Craig y Forwyn (Conwy) facts for kids
Craig y Forwyn means "Maiden's Crag" in English. It is a large, rocky cliff in Conwy County Borough, Wales. You can find it less than a mile south of Llanddulas, near the village of Rhyd y Foel.
This impressive cliff is made of a type of rock called Carboniferous Limestone. It's a special place for two main reasons. Geologists, who study rocks, love it because they find many fossils here. Rock climbers also enjoy it because it has lots of exciting routes to climb.
Rock Climbing Adventures
Craig y Forwyn is a popular spot for rock climbers. The cliff stands about 110 meters (360 feet) tall. Climbers have discovered and rated over 160 different paths to climb up the cliff.
One great thing about this cliff is how quickly its rock dries. This means climbers can often use it soon after it rains. It's a perfect place for an outdoor adventure!
Where is Craig y Forwyn?
This amazing cliff is located on the west side of the Afon Dulas river. This river flows into the sea at Llanddulas. Craig y Forwyn is a little bit inland from a long band of carboniferous limestone. This rock band stretches along the coast from Great Ormes Head to Point of Ayr.
The Dulas river cuts through a gap in this limestone area. The top of Craig y Forwyn is about 190 meters (623 feet) above sea level.
Discovering Geology and Fossils
The main rock of Craig y Forwyn is carboniferous limestone. Below this limestone, there is a thin layer of impure coal. There's also a narrow layer of dark, oily shale. This shale is very interesting because it holds impressions of ancient plants. You can find fossils of plants like Lepidodendron and Poacites here.
Even lower down the cliff, there's another rock layer. This layer contains small, greenish sandstone pebbles. It also has fossils of bivalve molluscs, which are like clams or oysters. You can also find more parts of Encrinites, which are fossils of ancient sea creatures.
Close by is the Llanddulas quarry. This quarry produces a very smooth, porcelain-like limestone. This special stone has been used to build beautiful buildings. One example is St Margaret's Church in Bodelwyddan, often called the "marble church."
