 |
|
|
|
|
The Llŷn Peninsula - area and culture |
|
| You'll find lots of information on the attractions, history and culture of the beautiful Llŷn Peninsula in the house; here's just a taster: | |
 |
Culture and language Llyn is arguably the most "Welsh" part of Wales. Over 65% of the permanent population speak Welsh as their first language (the children learn English at school), which gives you a distinct and charming impression of being somewhere different. You'll hear it everywhere - in shops, pubs, on the streets and on the TV. But don't worry, everybody can speak perfectly good English too! The peninsula has a strong Celtic heritage which it shares with other western Celtic areas. Just as an example, the ancient field boundaries of earth banks faced with stone (called cloddiau), which you'll see everywhere, are very similar to those found in Cornwall and S.E. Ireland. In fact, the name Llŷn has the same origin as "Lein" in Leinster. |
 |
Morfa Nefyn and around Despite its popularity, Morfa Nefyn maintains a distinctly laid back approach to life. The village has a couple of decent pubs and a good village shop which offers a proper butcher's counter and fresh fruit and vegetables. The beach is wonderful and only 10 minutes walk from the house. There's always plenty of room here and the gently sloping golden sand makes for safe bathing for children. For the seadogs there's a concrete ramp onto the beach - charges apply at peak periods but the attendant has access to a tractor to help you launch and recover your boat. A short walk along the beach or through the spectacularly situated Nefyn Golf Club takes you to Porthdinllaen (no cars allowed here). Now owned by the National Trust, this impossibly picturesque seaside hamlet is a place where you can unwind and actually feel your life batteries being recharged. There's even a pub, the noted Tŷ Côch (Red House), right on the sandy beach. Useful links: Nefyn Golf Club Tŷ Côch |
 |
Coastline and beaches The north Llyn coastline has been awarded National Heritage Coastline status because of its unspoilt character and its importance as a haven for wildlife. The sea is clean and clear - at the right time of year you'll see seals, dolphins, choughs and even the odd leatherback turtle. It's a noted sea fishing area. Llyn has mercifully avoided the coastal sprawl the blights so much of Britain's holiday areas. The character of the area, particularly the northern coast, remains charmingly rural - you're more likely to see farmers' and fishermen's tractors on the roads than coaches and lorries. Morfa Nefyn's beach is one of the best family beaches in North Wales, but there are plenty more quiet sandy coves to choose from. One of these is Porthor (Whistling Sands), just a few miles down the coast - the beach is famous because of the curious squeaky whistle the sand emits as you walk over it. The south coast hosts the busier seaside resorts like Criccieth, Pwllheli and Abersoch (all within 20 minutes drive) - the latter two being excellent sailing and power boating venues. You can take one of many fishing, seal and dolphin spotting trips from here. The south coast gets most of the wind and weather, making it a notable area for surfers - perhaps Porth Neigwl (Hell's Mouth) is the most popular. Useful links: BBC North West Wales - Surfing Guide LLŷn.info - has a good Beach Guide |
 |
|
 |
Mountains and hill forts Most of Llyn's inland countryside consists of gently rolling grassland, fens and marshes - all important wildlife habitats. But one unique feature of the landscape which makes it stand out so much, both physically and in the memory, is the chain of dramatic volcanic hills that rise up along the northern coastline. Many of these are topped with ancient hill forts, hut circles and other prehistoric features. Standing on top of these remote hills gives you an almost tangible feeling of connection with the distant past. One of the last kings of the Britons - Gwrtheyrn (Vortigern) was exiled here after inviting the Saxons to settle as mercenaries, only to see them revolt and subsequently establish England as their own kingdom. Most of these fascinating peaks are open access land now, and each is easily climbed. |
 |
|