Nantlle Valley facts for kids

The beautiful Nantlle Valley at sunset

The Nantlle Valley (called Dyffryn Nantlle in Welsh) is a special place in Gwynedd, North Wales. It's known for its many small villages and towns. Most people here, about 85-90%, speak Welsh as their first language.

This valley has a long history. Some communities grew because of slate quarrying in the 1700s and 1800s. Other places are much older, with signs of people living here since the Iron Age. You can find old Iron Age forts at Caer Engan in Pen-y-groes and by the coast at Dinas Dinlle. The valley was also important in the Middle Ages, with a special church college at Clynnog Fawr.

The Glynllifon estate, a large historical property, has been around since the 700s! People lived on that land even in the Iron Age. The valley was once home to big slate quarries like Dorothea and Pen yr Orsedd. Even though the main quarries are closed, people still use the leftover slate for things like garden decorations. In 1991, a group called Antur Nantlle Cyf was started to help the valley and its people.

Slate Quarrying

Further information: Slate industry in the Nantlle Valley

The Nantlle Valley was a very important place for digging up slate. Slate is a type of rock that can be split into thin, flat pieces. It was used for roofs, floors, and many other things. This industry created many jobs and helped the local towns grow.

The Nantlle Railway

A horse pulling wagons on the Nantlle Railway

Imagine a railway where horses pulled the trains! The Nantlle Railway did just that. It was built in 1828 to carry slate from the quarries. It used a special narrow track, 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) wide.

The railway was designed by Robert Stephenson, a famous engineer. It mainly moved slate, but it also carried passengers between Caernarfon and Pen-y-groes sometimes. This railway was one of the last places in Britain where horses were used by the national railway system. It finally closed in 1963.

Culture and Stories

The Nantlle Valley is famous in Wales for its rich culture and old stories. It's the main setting for a part of the Mabinogion, which are ancient Welsh tales. One story, Math fab Manawydan, tells about Lleu Llaw Gyffes, Blodeuwedd, and Gwydion, with many events happening right here in the valley.

Long ago, the valley had many woodlands and was a hunting ground for the royal family of Gwynedd. After a war in 1282, one of the first knightly contests (called jousts) in Britain happened here. Rules for jousting were even created in the valley!

This area is also known for many folk tales about fairies. These stories were collected by John Owen Huws in his books, Straeon Gwerin Ardal Eryri.

The Nantlle Valley also became a hub for Welsh writers in the 1900s. Famous poets like T.H. Parry-Williams and R. Williams Parry grew up here. Other well-known authors, including John Gwilym Jones, Kate Roberts, and John Selwyn Lloyd, also came from the valley. Modern authors like Angharad Tomos and Professor Jerry Hunter live here today.

The world-famous opera singer Bryn Terfel grew up near the valley and went to local schools. Other talented people like singer and actor Bryn Fôn also grew up in the area. In the past, the valley was home to many brass and silver bands. The Nantlle Royal Silver Band is still playing today!

Mountains and Nature

The Nantlle Ridge is a popular walking route. It's a moderate walk, but it can be challenging because of the weather and its long path. However, the views are amazing! You can see the Snowdon mountains, Anglesey, the coast, and even far down to Pembrokeshire. It's often called one of the best and quietest walks in Snowdonia.

The Nantlle Ridge has several peaks:

• Y Garn: 2,077 ft (633 m)
• Mynydd Drws y Coed: 2,280 ft (695 m)
• Trum y Ddysgl: 2,326 ft (709m)
• Craig Cwm Silyn: 2,408 ft (734 m) - This is the highest point!
• Garnedd Goch: 2,300 ft (701 m)
• Mynydd Graig Goch: 2,000 ft (610 m)

On the north side of the valley is Mynydd Mawr, also called Elephant Mountain because it looks like an Indian elephant from some angles.

At the eastern end of the valley is a mountain pass called Drws-y-Coed, meaning "the door of the trees." This path was supposedly built by King Edward I's soldiers. You can still see old copper mining shafts and industrial buildings here. There's also a memorial to a chapel that was destroyed when a huge rock rolled down the mountain.

At the top of the valley is Llyn y Dywarchen, a lake with a famous floating island. In 1188, a writer named Giraldus Cambrensis wrote about it moving with the wind. Later, in 1698, the scientist Edmund Halley swam to the island to see if it really floated! Thomas Pennant also saw it in 1784 and said that cows sometimes got stuck on it when it floated away from the shore. Today, the lake is used for fishing.

Tourism and Fun Things to Do

The Nantlle Valley has many natural attractions for visitors. You can go hiking, fishing, or explore its industrial history. The Glynllifon Estate grounds are beautiful to visit, and there's an aircraft museum and airport at Dinas Dinlle. Dinas Dinlle also has a long, sandy beach that's safe for swimming.

An interesting, but unofficial, spot is the old Dorothea Quarry. This old quarry is now filled with water and attracts many divers. However, it's very dangerous because old machinery and structures are still hidden underwater. Many divers have been seriously hurt here.

Sport

Football is very popular in the Nantlle Valley. Several football clubs have been started here over the years. The most well-known is Nantlle Vale FC, which was founded a long time ago and still plays today in Pen-y-groes. Other teams include Talysarn Celts FC, a team in Llanllyfni, and Mountain Rangers in Rhosgadfan.

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