Beddgelert

For the Beddgelert meteorite of 1949, see Meteorite falls.

The River Glaslyn at Beddgelert

The village viewed from Mynydd Sygun

Beddgelert, or in older English spelling often Bedgellert^{[citation needed]}, (English: Gelert's grave) is a village and community in the Snowdonia area of Gwynedd, Wales. It is reputed to be named after the legendary hound Gelert. Population 617.

History

Despite the presence of a raised mound in the village called Gelert's Grave, now a tourist attraction, there is absolutely no evidence for Gelert's existence. The "grave" mound is ascribed to the activities of a late 18th-century landlord of the Goat Hotel in Beddgelert, David Pritchard, who connected the legend to the village in order to encourage tourism. Similar legends can be found in other parts of Europe and Asia.

The village is probably named after an early Christian missionary and leader called Celert (or Cilert) who settled here early in the 8th century. The earliest record of the name Beddgelert appears on a document dated 1258, and the name recorded is "Bekelert". In a document of 1269 it is recorded as "Bedkelerd".

Economy and attractions

Beddgelert is a significant tourist attraction, its picturesque bridge crossing the River Colwyn just upstream of its confluence with the River Glaslyn. It is also the nearest village to the scenic Glaslyn gorge, an area of tumultuous river running between steep wooded hills. Much of the area is however becoming invaded by the alien plant, Rhododendron ponticum which provides a covering of pink blossom in May and June, but which is slowly blanketing out the native flora. Attempts have been made to control its spread by cutting and burning.

River levels on the River Glaslyn in Beddgelert are constantly monitored by the Environment Agency, in order to give advance warning of flood conditions lower down the valley.

Beddgelert has a range of hotels and guesthouses, cafes, restaurants and pubs. The car park in the village provides the easiest access route for climbing Moel Hebog, the mountain which directly overlooks the village.

The Welsh Highland Railway is currently rebuilding the former railway line, and in April 2009 reopened the railway station to the public, linking the village with Caernarfon to the north and Porthmadog to the south.

Other local attractions include the Sygun Copper Mine.

The village is also linked with the Rupert Bear stories, as Alfred Bestall wrote and illustrated some of the stories whilst he lived in the village, in a cottage at the foot of Mynydd Sygun.

Local Bards

Renowned bards who lived in the area in the 15th–16th centuries include Dafydd Nanmor, Rhys Nanmor and Rhys Goch Eryri. More recently, from the 19th to the 20th centuries both Glaslyn & Carneddog lived in Nantmor. Currently Nantmor is still home to poets, including Nia Powell & Cynan Jones.

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Nicolaisen, W. F. H.; Gelling, Margaret; Richards, Melville, eds. (1986), The Names of Towns and Cities in Britain, Batsford, ISBN 978-0713452358 

External links

• Beddgelert Snowdonia Guide
• Gelert the Animated Movie
• www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Beddgelert and surrounding area
• Map sources for Beddgelert