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Snowdonia




(seen on the left in this picture) makes an enjoyable scramble in Snowdonia. Tryfan is 915  Metre s (3002  Feet ) high, the eleventh highest mountain in Wales.]]
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  Metre s (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 Glyder au, and the Carnedd au. 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 Arenig s 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

Many 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.


SOME QUOTES

Over the years much has been written about Snowdonia and North Wales, inluding the following quotes -

  • "Views. Snowdonia has them in such spectacular abundance that you quickly run out of superlatives to describe them. At the top of every peak a glorious vista unfolds. Each bend in the road unfurls to reveal a new perspective of gasp-inducing splendour."

  • Francis Hardy, Daily Mail reporter, 14.12.2002