Craig yr Aderyn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Craig yr Aderyn |
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 Craig yr Aderyn |
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 Craig yr Aderyn
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| OS grid reference | SH647066 |
| Principal area | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
Craig yr Aderyn is a cool hill in north-west Wales. Its name means "Bird's Rock" in Welsh, and you'll soon see why! This hill stands about 258 meters (846 feet) tall. It's located near Llanfihangel-y-Pennant in Gwynedd, right by the River Dysynni.
Craig yr Aderyn is a very important place for nature. It's known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This is because many special birds, like choughs, come here to nest and raise their young.
An Ancient Hillfort
Long, long ago, during the Iron Age, people built a hillfort on Craig yr Aderyn. This was like an old castle or fort built on a high spot for protection.
Archaeologists have studied this site three times. They dug there in 1874, 1921, and 1967. During the first dig in 1874, they even found items from the Roman period!
The hillfort was built in two main parts. First, there was a smaller fort at the top. Later, a larger stone-walled area was added.
A Special Home for Birds
Craig yr Aderyn is a unique hill in Gwynedd. It sticks out into the Dysynni Valley. The top of the hill is rocky, and the lower parts are covered in grass, heather, and ferns. Locals call the two main rock faces 'Y Palis Mawr' and 'Y Palis Bach', which means 'the large stockade' and 'the small stockade'.
This special place is owned by the Snowdonia National Park Authority. It's a big deal for birds because so many of them roost and nest on its peak. It's only about 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the Cardigan Bay coast.
What Birds Live Here?
Craig yr Aderyn is famous for its bird population. It's the biggest inland breeding spot in Wales for cormorants. These birds usually live by the sea, so it's quite unusual to see so many here!
Other birds that make their homes on Craig yr Aderyn include:
- The Chough (a type of crow with red legs and a red beak)
- The barn owl
- The little owl
- The peregrine falcon (one of the fastest birds in the world!)
- The redstart
- The wheatear
- The common linnet
Near Craig yr Aderyn, you can also find the old ruins of Castell y Bere. This castle was built by the Welsh princes in the 13th century.
Cultural Connections
Craig yr Aderyn has even appeared in books! The writer Susan Cooper featured a place called "Bird Rock" in her fantasy book The Grey King. This book is part of her famous The Dark Is Rising series.
Even the famous scientist Charles Darwin visited this spot. When he was a student at Cambridge, he came here. A friend of his, John Maurice Herbert, remembered that Darwin used to shoot seabirds here.
