Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SNOWDONIA NATIONAL PARK (PARC
CENEDLAETHOL ERYRI)
Wales' best-known and most heavily used slice of nature became the country's first nation-
al park in 1951. The most popular part is Snowdon itself. Around 350,000 people walk,
climb or take the train to the 1085m summit each year, and all those sturdy shoes make trail
maintenance a never-ending task for park staff. Yet the park is so much more than just
Snowdon, stretching some 35 miles east to west and over 50 miles north to south, it incor-
porates coastal areas, rivers and Wales' biggest natural lake.
Like Wales' other national parks, this one is very lived-in, with sizeable towns at Bala,
Dolgellau, Harlech and Betws-y-Coed. Two-thirds of the park is privately owned, with
over three-quarters used for raising sheep and cattle.
The Welsh name for Snowdonia, is Eryri (eh- ruh -ree) meaning highlands. Snowdon is
called Yr Wyddfa (uhr- with -vuh), meaning Great Tomb - according to legend a giant
called Rita Gawr was slain here by King Arthur and is buried at the summit.
The park is the only home to two endangered species, an alpine plant called the Snow-
don lily as well as the rainbow-coloured Snowdon beetle. The gwyniad is a species of
whitefish found only in Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake), which also has probably the UK's only
colony of glutinous snails.
The park authority publishes a free annual visitor newspaper, which includes information
on getting around, park-organised walks and other activities.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Bala (Y Bala)
POP 2000
Kayakers, canoeists, windsurfers, sailors, rafters and hikers will appreciate the quiet Welsh-
speaking town of Bala. Here you'll find Wales' largest natural lake, Llyn Tegid (Bala
Lake), as well as the River Tryweryn, hallowed in white-water kayaking circles.
Bala was a centre for the Welsh wool industry during the 18th century but today it's bet-
ter known as a gateway to Snowdonia National Park and the park's main water-sports hub.
 
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