Grey Mare's Tail, Conwy facts for kids
The Grey Mare's Tail (in Welsh: Rhaeadr y Parc Mawr) is a beautiful waterfall. You can find it right on the edge of the amazing Snowdonia National Park in north Wales. It's close to Gwydir Castle in the county of Conwy.
This waterfall is just off the B5106 road, between the town of Llanrwst and the village of Trefriw. The Welsh name, Rhaeadr y Parc Mawr, means "waterfall of the big park". This is because the water comes from a large stream that starts in the Gwydir Forest. This stream flows through the old Parc Mine area. Lady Willoughby of Gwydir Castle gave it the name 'Grey Mare's Tail'. She thought it looked like a long, flowing tail.
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What Kind of Waterfall Is It?
There are many different types of waterfalls. The Grey Mare's Tail is known as a "horsetail" waterfall. This means the water stays in contact with the rock as it flows down.
Even though it's called the 'Grey Mare's Tail', this waterfall actually has two parts. The water splits and flows around a big rock at the top. But it might not have always been like this! In 1895, a picture was published showing only one waterfall in the same area.
Below the falls, there's a shallow pool where the water collects. After leaving the woods, the water flows under the road. Eventually, it joins the River Conwy.
The History of Lead Mill Wood
The forest area around the waterfall is called Coed Felin Blwm. This means "Lead Mill Wood" in Welsh. You can still see the remains of old mill buildings near the falls.
The Felin Blwm lead mill was built by the Gwydir Estate. Its purpose was to crush ore from the Parc Mine in the Gwydir Forest. This mill might be the one mentioned in old records from the 1700s.
Later, when lead mining became less popular, the mill was changed into a sawmill. Both lead and wood from this site were sent down the River Conwy from Trefriw.
The water in the falls isn't super pure. This is because of the different minerals, like lead, in the rocks of the Gwydir Forest.
Gwydir Castle's Water Supply
Around the 1590s, Sir John Wynn was creating the beautiful gardens at Gwydir Castle. He took some water from above the falls. He built a special channel, called a leat, to carry the water along the hillside.
This water was collected in a tank. From there, it had enough pressure to power the fountain in the castle gardens. It's amazing to think that this fountain still works today!
The current owner of Gwydir Castle described the waterfall in her book Castles in the Air:
No need to improve on the imagery of the Grey Mare's Tail. Suffice it to say, the cascade of water fell from a high point to a low point in a secluded little dell not far from the castle, like a grey mare's tail. The spray from it was bracing even in summer. It had the feel of water that lived most of its life under ground.
Visiting the Waterfall
The area around the falls is now a special nature reserve. It's owned by Natural Resources Wales, just like much of the nearby Gwydir Forest.
There's a small car park with a sign at the gate. However, the waterfall itself isn't signed at all. This means many people who drive by don't even know it's there! You can also reach the falls from above, by following the lane that goes up to the small village of Llanrhychwyn.
