The jagged peaks of Snowdonia are among the most ancient rocks on earth. The local culture is also rather ancient, with music and poetry dating back to the Bronze Age. About 65% of the local population speak Welsh, one of the oldest spoken languages in Europe, as their mother tongue.
Snowdonia also has:
- The highest peak in England and Wales
- Swallow Falls, the highest continuous waterfall in Wales
- The Fairy Glen, also called Fairy Falls, a green and mist filled gorge on the River Conwy
- Betws-y-Coed, a village named for prayers in the forest.
- At Morfa Dyffryn, the best nude beach in the UK
Snowdonia Statistics and Superlatives
Snowdonia National Park covers 840 sq.miles of northwest Wales, 570 sq.miles protected for conservation or special scientific interest. 20% is legally protected because of its wildlife. The park also has:
- 90 summits above 2,000 ft. and 15 over 3,000 ft.
- 9 mountain ranges covering 52% of the land
- 1,700 miles of public footpaths, bridlepaths and rights of way
- 75% of its area in private ownership with the rest owned by the Crown, National Trust, MOD, Forestry Commission, other public bodies.
- The highest peaks are Snowdon (3,560 ft.) in the north and Cader Idris (2,929 ft.) in the South.
Castles
Snowdonia is dotted with castles, some only ruins, some magnificent and at least one converted to a B&B!
- Harlech
- Conwy Just outside the park but worth a visit
- Dolwyddelan Castle
- Castell y Bere
- Dolbadarn Castle
- Gwydir Castle A privately owned, fortified Tudor House, the paneled dining room was recently returned from New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's a B&B and open, in season, for day visits as well.
- Penrhyn Castle This National Trust property is a 19th century fantasy worth visiting for the contents, grounds and views
