Betws-y-Coed

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Betws-y-Coed

Betws-y-coed shown within Conwy county
Population	1,187 (2001 census)
OS grid reference	SH795565
Principal area	Conwy
Ceremonial county	Clwyd
Constituent country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BETWS-Y-COED
Postcode district	LL24
Dial code	01690
Police	North Wales
Fire	North Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
UK Parliament	Meirionnydd Nant Conwy
European Parliament	Wales
List of places: UK • Wales • Conwy

St. Michael's church - the original "prayer house in the wood"

The river Llugwy, viewed from Pont-y-pair bridge

Swallow Falls, near Betws-y-coed

Betws-y-Coed (Welsh : Prayer house in the wood) is a small town in the Conwy valley in the county borough of Conwy, within the traditional borders of Caernarfonshire, North Wales. It lies in the Snowdonia National Park in a valley near the point where the River Conwy is joined by the River Llugwy and the River Lledr.

Betws-y-Coed (pronounced [ˈbɛtʊs ə ˈkɔɨd ]) was founded around a monastery in the late sixth century, and grew very slowly with the development of the local lead mining industry. In 1815, the Waterloo Bridge built by Thomas Telford to carry A5 road across the River Conwy and through the village brought considerable transport related development. The village became a major coaching centre between Corwen (to the east) and Capel Curig (to the west) on the Irish Mail route from London to Holyhead, which led to the improvement of the roads south to Blaenau Ffestiniog and north to Llanrwst and Conwy.

The construction of Betws-y-Coed railway station in 1868, heralding the arrival of the railway line from Llandudno Junction railway station, resulted in a marked population growth, as shown in the table below :

date	population
1749	200
1801	359
1847	451
1896	740
1904	881
1931	912
1961	788
1971	729
2001	1187

The village has a large village green which is the playing field for the local football team. The green is bounded on its western side by the A5 Trunk Road with 19th Century buildings including shops, hotels, and the parish church of St. Mary. This church was built on the site of a former cockpit and fairground, and although it is of early English appearance, it was completed as recently as 1873, the internal roof timbers testifying to this relatively young age. The interior also features various types of stone - local bluestone, sandstone (and floor tiles) from Ancaster, and black serpentine from Cornwall. The square bell tower was added in 1907, and the integral church hall was added in the 1970s, the commemorative stone being laid by the Earl of Ancaster in 1976.

On the southern side of the green is Betws-y-Coed railway station with cafes and tourist shops and a car park. In the former railway goods yard, reached from the station, is the Conwy Valley Railway Museum with its extensive miniature railway. The village also has a motor museum with a collection of over thirty vintage automobiles.

Other attractions in the village include the Miners' Bridge and the fourteenth century church of St. Michael, which is the origin of the name Betws (meaning "prayer-house"). There are scenic walks beside the river Llugwy, which flows through the village, and the River Conwy provides further attractions including the Fairy Glen, the Conwy Fish pass and waterfalls including the Conwy Falls. The Pont-y-Pair Falls are in the centre of the village, and nearby are the famous Swallow Falls.

The picturesque Llyn Elsi, which lies above the village, is popular with walkers and anglers, and also provides water for the village.

The village is also a centre for outdoor activities and lies within the Gwydyr Forest.

The village is home to at least one famous rock band; Melys were founded there in 1996.

[edit] Quotes

Over the years the following comments 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