Deep in Snowdonia lies a lake across which an island once floated. In folklore, this is not unusual. St Brendan’s Isles drifted around the globe for centuries, and seven of Britain’s canonised saints apparently floated to our shores on a sod. But in this case, the island was real, and unusual enough for Edmund Halley the astronomer to swim out and see for himself in 1698. He described a piece of turf broken loose from the bank and buoyed up by the lightness of “broad-spreading fungous roots on its sides”.
Others will tell you it was the tylwyth teg – the fairy folk – who created the floating island on Llyn y Dywarchen. Respect must be paid to the mischievous tylwyth teg. Their world is a shifting one. They thwarted me with bogs, felled trees, redirected paths, vanishing buses, and even conspired to send me to the wrong lake. There is, it transpires, more than one Llyn y Dywarchen.
Llyn Idwal is a small lake that lies within Cwm Idwal in the Glyderau mountains of Snowdonia. It is named after Prince Idwal Foel, a grandson of Rhodri Mawr, one of the ancient Kings of Wales. Legend states that the king's unfortunate offspring was murdered by being drowned in the lake.
A small fishing lake located in the Nantlle valley within the Snowdonia National Park
Saint Tecwyn’s church near Llandecwyn, North Wales. St Tecwyn's Church is thought to be medieval in origin. An eleventh century inscribed stone is incorporated into the present church building. The inscription has been interpreted as 'the Cross of St. Tecwyn, presbyter, to the honour of God and the most illustrious servant of God, Heli, deacon, made me. (the last word may read 'merci')'. Another medieval stone, whose pattern includes a linear Latin cross with a lozenge shaped ring at its upper end, is one of only four definite examples in Wales.
A view from the Manod incline at Blaenau Ffestiniog towards Snowdon.
The abandoned lake keepers house at Llyn Conwy, North Wales
A mid winter scene at Llynnau Mymbyr with Snowdon reflected in the flat calm water.
A very late cold snap . This was as a result of the Beast from the east March 2013
Trawsfynydd nuclear power station in the grip of winter
A night view of Tanygrisiau and Moelwyn bach
Trawsfynydd a former Magnox Nuclear power station now in the process of being decommissioned
Site Description St Tecwyn's Church is thought to be medieval in origin. An eleventh century inscribed stone is incorporated into the present church building. The inscription has been interpreted as 'the Cross of St. Tecwyn, presbyter, to the honour of God and the most illustrious servant of God, Heli, deacon, made me. (the last word may read 'merci')'. Another medieval stone, whose pattern includes a linear Latin cross with a lozenge shaped ring at its upper end, is one of only four definite examples in Wales.
St Tecwyn's Church is thought to be medieval in origin. An eleventh century inscribed stone is incorporated into the present church building. The inscription has been interpreted as 'the Cross of St. Tecwyn, presbyter, to the honour of God and the most illustrious servant of God, Heli, deacon, made me. (the last word may read 'merci')'. Another medieval stone, whose pattern includes a linear Latin cross with a lozenge shaped ring at its upper end, is one of only four definite examples in Wales.
An early morning view of llyn Dinas near Beddgelert. It takes its name from the nearby Dinas Emrys, a rocky and wooded hill just downstream of the lake where the remains of both medieval and older fortifications have been found. A rock near the lake named Carreg yr Eryr (The stone of the eagle) was said in a charter of 1198 to mark the spot where the boundaries of the three cantrefs of Aberconwy, Ardudwy and Arfon met. According to Giraldus Cambrensis an eagle used to perch on it once a week, anticipating battle between the men of the three cantrefs.
A view of Pen Llithrig y Wrach from Y Rowen above Dolwyddelan
A winter scene of Snowdon at dawn
A view of Snowdon from Llyn Cwmffynnon
A mid summer view of Dolwyddelan castle at dawn
A storm passing the abandoned farmouse at Bryn Eithin. The house was sadly abandoned in 1927. There are still a couple of distant relatives living locally
A wooded area called Coed Cymerau. This waterfall is one of North Wales’s best kept secrets near Blaenau Ffestiniog.,
Cwmorthin is a substantial Victorian-era slate mine above the village of Tanygrisau, circling the slate quarrying town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. It has a long and complex history beginning in the early 1800's, with heavy underground development starting around 1860.
It was run by several different companies as a venture in its own right during the late 1800's. The earlier underground workings started at Lake Level by the Cwmorthin Slate Company Ltd, ascended upwards in the mountain ultimately for 8 floors in both the Old and Back Vein. Poor working practices and reckless engineering decisions ultimately led to a substantial collapse in 1884 and the end of that company, which failed to recover, in 1888.
Llyn y Dywarchen is located above the village of Drws y Coed in Dyffryn Nantlle, near Rhyd Ddu. It is a very popular fishing lake, and has a car park nearby. A great location for some stargazing
A view of the Snowdon range from Llunnau Mymbyr near Capel Curig
Llyn Gwynant lies on the River Glaslyn and is a lake in Snowdonia, Wales.
It is probably the most photographed lake in Snowdonia. It is a lake formed by glacial activity and as a result is relatively shallow. The most popular activities on the lake are fishing and canoeing. It’s claim to fame was that it was used as a backdrop for a Lara Croft Tombraider film called the Cradle of Life.
The Vale of Ffestiniog is a valley within the Snowdonia national park which streches from Ffestiniog to Tremadog bay. This is part of the river called Afon Dwyryd which runs through the valley.
An early morning scene at Llyn Cregennen in the mountains of South Snowdonia. Cregennen is a tranquil location high up and just to the east of Cader Idris.
A view from Mynydd Parfedd across to Y Garn and Tryfan. The A5 can bee see meandering through the valley.
A small fishing lake in the shadow of Mount Snowdon in the Snowdonia National Park
This terrace of abandoned cottages are at the foot of Moel Siabod, a mountain in the centre of the Snowdonia National Park. The quarry was there to recover slate from the north west corner of the mountain. The cottages themselves have commanding views over the A5 and towards Betws y Coed.
A horseshoe valley located north of Tryfan. It is a very popular walk as it is close to the A5 trunk road. The lake is called llun Idwal. The image was taken at the foot of an area called the Devils kitchen.
This was taken on the way down from witnessing a sunrise from the summit of Snowdon. The mountain to the left is called Y Lliwedd. This particular route down is called the PYG track (Pen Y Gwryd)
The Italianete village of Portmeirion taken from across the estuary at Ynys. Snowdon in the background with a light dusting of snow.
Taken in between Maentwrog and Blaenau Ffestiniog. The mountain in the distance is called Manod Mawr. During WW2 the contents of the National Gallery were taken and stored there.
I arrived at the location around 40 minutes before sunrise. The pink colour was the sun reflecting back off the clouds. As an added bonus i managed to get the reflection in the small section of the lake where the water had not frozed over.
One of the carneddau ponies grazing above Llyn Ogwen.
A wintery scene at Blaenau Ffestiniog after a night of heavy snow. The dam which you can see in the middle distance is called Stwlan and is part of the ffestiniog pumped storage scheme.
Pont Rhyd y Porthmyn - Migneint pack horse bridge. The ramains of an ancient packhorse bridge which crosses the vast boggy landscape of the Migneint.
A prominent rock feature on the summit of Glydyr Fawr called castell Y Gwynt translated into castle in the wind. The views across snowdonia from the location s stunning.
An early morning view of the Snowdon range taken in December 2020
A view of Nant Gwynant in the heart of Snowdonia
A mid winter scene of an abandoned farmhouse near Blaenau Ffestiniog. It was last occupied in 1922.
An abandoned farmhouse within the Snowdonia National Park. It is interesting to see what nature takes back and hasused the building as a support.
One of my favourite places in North Wales. I like the view and the road which runs through it. The valley seems to have it's own weather system. You could be in bright sunlight in Bangor just a few miles away and you come here and it's pouring with rain. This was an early morning trip to catch the sun on the Carneddau range to the right of the shot. The mountain on the left is called Tryfan.
Nestled at the foot of the Glydyr mountain range is a valley called Cwm Idwal. Due to it’s location within the Snowdonia national park it is apopular place to visit
Fairy Glen is small gorge on the outskirts of Betws - y - Coed, North Wales. It is a popular tourist location. The walk to the Glen is quite nice along a wooded path. There are a few steep steps near the area so good footware is a must.
A view of Llyn Dinas from the south and also Moel Siabod can be seen in the distance on the right.
A very low almost in the water view of Cregennen near Dolgellau
A mid summers evening image of the Cwmorthin Quarray terrace near Blaenau Ffestiniog
A view of Llyn Idwal during a mid winter sunrise. The mountain to the left is Pen yr Ole Wen
A reflection of Pen yr Olw Wen in the silky smooth llyn Idwal
Cynfal falls near Llan Ffestiniog
Taken on the first day of May 2021 on the southern side of Moel Siabod. at Cwm Edno The Snowdon mountain is just to the left out of shot
A view of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) from Cwm Edno. It was a fabulous sunrise on the first day of May.
A view of Llyn Gwynant taken just off the path leading up from Nantgwynant to Roman Bridge.
A tree at the head of Cwm Edno. To the left is moel Siabod with clouds tumbling over the summit.
One of the very few trees that grow in an often overlooked valley in Snowdonia, Cwm Edno. Yr Wyddfa or Snowdon can be seen in the background. This image was taken at dawn hence the warm feel to it.
A view of Dolwyddelan castle and Moel Siabod in the Snowdonia national Park
It was one of the coldest May mornings I have known for years. I had to spend quite a while scraping the ice off the car before setting out. Fortunately I had left the snow tyres on as there was ice on the Crimea pass ! There was some mist in the valley as I set off from the car. This slowly burnt away as the sun rose.
A panoramic view of the mountains of southern snowdonia. It was taken from the banks of Afon Glaslyn near the Minffordd granite quarry. In the left is Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and on the right is Moelwyn bach
I took this whilst on my way back to the car. The sun had come up and it was burning the low level mist away at quite a rate. I just happened to spot these trees on the edge of the hill. Note the frost on the hill opposite....it was quite a cold may morning !
Another one of my favourite times to take a photo of the castle, early on a spring day. Dolwyddelan castle dominates the landscape and I like to take it at various angles and weather conditions.
It was one of those mornings where there was a threat of heavy rain. I took a gable and headed over to llyn Dinas before the clouds rolled in.
One of the many rivers that run from the mountains surrounding Blaenau Ffestiniog.
The remains of a slate miners terrace of cottages on the foot of Moel Siabod.
A view across to Traeth bach,Portmeirion and in the distance Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). Taken during an unusually unsettled May.
A panoramic consisting of 12 images of the mountains of northern Snowdonia. To the left is Pen yr Ole Wen, Tryfan The Glyder range, Y gGarn and then Yr Wyddfa
Llyn Conwy is owned by the national Trust. The lake provides a source of drinking water for the Llanrwst and Betws y Coed area.
I decided to pay one more visit to Cwm Edno until winter sets in. There were a few flowers on the Hawthorn tree which I think I just managed to capture before they start falling off. With the camera on the tripod I was waiting for the sun to come up when my dog started growling. I turned around and spotted a Badger hidden in the reeds just behind us. he must have been curious to see what was going on !
Llyn Gwynant is a lake in the valley called Nantgwynant in the Snowdonia National Park. It is to the north of Beddgellert and on it's west side is the Snowdon mountain range
Dolwyddelan castle is located just off the A470 to the south of a village called Dolwyddelan.
One of the last fishermans boat houses on a lake in Snowdonia called Llyn Dinas. Llyn Dinas is located to the south east of the Snowdon mountain range.
Cwm Edno is a valley to the south of Moel Siabod in the Snowdonia national Park. It is slightly off the beaten track which is a good thing as you can almost have the valley to yourself as it was on this occasion whilst I was taking these photographs.
The ancient pack horse bridge at Penmachno in the Snowdonia national Park
A view of Moel Dyrnogydd from Bwlch y Gorddinian or more commonly known as the Crimea pass
An autumnal view of the Aberglaslyn pass near Beddgelert.
An autumnal view of the small welsh village of Beddgelert.
Cnicht a mountain in the snowdonia National Park also known as the Welsh Matterhorn
A break in the clouds produced this stunning illumination ending at the old chapel.
A lake at the heart of the abandoned welsh slate mine at Blaenau ffestiniog. The area is known as Cwm Orthin or Cwmorthin
When nature starts to recover. A small tree growing amongst the slate tips of Cwmorthin near Blaenau Ffestiniog
Ash trees formed in a circle give the impression that they are dancing.
A long exposure image of Portmeirion under moonlight with the mountains of Snowdonia in the background.
The Italian village in Snowdonia. Portmeirion was designed and constructed by architect Sir Clough Williams Ellis. It is one of the most popular places in North Wales to visit.
A winter view of Portmeirion with Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in the background
A winter view of Cnicht with a dusting of snow and Portmeirion taken from Ynus.
One of the famous carneddau ponies in the southern section of thde Ogwen valley. The ponies run wild across the carneddau mountain ranges. Some of the local farmers do help by feeding them in hard times such as severe snow storms.
Llyn Dywarchen is a small fishing lake to the north west of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). It is easily accesible and is worth walking around as the views are stunning.
