Betws-y-Coed
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Image:Betws y coed.jpg Template:Infobox Wales place
Betws-y-Coed (pronounced Template:IPA) is a village in the county borough of Conwy, within the traditional borders of Caernarfonshire, north Wales. It lies in the Snowdonia region and on the River Conwy and River Llugwy. The name means "chapel in the wood".
The village was founded around a monastery in the late sixth century, and grew very slowly around the lead mining industry. In 1815, the Waterloo Bridge was constructed by Thomas Telford, bringing the future A5 road through the village and spurring further development.
The village has a large village green which is the playing field for the local football team. The green is bounded on one side by the A5 Trunk Road with 19th Century buildings including the parish church of St. Mary, shops and hotels. On the opposite side is Betws-y-Coed railway station with cafes and tourist shops and a car park.
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Attractions in the village include two museums, the Miners' Bridge and the fourteenth century church of St. Michael. The River Conwy flowing through the village provides further attractions including the Fairy Glen, the Conwy Fish pass and waterfalls including the Pont-y-Pair Falls and Conwy Falls. The village is also a centre for outdoor pursuits and lies near the Gwydyr Forest.
During the summer, Bishop Vesey's Grammar School from Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, arrange trips with their first year pupils to a house there known as "Vesey House". Each group of pupils stay for about 5 days and activities include climbing Snowdon and walking in Snowdonia as well as trips to Harlech Castle and its beach.
Over the years the following quotes have been written about Betws-y-coed -
- "Betws-y-Coed claims with justification to be the Beauty Spot of Wales'."
- Ward Lock's Red Guide, 1975
- "One could spend many hours in this beautiful nook, with its wonderful combination of woods and stream."
- Ward Lock's Red Guide, 1975
- "From an artist's point of view Bettws-y-Coed and its surroundings form, perhaps, the most beautiful region in the British Isles."
- Baddeley, "North Wales", 1950's
- (Betws-y-Coed) is "the prettiest village in Europe"
- Mr. F.A. Mackenzie, well-known traveller.
- "In addition to the restful charm of the village (Betws) itself, within the radius of a few miles is found the greatest diversity of landscape - peaceful valleys, breezy uplands, desolate mountain solitudes, heather-scented moorland, and cool and shady woods."
- Bettws-y-Coed Official Guide, 1913