North Wales and Snowdonia

This part of Wales never fails to impress. Nineteenth-century traveller and writer George Borrow said of Snowdonia: 'Perhaps in all the world there is no region more picturesquely beautiful' Today's visitors continue to admire the untamed, unspoilt beauty of this spectacular National Park, with its ancient oakwoods and rugged highlands, mountain lakes and green vales.

The Welsh language can be heard in everyday use throughout Snowdonia, it is the natural language of daily life for over 60% of the people who live in the Snowdonia area. Welsh is believed to be the oldest living language in Europe and shares its roots with the other Celtic languages - Gaelic, Breton and Cornish.

Situated in a beautiful valley between the convergence of the Afon Llugwy and Afon Lledr in Gwynedd, lies the mountain tourist village of Betws y Coed (Prayer House in the Wood). Centuries ago, due to it's position nestled deep within the Gwydir forest National Park (which once belonged to the Wynnes of Gwydir Castle), Betws y Coed was a fairly inaccessible, wild and inhospitable place. Today it is one of the UK's most popular tourist centres and known throughout the world for its variable landscape of luscious green woodlands, crashing waterfalls and craggy cliff faces. But there is more to this little village than campsites and outdoor shops. There are Roman roads, witches, fairies and ancient architecture.

Beddgelert lies deep in the centre of three adjoining valleys, all of which are steeped in history and legends; it is therefore understandable that poets, artists and filmakers choose the picturesque setting for their inspiration. Beddgelert has attracted many visitors over the years and by now caters for most needs.

It is said that in the days when all our countryside was covered in woodland and wild animals roamed freely, Princes and the gentry used valleys such as this for their hunting expeditions. One such Prince was Llywelyn the Great. One fine morning he set out with his huntsmen and hounds to chase deer, leaving behind his infant son and heir at the hunting lodge. Amongst the Prince's pack was a hound named Gelert. A strong beast, dedicated to his Master. But on this day for no reason, the hound disappeared. Llywelyn, assuming that Gelert may have returned to the hunting lodge, turned around his horse and headed back. On entering the building, he was confronted by his faithful hound whose mouth and paws were bloodstained. The prince was immediately horror stricken and rushed to find his child. The cradle lay upturned and there was no sign of the infant. In his anger, Llywelyn drew his sword and plunged it into the hound. A faint cry brought him back to near the cradle and finding the child safe, he also found the limp body of a savage wolf. Great sadness then fell on the prince, for had it not been for his faithful hound Gelert, the baby would surely have been slain. So in honour that his hound's name should live on, Llywelyn had Gelert buried and a large stone erected on his resting place... and so Beddgelert, Gelert's Grave emerged.