Sychnant Pass facts for kids
Sychnant Pass is a beautiful mountain pass in Conwy County Borough, Wales. Its name comes from the Welsh words Bwlch Sychnant, which means "Dry-stream Pass." This pass connects the town of Conwy to Penmaenmawr by going through the village of Dwygyfylchi.
A big part of Sychnant Pass is located inside Snowdonia National Park. This means it's a special area protected for its amazing nature and wildlife. A large section of land here is also known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This protects important plants, animals, and geological features.
At the bottom of the pass, you'll find the small village of Capelulo. This village is part of the larger community of Penmaenmawr.
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Exploring Sychnant Pass
Sychnant Pass has been an important route for a very long time. Before trains were common along the North Wales coast, the road through Sychnant Pass was often used by mail coaches. These coaches carried mail and people. They used this route when the faster path along the sandy coast was covered by high tides.
The Journey Through the Pass
When you leave Conwy, the road goes west through a valley. This valley is on the south side of a mountain called Mynydd y Dref, also known as Conwy Mountain. At the top of Conwy Mountain, you can see the remains of an ancient hillfort called Castell Caer Seion. A hillfort is an old fort built on a hill for protection.
There are also many paths and trails on Mynydd y Dref. These include parts of the North Wales Path, which is a long-distance walking route.
Nearby Peaks to Climb
From Sychnant Pass, you can also climb two other hills. One is Allt-Wen, which is about 837 feet (255 meters) high. The other is Penmaenbach, which is about 804 feet (245 meters) high. These hills offer great views of the surrounding area.
Capelulo Village and the Fairy Glen
At the western end of the valley, the Sychnant Pass Road goes between old stone walls of the Pensychnant estate. It then passes through a narrow gap in the hills before going steeply down to the valley floor. This is where you reach Capelulo.
Capelulo is thought to be the site of a very old medieval chapel dedicated to Saint Ulo. Today, the village has a few places to eat and stay, like inns, a restaurant, and a bistro.
Behind the inns, there's a beautiful place called Nant Ddaear-y-llwynog. This means "the Fairy Glen." It's a lovely nature trail that was popular in Victorian times. From Capelulo, it's easy to walk or drive a short distance to the coast at Penmaenmawr.
Images for kids
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Sychnant Pass
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Great Orme from Penmaenbach summit
