Cultural Heritage

Generations of people have inherited a passion for the Carneddau; be that derived from working on the landscape in the farming and quarrying industries or not.

The Carneddau Landscape Partnership’s projects are capturing and recording place names, proverbs, cultural and farming traditions, people’s memories and local histories, to help ensure that the unique cultural heritage of the Carneddau is preserved. The scheme has been working with community groups around the Carneddau to develop projects that celebrate the landscape through art, literature and legend. Follow the links below to find out more about our cultural heritage projects.

The character, beauty and breath taking views of the Carneddau mountains has inspired many authors and poets including John T. Jôb who wrote a verse of his famous poem, Ffarwel i Eryri, dedicated to Cwm Pen-llafar before he left for South Wales.

Instead of portraying the positive aspects of the Carneddau landscape, Caradog Prichard, the poet and novelist from Bethesda, focused on the severity of the community and the environment in his iconic novel, Un Nos Ola Leuad.

Hugh Derfel Hughes wrote Llawlyfr Carnedd Llewelyn in 1864 – a first of mountain handbook of it’s kind in any language.

Shortly, a series of poems written by Carneddau community members during our poetry workshops earlier in the year will be released. Poems which drew inspiration from the surrounding landscape and the experiences tied to it.

They will be available to watch on our Youtube channel.

Some say that many of the mountains were named after the Princes and Rulers of Gwynedd from the thirteenth century.

• Carnedd Dafydd was named after  Dafydd ap Llewelyn, the Prince of Gwynedd and one of Llewelyn Fawr’s sons, or was named after Dafydd ap Gruffydd one of Llewelyn Fawr’s grandchildren.
• Carnedd Llewelyn was named after Llewelyn ap Iorwerth (Llewelyn Fawr) or was named after Llewelyn ap Gruffydd (Llewelyn ein Llyw Olaf).
• Yr Elen was named after Eleanor de Montfort, Llewelyn ap Gruffydd’s wife.

Names of mountains, fields and woodlands often have links to historical people, events and stories.

Visit our Carneddau Place Names project page to learn more.