Llanuwchllyn

Llanuwchllyn, at the head of the lake has a long history although the church is not that old. There is an interesting old communion plate showing the story of the Temptation in relief and there is also a recumbent effigy of a mail-clad knight of the 14th Century in the church. Sir O.M.Edwards and his son Sir Ifan ap Owen Edwards were born in Llanuwchllyn. The latter founded Urdd Gobaith Cymru, the Welsh Youth Movement in 1922.

Bwlch y Groes pass, up the valley of the River Twrch and down the valley of the River Dovey goes from Llanuwchllyn to Dinas Mawddwy and is not for faint hearted drivers especially in snow or frost.

Bala Lake Railway has its station, workshops and cafe in Llanuwchllyn with lovely views of the lake from the carriages as the engine steams its way down to the other end of the lake at Bala, 4 miles away. There is a very famous mixed choir here, one of the best in the world, called Côr Godre’r Aran. There’s also a keen amateur football team and one of the Westminster Members of Parliament lives here - he represents the Party of Wales - Plaid Cymru.

There are many Eisteddfodwyr here, the Eisteddfod is a keenly fought annual competitive literary and musical festival, a unique feature of the Welsh culture and tradition.

A mile or so down the main road to Bala, unmarked, is Caer Gai, once the site of a Roman Camp. Tradition has it that it was the home of Sir Hector from the King Arthur legends and the name commemorates his son Cai Hir (Long Kay) – that’s the Sir Kay of the legends.

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