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Beddgelert is renowned as one of the prettiest villages in North Wales, winner of many Village in Bloom competitions for Wales, Britain, and Europe. Situated at the foot of Snowdon, the village centre is an ancient stone bridge near where two rivers meet. Stone houses are jumbled against each other below rocky outcrops, and riverside walks skirt tree-fringed rivers. For its size the village is unique, with 60 stone buildings being of listed status because of their architectural unity and historical interest. Beddgelert is a great base for exploring Snowdonia. All around is spectacular scenery, a mix of mountains, lakes, woodlands, and streams. Nearby there is walking and climbing of all grades, spectacular sandy beaches, golf courses, great medieval castles at Harlech, Caernarfon, and Conwy, and several of the Great Little Trains of Wales. A footpath beside the Glaslyn river leads to Beddgelert's most famous legend - Gelert's Grave. According to the legend a medieval Welsh prince, Llewellyn the Great, went hunting one day without his faithful hound who was unaccountably absent. On his return, Gelert - stained and smeared with blood - joyfully sprang to meet his master. The prince hastened to find his infant son, but found the cot empty and the floor covered with blood. Assuming Gelert had been responsible for the death of his heir, the prince plunged his sword into the hound's side. The dog's dying yell was answered by a child's cry, and Llewellyn searched to find his boy unharmed, lying near the body of a mighty wolf that Gelert had killed. Filled with remorse, the prince erected a stone in memory of his dog, at a spot called Bedd Gelert - 'the grave of Gelert'. Si Yr Afon is less than 5 minutes walk from the centre of Beddgelert village (click here for a location map). Local amenities include a store, a post office, three pubs, several restaurants and cafes, and an award-winning ice cream parlour. |
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Beddgelert Village