The Lleyn Peninsula

The Lleyn Peninsula is the long finger of land, that thrusts out towards Ireland, forming the northern arm of Cardigan Bay, as Pembrokeshire does the southern. At its very point lies Bardsey Island (Ynys Enlli), burial place of 20,000 saints, which has drawn pilgrims to its now ruined monastery, along the pilgrims’ road, ever since the 6th century.

With its unique blend of scenery; rocky coves; sandy beaches; mountains; open countryside and wooded valleys, it provides the ideal setting for a varied holiday. There is also the added touch of “foreignness” with its unusual place-names and the Welsh language spoken around you, which makes the holiday that little different.

Lleyn is approximately 35 miles long by 10 miles at its widest, so not only can all those places mentioned be easily reached, but also the massive Snowdonia mountain range with its many attractions. Well-served by many excellent pubs and restaurants with a good standard of fare, Lleyn can cater for the full range of tastes - and still provide value for money. Be you walker, water-skier, yachtsman, pony-trekker, golfer, fisherman, archer, or just someone who wants to lie on the beach all day, the Lleyn Peninsula provides it all, and all in relative peace and quiet!

Find out more about The Villages Of Lleyn.

Essential maps and guide books to help you plan your Lleyn Peninsula holiday.

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Snowdonia

The Snowdonia National Park, with its mountain ranges, stretching from Conwy, in the north, to Machynlleth, in the south, surely deserves its romantic Welsh name of ‘Eryri’…’Place of Eagles’. Dominated by Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) itself, at 3560 feet, it is a diverse area of craggy peaks, high moorland, mountain lakes and rushing rivers. Inferior in height to Snowdon, but unsurpassed in rugged beauty, the nearby Tryfan, with its three peaks towers over the Ffrancon valley, guarding the Ogwen Pass; and with its Milestone Buttress, provides easy-access climbing for those who have only a short time to stay.

To the South, it is Moel Hebog, the Hawk, that forms the backdrop for the famous Cwm Pennant, praised in verse for its beauty.

Travel East, to the sheltered Vale of Ffestiniog, and there Moelwyn Mawr and Moelwyn Bach hold sway. Still further East, the Arennigs - Fawr and Fach - stand firm over the vastness of the wild high moorlands that stretch from Penmachno to Bala, and silently mourn the drowned village of Tryweryn, which lies beneath the waters of Llyn Celyn. (Only a dry summer clearly reveals the remnants of its houses, roads, fields, and bridges).

Hugging the coast from Talsarnau to Barmouth are the Rhinogydd; a high wilderness of shattered rock ledges (the hardest walking in Wales!), little lakes and tarns, crossed by ancient trackways, littered with the remains of burial chambers and stone hut circles. Here, Ysgafarnnogod - the Hare - lies forever, one eye on the sea, the other on the intruding road which runs from Dolgellau to Maentwrog. Rhinog Fawr, used to the presence of man since Prehistoric times, still carries the ancient trading route over its pass along the (incorrectly named), “Roman Steps”!

Further South, approaching the beautiful Mawddach Estuary, you come across the Clogau, where men have mined for gold since Roman times. A beautiful place of rock and woodland, it has provided the gold for the wedding rings of British Royalty. Across the Estuary lies the massive bulk of Cader Idris (Arthur’s Seat), dominating both the town of Dolgellau, and Tal -y-Llyn Lake.

George Borrow, in his book ‘Travels in Wales’, published in the 19th century, said of Snowdonia “Perhaps, in all the world, there is no region more picturesquely beautiful”. Over 150 years later, inspite of man’s intervention, with his quarries and mines, this is still an apt quotation. Even with the influx of climbers, walkers, canoeists, mountain-bikers, and such like, there are still vast areas, where the only interruption of your peace and tranquillity will be the call of raven, buzzard and curlew; or the rush of water over pebble and rock.

Find out more about the The Villages of Snowdonia.

Essential maps and guide books to help you plan your snowdonia holiday.