Snowdonia
From Freepedia
See also Snowdonia National Park
Snowdonia is a region of north Wales and a National Park, of 838 square miles (2170 square kilometres) in area. It was the first to be designated of the three National Parks in Wales, in 1951.
The area is renowned for its spectacular mountainous scenery and is popular with tourists.
The English name for the area derives from Snowdon, which is the highest mountain in Wales at 1085 metres (3560 feet). In Welsh, the area is named Eryri (from eryr meaning "eagle").
Mountain Ranges in Snowdonia
Snowdonia may be divided into four areas. The northernmost area is the most popular with tourists, and includes (west to east): Moel Hebog, Mynydd Mawr and the Nantlle Ridge; the Snowdon massif; the Glyderau, and the Carneddau. These last three groups are the highest mountains in Wales, and include all Wales' 3000-foot mountains.
The second area includes peaks such as Moel Siabod, Cnicht the Moelwynion, and the mountains around Blaenau Ffestiniog (a slate-quarrying town deemed unsuitable for inclusion in the National Park).
The third area includes the Rhinogydd in the west as well as the Arenigs and the Migneint (this last being an area of bog, not a mountain). This area is not so popular with tourists, due to its remoteness.
The southernmost area includes Cadair Idris, the Tarren range, and the Aran group, including Aran Fawddwy, the highest mountain in the United Kingdom south of Snowdon.
Mountain Walking in Snowdonia
A large proportion of the hikers in the area concentrate on Snowdon itself. It is widely regarded as a fine mountain, but it can become quite crowded, particularly with the tourist railway running to the summit. Some hikers find some of the other high mountains slightly disappointing, with their flat boulder-strewn summits. However, there are some spectacular walks in Snowdonia on the lower mountains, and they tend to be relatively unfrequented.
Among hikers' favourites are Y Garn (east of Llanberis) along the ridge to Elidir Fawr; Mynydd Tal-y-Mignedd (west of Snowdon) along the Nantlle Ridge to Mynydd Drws-y-Coed; Moelwyn Mawr (west of Blaenau Ffestiniog); and Pen Llithrig y Wrach north of Capel Curig. Further south are Y Llethr in the Rhinogydd, and Cadair Idris near Dolgellau.
External links
- Snowdonia National Park Authority
- Snowdonia Society
- Snowdonia-active.com
- Adventure activities through out Snowdonia
