Llyn Mair

Llyn Mair
looking towards Coed Llyn Y Garnedd
Location	North Wales
Coordinates	52°57′04″N 4°00′28″W / 52.95119°N 4.00787°W / 52.95119; -4.00787Coordinates: 52°57′04″N 4°00′28″W / 52.95119°N 4.00787°W / 52.95119; -4.00787
Type	artificial lake
Basin countries	United Kingdom
Surface area	14 acres (5.7 ha)

Llyn Mair (Welsh for 'Mary's lake') is a 14-acre (57,000 m²) artificial lake located at SH652412 in North Wales. It lies in the area of Tan-y-Bwlch, a little above Plas Tan-y-Bwlch, and is in the catchment area of the River Dwyryd. It was created by William Edward Oakeley (of Plas Tan-y-bwlch) as a 21st birthday present to his daughter Mair and as a water supply.

Nearby Plas Tan y Bwlch was believed to be the first house in North Wales to be lit by electricity from its own hydro-electric source, this during the 1890s. This was generated by a form of Pelton wheel, fed from Llyn Mair by means of a pipeline. The small power house was on the hillside immediately behind the house and is said to have operated until after the opening of Maentwrog public hydro-electric power station in 1928.^[1] In June 2013 a new hydro-scheme, costing £400,000, and similarly tapping the water from Llyn Mair, was opened. The water falls 60m to the turbine, and is expected to meet most of the Plas's electricity needs.^[2]

The lake is set alongside the B4410 road, a minor road linking the village of Rhyd. The position of the lake bordered with ancient oak woods and its tranquil appearance makes this a popular picnic site for visitors and it also provides a starting point for a number of local country walks. There is some limited parking available just off the road.

The narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway runs through the woods above the lake and Tan-y-Bwlch railway station can be reached on foot from the lake.

The lake also has a notable echo because of the shape of the surrounding hills.

References