Gwynedd

Introduction

Gwynedd, located in northwest Wales, was established in 1974, when the counties of Anglesey, Caernarfonshire and parts of Denbighshire and Merionethshire. The five districts of Gwynedd included Aberconwy, Arfon, Dwyfor, Meirionnydd and Anglesey. In 1996 Anglesey was declared an independent unitary authority and Aberconwy was included in the newly formed Conwy County borough. Today, Gwynedd is administrated by Gwynedd Council and is composed of areas of Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire. It is one of the biggest counties in terms of area and Welsh is the language of preference.

Gwynedd has an incredible landscape and the famous Llyn Peninsula has added even more beauty to it. The geographical area of the county is 2,548sq km and the land is mostly covered by mountains of ancient hard rock, carved by Ice Age glaciers. Visiting this are of Wales is made especially easy, as there are many affordable hotels.

Towns and Major Attractions in Gwynedd

Bangor, which is located between Snowdonia and the island of Anglesey, is famous for its university, which occupies a major part of the city. Bangor University was established on 18 th October 1884 as the University College of North Wales. Starting with a small building, called the Penrhyn Arms Hotel, it moved to a new home, which now forms part of the Main Arts Building. Until 1893, students graduating from this university used to receive degrees from the University of London. It was part of the federal University of Wales until 2007 and was known as the University College of North Wales. Today the university is an antonymous institution that provides over 2,000 places.

The Llyn Peninsula is located southwest of the island of Anglesey is one of the most historic regions of Gwynedd. This peninsula is both a historic site and a popular destination for tourists to North Wales, with the impressive coastline, beautiful beaches, scenic views and volcanic hills being the prime attractions. The Llyn Coastal path, which is about 146km long allows walkers to explore the outstanding beauty of the peninsula. The path passes through many hidden bays, along cliff tops, through small harbours and towns such as Caernarfon and Porthmadog. Caernarfon has royal connections going back for centuries and is famous for its stone castle, built by Edward 1 of England. Caernarfon railway station and the airport, which is only 7.2km to the southwest, ensure tourists have easy access. This historic town has a beautiful small harbour and you can find many fine resorts just along the coast.

Porthmadog is a flourishing port located in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd. The choice of accommodation is excellent and you can find many luxurious holiday cottages around its beautiful harbour. Eifionydd is a beautiful part of mid Wales and covers the section of the Llyn Peninsula between Porthmadog to the just east of Pwllheli. Pwllheli is the main market town and the birthplace of the famous Welsh poet, Albert Evan-Jones. You can find many retail shops, supermarkets, restaurants, sailing clubs, golf clubs and two Blue Flag Beaches in and around Pwllheli. Other small towns on the peninsula are Aberdaron, Abersoch, Rhiw, Trefor, Porthdinllaen, Morfa Nefyn, Penyberth, and so on.

The Snowdonia National Park, which was established in 1951, is world famous for its mountains, which are composed of volcanic rock. You should be sure to visit Mount Snowdon itself, which at 3,560ft, is the highest peak in England and Wales. The national park is located in the west of Gwynedd and covers an area of 2171sq km and is the ideal destination for tourists who love rock climbing, hill walking, fishing and sightseeing. You can find many natural lakes in this area, with Bala Lake being the largest in Wales. The park has more than 60km of coastline that runs from the Llyn Peninsula down to mid Wales and is something very special for tourists. The huge forests, mountain ranges, beaches and the Snowdonia National Park are the major attractions in this part of Gwynedd.

Final Word