BetwsyCoed Conwy An Adventure In The Woods
Betws-y-Coed Conwy County is a small village of only 500 residents but packs a punch in things to do and see. It lies in the beautiful Conn valley between the Snowdrop mountains in Wales. The village is not old as most was built during the Victorian Era. It is up in the mountains enough to give the area the feel of the Alps and is a place where you can relax and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors or participate in several outdoor activities that will take your breath away.
The name of the town means Prayer House in the Wood and that is probably because there was once a monastery in the area. The church of St. Michael is a sixth century church and had the original name of Prayer house in the Wood. Take advantage of the people of the area. They will impart stories and songs of the culture that dates back to the Bronze Age. Most of the people speak English and can converse well but their native language and the one you will hear most often is the ancient Welsh language. All over the area are interesting stone circles and other formations that were built during the Neolithic Age and meant something to those people but the mean has been lost in time. There are Iron age forts and even ruins of a Roman Fort.
The focal point of the village is the large green which doubles as a football playing field. All around the green are buildings housing shops, hotels and businesses along with the church of St. Mary. This church was built in 1873 and is made in stone. There is a Railway Museum in the village with a large model train set up. There is also a motor museum that displays vintage automobiles.
Other attractions to see is the fourteenth century church, St. Michael that was originally linked to the name of the town Prayer House in the Wood. There are several trails through the woods in the village that are marked well and great for hikers. You can visit the Fairy Glen, several waterfalls, and do not miss Conwy Fish pass. Fishing is a great past time at the Llyn Elsi reservoir.
In Snowdonia you will find the Tree Top Adventure. This is a rope course that covers the treetops in the forest. You must negotiate several obstacles on the course all while you are in the tops of the trees. The course takes about two hours to complete and you can go as an individual or in a small or large group.
The National Park is the home of the Quaddragon Road Buggies. The buggies take several routes through the woods where you can see the majestic scenery ever seen. Each buggy has two seats and it is best to go in a group of several buggies or with many on what is called a safari. Take the 2 hour tour or go all day. You will see several castles, caves, waterfalls, lakes, and wander into the mountains and see all the magnificent wildlife in the area.
Just hiking through Snowdonia will give you enough to do for a long time. There are 800 square miles and just about any type of terrain can be found there. The mountains are truly magnificent with the highest one being about 3500 feet in height. You can explore this forest wilderness by foot, car, train, or rent a horse at the many stables in the woods.
This little village offers beautiful scenery so do not forget your camera. You can relax and take a nice walk in the woods or you can participate in some extreme activities. You can shop in town or take in a local football game and eat at some of the restaurants in the village. Shop at the pretty Victorian style stores and take in the wonder of the village.
