of Conwy.- Geography :...
to Betws-y-Coed
Betws-y-Coed
Betws-y-Coed is a village and community in the Conwy valley in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It has a population of 534. The name Betws or Bettws is generally thought to be derived from the Anglo-Saxon Old English 'bed-hus' - i.e. a bead-house - a house of prayer, or oratory...
, and eventually through to Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
(in use by 1798). In 1801, Lord Penrhyn built the then named Capel Curig Inn. In 1808 the Mail coach
Mail coach
In Great Britain, the mail coach or post coach was a horse-drawn carriage that carried mail deliveries, from 1784. In Ireland, the first mail coach began service from Dublin in 1789. The coach was drawn by four horses and had seating for four passengers inside. Further passengers were later allowed...
which ran from Holyhead
Holyhead
Holyhead is the largest town in the county of Anglesey in the North Wales. It is also a major port adjacent to the Irish Sea serving Ireland....
to Shrewsbury began running via Capel Curig
Capel Curig
Capel Curig is a village and community in Conwy County Borough, in Wales. It lies in the heart of Snowdonia, on the River Llugwy, and has a population of 226...
. The Mail coach ceased operation in 1848 following the opening of the Chester and Holyhead Railway
Chester and Holyhead Railway
The Chester and Holyhead Railway was incorporated out of a proposal to link Holyhead, the traditional port for the Irish Mail, with London by way of the existing Chester and Crewe Railway, and what is now the West Coast Main Line...
. 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
Llynnau Mymbyr
Llynnau Mymbyr are two lakes located in Dyffryn Mymbyr, a valley running from the village of Capel Curig to the Pen-y-Gwryd hotel in Snowdonia, north-west Wales. The A4086 runs along their northern banks....
(the lakes) and the 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"...
horseshoe.
Sometime between 1869 and 1871 the building's name was changed yet again from the Capel Curig Hotel to the Royal Hotel. Since its opening in 1801 http://www.cabernet.demon.co.uk/JAJ/pyb/pyb-register.jpg the famous guests over the years were Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
, and Kings Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
, George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
, and Edward VIII
Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay...
.
Other well-known people who visited included Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond
Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond
Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond, 4th Duke of Lennox KG, PC was a British soldier and politician and Governor General of British North America.-Background:...
on September 6 1807 (there is still a plaque commemorating his visit, which is still there to this day), Sir Joseph Paxton
Joseph Paxton
Sir Joseph Paxton was an English gardener and architect, best known for designing The Crystal Palace.-Early life:...
(1856) (designer of The Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and glass building originally erected in Hyde Park, London, England, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. More than 14,000 exhibitors from around the world gathered in the Palace's of exhibition space to display examples of the latest technology developed in...
), Bishop Samuel Wilberforce
Samuel Wilberforce
Samuel Wilberforce was an English bishop in the Church of England, third son of William Wilberforce. Known as "Soapy Sam", Wilberforce was one of the greatest public speakers of his time and place...
(1858), Lord Byron
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, later George Gordon Noel, 6th Baron Byron, FRS , commonly known simply as Lord Byron, was a British poet and a leading figure in the Romantic movement...
(1913) and Sir Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
(1818). Some distinguished visitors to 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.
Latterly
In 1955 the Royal Hotel was renamed "Plas y Brenin" 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 was "The Snowdonia National Recreation Centre". Plas y Brenin was visited by H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh (president of the CCPR) on June 1, 1956.G.I. Milton was its first Warden/Director. John A Jackson, initially Chief Instructor for two years, then became its second Director from 1960 to 1976. This was to be Plas y Brenin's formative and hard fought period and 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 throwing were taught, evidence of the latter sports were located in a cellar underneath what is currently 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 the farmers but with people who lived in Capel Curig.
Current
Plas y Brenin is now a vibrant outdoor pursuits centre and is managed by the Mountain Training Trust (MTT), on behalf of Sport EnglandSport England
Sport England is the brand name for the English Sports Council and is a non-departmental public body under the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
, and is one of five National Sports Centres
National Sports Centres
There are five National Sports Centres as part of Sport England's strategy to create an elite of English grown world class sporting talent:* Bisham Abbey* Crystal Palace* Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre* Lilleshall...
. MTT is a registered charity, set up by the British Mountaineering Council
British Mountaineering Council
The British Mountaineering Council is the national representative body for England and Wales that exists to protect the freedoms and promote the interests of climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers, including ski-mountaineers...
and the United Kingdom Mountain Training Board, specifically 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 the British Mountaineering Council
British Mountaineering Council
The British Mountaineering Council is the national representative body for England and Wales that exists to protect the freedoms and promote the interests of climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers, including ski-mountaineers...
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
Dyffryn Mymbyr
Dyffryn Mymbyr is a valley in Snowdonia, North Wales, approximately in length, and leading up from Capel Curig to the Pen-y-Gwryd hotel....
, the broad valley leading to the Pen-y-Gwryd
Pen-y-Gwryd
Pen-y-Gwryd is a pass at the head of Nantygwryd and Nant Cynnyd rivers in Gwynedd, North Wales and a quarter of a mile from the boundary with Conwy in northern Snowdonia, close to the foot of Snowdon...
hotel and the Snowdon Horseshoe
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"...
. The centre's purpose is to offer the highest quality mountaineering, climbing and canoeing training. Courses are also offered to the dedicated mountaineering fraternity with opportunities to gain progressive qualifications.
Courses range from governing body award courses to multi-activity holidays, from advanced techniques in alpine climbing to accredited safety and rescue courses.
On site facilities include:
- 13m climbing wall and a training wall
- Indoor canoe training pool (6m x 3m)
- 60m artificial ski slope
- Fitness room
There is accommodation with up to 65 beds. There are also conference and function room facilities, six lecture rooms, a dining room, bar and shop.
Reading
- "The Splendid Enterprise - The First Fifty Years of Plas y Brenin The National Mountain Centre (UK)", by Lyndsey King, Published 2006, ISBN 978-0-9554675-0-9
- "The First Fifty Years of the British Mountaineering Council", Published 1997, ISBN0-903908-07-7. The opening gambit in the IntroductionIntroduction (essay)An introduction is a beginning section which states the purpose and goals of the following writing. The introduction is usually interesting and it intrigues the reader and causes him or her to want to read on. The sentence in which the introduction begins can be a question or just a statement...
reads: 'It the BMC exists to further the interests of mountaineering as a whole, and it will succeed in this only in as far as it receives the full support of each and every mountaineer...It should be needless to add that there will be no attempt to introduce anything so foolish as a qualification scheme for mountain leaders '.' G.A.Dummett, Pembroke College, Cambridge, 1946.