Cwm Gwaun facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cwm Gwaun |
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 Location of Cwm Gwaun within Pembrokeshire |
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| Population | 313 (2011) |
| Principal area | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Fishguard |
| Postcode district | SA65 9 |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament |
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| Welsh Assembly |
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Cwm Gwaun (which means Gwaun Valley in English) is a beautiful valley and a small community in northern Pembrokeshire, Wales. It's a quiet place, known for its untouched natural beauty. The main village in the area is Pontfaen, which is about 4 miles southeast of Fishguard. In 2011, only 313 people lived here. The valley is famous for its old-fashioned pub and many historic buildings.
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Exploring Cwm Gwaun's Nature
Cwm Gwaun covers a large area of about 15 square miles. Experts say it's one of the most important "meltwater channels" in the British Isles. This means it was carved out by huge amounts of water flowing from melting glaciers during the last ice age.
The River Gwaun starts in the nearby Preseli Mountains. Its smaller streams have created deep, narrow valleys filled with trees. You can find many kinds of trees here, like oak, beech, alder, and willow. The valley is also a special wetland area.
It's a great place for a nature walk! There's a 5-mile trail within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. People describe Cwm Gwaun as a hidden gem, with its tiny lanes surrounded by wild, open mountains.
Unique New Year Celebrations
One of the most interesting things about Cwm Gwaun is how locals celebrate New Year. They still follow the old Julian calendar, which was used before 1752. This means they celebrate New Year, called Hen Galan (Old New Year) in Welsh, on January 13th!
On this special day, children go from house to house, singing traditional Welsh songs. In return, the homeowners give them calennig, which are gifts of sweets and money. It's such an important tradition that many children from the local primary school are absent on January 13th to take part!
The celebrations actually start the night before, with fun gatherings at the Dyffryn Arms pub. On the day itself, there might be a Mari Llwyd (a traditional horse skull procession). People also make "perllan" apple charms. In the past, children were given food to help them through the winter. If residents didn't welcome the visitors, they were thought to get "a house full of smoke," meaning a year of bad luck!
Landmarks and Local Life
Cwm Gwaun has 21 listed buildings, which are buildings protected for their historic importance. These include the local church and the famous Dyffryn Arms pub. Even two bridges, at Llanychaer and Picton Mill, are listed.
The community has its own primary school, called Ysgol Llanychllwydog.
You can also find a small brewery at Kilkiffeth Farm in the Gwaun Valley. There's even a small hydroelectric power plant in Pontfaen. It uses water to create electricity, enough to power about 70 homes!
The most famous spot is probably the Dyffryn Arms pub. Locals call it Bessie's because it's been run by Bessie Davies's family since 1845! The pub was originally named Llwyn Celyn (Holly Bush). It's been featured on TV shows and has been in the Good Beer Guide for 40 years in a row. In 2019, it had a fire but thankfully reopened a few months later.
Places of Worship
There are two places of worship in the valley. One is the historic St Brynach Church, a medieval church that is open daily for visitors. The other is Jabes Baptist Chapel. This chapel is special because it's one of the few left in Wales that has an outdoor baptistry, which is filled with water from the local river. The chapel was built in 1803 and later restored in 1903.
