Trefriw

(see also: Betws-y-coed | Llanrwst | Dolwyddelan)

Across the river from Llanrwst, on the old B5106 road, is the pretty village of Trefriw, a fashionable spa in Victorian times. Its spring of healing chalybeate waters issuing direct from rock-hewn basins was known as far back as Roman times. At Trefriw Woollen Mills the dyehouse, carding engines, spinning mules, doubling and hanking machines, warping mill can be viewed Easter to end of October. You can visit the turbine house where electricity is generated by a hydro-electric scheme. There is also a Welsh wool shop.

Llywelyn the Great had a residence at Trefriw and is said to have built the parish church in the village to save his wife the steep climb to the peaceful church of Llanrhychwyn, which you may still visit high and solitary in bare fields above the village. Beyond Llanrhychwyn, in the hills above Trefriw, are the lakes - Llyn Crafnant and Llyn Cowlyd, second deepest lake in Wales, and beautiful Llyn Geirionydd where a lakeside monument honours the great Celtic bard Taliesin.

Local tourist association in Trefriw at http://www.4snowdoniaholidays.co.uk/