Foryd Bay facts for kids
Y Foryd, also known as Foryd Bay, is a beautiful tidal bay in Gwynedd, Wales. It's located at the southwestern end of the Menai Strait, about two miles southwest of Caernarfon. Many rivers flow into the bay, creating large areas of mudflats and salt marsh. A shingle spit (a narrow piece of land) partly blocks the bay's entrance. At the northwestern end, you can find Fort Belan, a fort built way back in the 1700s.
Discovering Roman History
In 2018, during a dry spell, aerial photos showed some interesting rectangular shapes at Glan y Mor, near the shoreline. These shapes might be very old Roman structures! This kind of layout is quite unusual for Roman sites found in Wales.
These structures don't look like Roman army camps or typical Welsh settlements with roundhouses. Instead, they are similar to buildings found across the Menai Strait at Tai Cochion. To the south, there's a rectangular shape that might be a building, about 25 by 13 meters in size. To the north, there are two almost identical structures, all connected by a ditch or boundary. Nearby, an old field system with rectangular fields and a hollow way (a path worn down by use) can also be seen. It's like finding clues to a hidden ancient world!
A Home for Wildlife
Foryd Bay is a very special place for nature. It has been named a Site of Special Scientific Interest and, in 1994, it became a Local Nature Reserve. This means it's protected because it's so important for wildlife.
Many different birds visit the bay, especially in winter and during their long migrations. You can see lots of wildfowl (like ducks and geese) and waders (birds that feed in shallow water). For example, over 3,000 wigeon have been counted here at one time! Other cool birds you might spot include brent geese, jack snipe, spotted redshank, and greenshank. Terns, which are graceful seabirds, often rest at the mouth of the bay. It's a fantastic spot for birdwatching!
