Dyffryn Mymbyr facts for kids
Dyffryn Mymbyr is a beautiful valley located in Snowdonia, a national park in north-west Wales. It stretches for about 5 miles (8 km) and leads from the village of Capel Curig up to the famous Pen-y-Gwryd hotel.
The river that flows through the valley is called Nantygwryd. It starts high up at Llyn Cwm-y-ffynnon, a lake above the Pen-y-Gwryd hotel. From there, it flows into Llynnau Mymbyr, which are lakes near Capel Curig. The valley and the river are part of both the Gwynedd and Conwy county borough areas.
Today, you can still find active sheep farms in the valley, like Garth and Cwm Farm. These farms raise sheep on the hills, continuing a long tradition.
The valley offers amazing views of the Snowdon horseshoe. This is a group of impressive mountain peaks, including Y Lliwedd, Yr Wyddfa (which is Snowdon itself), Crib Goch, and Crib y Ddysgl.
The Capel Curig weather station is located in this valley. It has often recorded the wettest weather in Wales!
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Stories from the Valley
Dyffryn Mymbyr is also the setting for a famous book called "I Bought a Mountain." This book, first published in 1940, was written by Thomas Firbank. He describes his life after buying a 2,400-acre (9.7 km²) farm in Dyffryn Mymbyr in 1931, when he was only 21 years old.
The farm included parts of the Glyders mountains. Neither Firbank nor his wife, Esme, had any farming experience. However, they worked hard and earned the respect of their employees and neighbours. They managed to build up a healthy flock of 3,000 sheep.
Esme Kirby later became a founder of the Snowdonia Society, an organization that helps protect the beautiful Snowdonia area. The farm even served as the society's first home before it moved. The Dyffryn Mymbyr farmhouse dates back to 1350. Today, it is owned by the National Trust and can be rented as a holiday cottage. The money from rentals helps the National Trust with its important conservation work.
Dyffryn Mymbyr was also home to Evan Roberts (Botanist), an amazing self-taught botanist. He lived in Gelli, near Capel Curig, and explored all of Snowdonia. He gained incredible knowledge about the plants in North Wales. Even though he worked as a quarry worker for 40 years, he later became a colleague of university professors. In 1956, he received an honorary degree from the University of Wales.
Valley Geology
The valley has a special type of rock called pisolitic ignimbrite. This rock formed from volcanic eruptions. When it was still hot and soft, small, round droplets of magma (melted rock) fell into it. These droplets were similar in weight to the ignimbrite. Later, as the rock cooled and hardened, it was folded and squeezed. This caused the round droplets to change shape, becoming more elliptical, showing how the whole rock layer moved and changed.
Fun Activities and Sports
Dyffryn Mymbyr is a great place for outdoor activities. There are many walking paths both within the valley and leading out of it.
Walking and Hiking
- Moel Siabod Path: From Plas y Brenin, an old path goes up and over Moel Siabod. This route passes an old slate mine and goes through hill farming areas. Climbing Moel Siabod gives you amazing views of the entire valley. This mountain has a lot of history.
- Low-Level Valley Walk: In the 1990s, Esme Kirby created a walk along the valley floor. It starts and ends in Capel Curig, passing through Gelli, which used to be an old inn.
- Heritage Walk: The "Friends of St. Julitta's Church" in Capel Curig created a "Heritage Walk" that goes around the whole village. It takes about 3 hours and shows off the beautiful scenery.
Climbing
You can find climbing spots in the valley, ranging from moderate to very difficult. "The Racks" near Dyffryn Farm and "The Pinnacles" (known as Y Pincin to locals) in Capel Curig are popular climbing areas. Capel Curig also has two outdoor shops where you can get all your gear.
Water Sports
The lakes of Llynnau Mymbyr are actively used for kayaking and canoeing. Both Plas y Brenin and many schools use the lake for these activities. The lake used to be used for fly fishing and underwater diving courses, but these are no longer active. Some people think there are no fish in the lake, but that's not true! The fish are small brown trout, but they are very strong when caught.
Ski Training
The Dragon Ski team (the Welsh Junior & Senior Ski Team) used to train here every year. They were based at Plas y Brenin and used the dry ski slope, dry cross-country ski slope, local footpaths for running, and the training pool. The Dragon Ski Club was very successful, winning championships both in the UK and abroad. They even had several international-level downhill ski racers.
Other Activities
The woods, surrounding hills, footpaths, and forestry tracks are also used for camping, walking, and orienteering (a sport where you use a map and compass to find your way).
