... the area around Betws-y-Coed in the Conwy Valley is steeped in culture.

The area around the Conwy Valley and Betws-y-Coed is rich in culture, including:

• The Welsh language
• Concerts
• Traditional skills & crafts
• Castles

• Celtic culture
• Churches
• Prehistoric sites

THE WELSH LANGUAGE

Welsh is the first language of over a million people, and in the area of Snowdonia, the Llyn Peninsula and the Cambrian Coast around 70% of the population are Welsh speakers.

Welsh is one of the oldest living languages in Europe and shares its roots with Breton, Gaelic and Cornish. The sense of community is very strong and Snowdonia's appeal springs from its unique heritage, culture and language, which touches on everyday life, giving this area a truly distinctive character.

To give you an introduction to Welsh, some useful words and phases are shown below. Just remember that Welsh is a phonetic language. Welsh phrase books and guides are available from many book shops including "Bys a Bawd", at Llanrwst, and at the Tourist Information Centres.

In the communities of Snowdonia, the love of music and verse can be experienced at festivals throughout the area. The world famous opera singer, Bryn Terfel, organises the "Faenol Festival" - a spectacular open air festival held each August Bank Holiday on the Faenol Estate, near Bangor, which attracts many famous musicians. Throughout the summer there are also concerts each Sunday evening in the church in Betws-y-Coed, featuring local male voice choirs.

The region's scenery - craggy mountains, hidden valleys and endless seascapes - also inspire crafts people in many ways. Canolfan Hafod, traditional farm house and buildings near Llanrwst, recently converted to a resource centre for traditional skills, welcome visitors into their craft based courses.

The traditional craft of the lovespoon carver continues to this day in Llanrwst and intricately shaped spoons, once used as symbols of betrothal, are carved from a single piece of wood, a great gift to take home.

Nant Conwy is steeped in history, and commanded many important sites during the reign of the Welsh Princes of Gwynedd during the 12th and 13th centuries. During your stay, step back in time and follow the Nant Conwy Trail, and let us give you an insight into medieval life when the Welsh Princes of Gwynedd built castles and strategic sites here to preserve the Welsh laws, customs, culture and language.

Relax amongst breathtaking scenery all around you, and whilst you follow the Nant Conwy Trail with its numerous sites for you to visit, including the grave of the greatest of the Welsh Princes, Llywelyn the Great (Llywelyn Fawr), you will begin to picture life as it was then, before the English conquest, seven centuries ago.

Who better to give you an insight into the history of the area than your hosts, as members of Croeso Nant Conwy, who have farmed their lands for generations? Indeed, one of the members of Croeso Nant Conwy boasts a castle built by Llywelyn the Great on her land - Dolwyddelan Castle - well preserved, and dominant in the rugged countryside surrounds, it certainly gives you a feel of life in the middle ages. Nant Conwy was given to Llywelyn's father in 1170 and it was here, in a building that stood to the south-west of Dolwyddelan castle, that Llywelyn the Great was born.

A few miles further down the valley from Dolwyddelan is Betws-y-Coed, where in its 14th century St Michael's church, you will find a carved effigy of a warrior in armour. This is Gruffydd, a great great grandson of Llywelyn the Great. Here also, in January 1283, King Edward's army made a base at Betws-y-Coed and 800 woodsmen cut wide tracks in the forest as they tightened the net on Nant Conwy.

Follow the A470 4 miles north into the square in the middle of the market town of Llanrwst. Walk along the Tan yr Eglwys lane past the 17th century Almshouses and you will reach the 12th century church of St Grwst overlooking the Conwy river and the ancient stone bridge built by Inigo Jones. In a side-wing named Capel Gwydir lies the stone coffin of Prince Llywelyn the Great.

Cross the Inigo Jones Bridge, and follow the road towards the village of Trefriw. In the age of the Welsh princes, Trefriw was Nant Conwy's administrative centre. Owain Gwynedd, one of Prince Llywelyn's ancestors, established his court here, but little is known of its actual location in the village today.

Llywelyn the Great built a church here on the site of St Mary's Church for his wife, Siwan; it is said to save her braving the elements to worship in the ancient church of Llanrhychwyn, set high up above the hills of Trefriw. A trek up to Llanrhychwyn's 6th century church, known as Llywelyn's Old Church, to sample the serenity and tranquillity of the location, is an experience not to be missed. Prince Llywelyn had a hunting lodge nearby, and whilst at home he and his wife would worship at this simple church. Surrounded by yew trees and situated in beautiful wild countryside half a mile from Geirionydd Lake, Llanrhychwyn Church is Wales' oldest church, and has the oldest known font in Britain, which would have originally lain on the floor.

Prehistoric paths weave through the area, linking ancient lead and silver mines together with the foundations of "round houses" built in the BC era, which lie beneath the heather. The Romans built a road through the hills to carry the lead and silver to the Conwy River at Trefriw, and also linking their fort, Caerhun (Canovium). The mediaeval church of St Mary's stands within the fort.

Nant Conwy's land has sustained communities throughout the ages - the monks of Aberconwy Abbey (situated on the site of Conwy Castle) kept sheep high on the hills, reared cows and grew crops on the valley floor - and the tradition lives on. Llywelyn the Great was buried in Aberconwy Abbey and his coffin later moved to Maenan Abbey, 8 miles upstream, following the destruction of Aberconwy Abbey by Edward I. The monks relocated at Maenan, and the ornate wooden carved screen, along with Llywelyn the Great's stone coffin, can be seen today at St Grwst Church, Llanrwst, which was rescued from Maenan Abbey during its destruction in the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII.

There are many more sites for you to visit and mysteries still to be solved, many questions still to be answered, many truths still to be revealed. We welcome you to taste the real essence of Nant Conwy and take a journey back in time to medieval Wales, yet with all the home comforts of Croeso Nant Conwy members' accommodation awaiting you at the end of each day!