Llanberis

Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox UK place Llanberis (Template:IPA) is a village, community and electoral ward in Gwynedd, northwest Wales, on the southern bank of the lake Template:Lang and at the foot of Snowdon,<ref>Template:Cite EB1911</ref> the highest mountain in Wales. It is a centre for outdoor activities in Snowdonia, including walking, mountaineering, climbing, mountain biking and pony trekking, as well as water sports such as scuba diving. The community includes Nant Peris.

Llanberis takes its name from Template:Lang, an early Welsh saint.<ref>Parker, Mike; Whitfield, Paul (2003). The Rough Guide To Wales. Rough Guides. p. 501.</ref> It is twinned with the Italian town of Template:Lang in Lombardy.

History

Template:See also The ruins of [[Dolbadarn Castle|Template:Lang Castle]], which were painted by Richard Wilson and J. M. W. Turner, stand above the village. The 13th century fortress was built by [[Llywelyn the Great|Template:Lang the Great]] and is a grade I listed building.<ref>Llanberis Pass, North Wales. Tate Collection.</ref>

The church of St Template:Lang is grade II* listed, as is the chapel of Template:Lang.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the 18th century Template:Lang was the home of the legendary strong woman Marged ferch Ifan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

The population of Llanberis in 2021 was 2,023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Languages

According to the United Kingdom Census 2021, 69.5 per cent of all usual residents aged 3+ in Llanberis can speak Welsh.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> 79.6 per cent of the population noted that they could speak, read, write or understand Welsh.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 2011 census noted 74.7 per cent of all usual residents aged 3 years and older in the village could speak Welsh.<ref name=":0" />

As of October 2018, approximately 56 per cent of pupils in the village's primary school (Ysgol Dolbadarn) spoke Welsh at home.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Country of birth

The 2021 Census noted that 96.6 per cent of Llanberis' population was born in the United Kingdom.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 2011 Census noted that 97.2 per cent of the population was born in the United Kingdom; 73.6 per cent of the population was born in Wales and 22.4 per cent of the population born in England.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Identity

According to the 2011 Census, 67.4 per cent of the population noted that they had Welsh-only national identity, with 26.1 per cent noting that they had no Welsh national identity at all.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to the 2021 Census, 64.8 per cent of the population noted that they had Welsh-only national identity.

Local attractions

Places of interest in and near the village include the Snowdon Mountain Railway, the National Slate Museum, the [[Llanberis Lake Railway|Template:Lang Lake Railway]], Template:Lang country park and Electric Mountain. Tours of [[Dinorwig Power Station|Template:Lang Power Station]] are also available from a purpose-built visitor centre.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The village is a common starting point for ascents of Snowdon along the [[Llanberis Path|Template:Lang Path]]. Although it is the longest route, it is the least strenuous ascent, largely following the line of the Snowdon Mountain Railway.<ref name="Barnes">Template:Cite book</ref> This makes it the most popular walking route on the mountain.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dolbadarn Castle, a fortification built by the Welsh prince Template:Lang the Great during the early 13th century, is located at the base of the [[Llanberis Pass|Template:Lang Pass]]. The castle was important militarily and as a symbol of Template:Lang's power and authority. It features a large stone keep, which historian Richard Avent considers "the finest surviving example of a Welsh round tower".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1284 Template:Lang was taken by Edward I of England, who removed some of its timbers to build his new castle at Template:Lang. Template:Lang was used as a manor house for some years, before falling into ruin. In the 18th and 19th century it was a popular destination for painters interested in Sublime and Picturesque landscapes. It is now owned by Template:Lang and managed as a tourist attraction, and is protected as a grade I listed building.

Template:Lang Mountain Rescue Team deals with 150–200 incidents a year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

[[List of film festivals in Europe#Wales|Template:Lang Mountain Film Festival]], which is held in annually in February, began in 2004.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was placed on hiatus in 2019 due to a lack of funding.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

It is the home of the Slateman Triathlon which runs in early summer each year. It attracts over 2,000 triathletes and many more spectators over two days. It is a mountain triathlon which begins in Template:Lang, follows on the bike up to Template:Lang, and finishes with a run in the Snowdonian mountains.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It is also the start and finish of the Snowdonia Marathon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Transport

Template:Llanberis Lake Railway Bus services to Template:Lang are provided by Arriva Buses Wales and Template:Lang Coaches.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Former operator Padarn Bus, which went into receivership in 2014, was based in the town and ran several routes to it,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> including a number of open-top routes.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Another local bus company, Express Motors, based in Template:Lang, ran services to Template:Lang but had its bus licence revoked in 2017.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The village used to be served by [[Llanberis railway station (London and North Western Railway)|Template:Lang railway station]] on a branch line of the Carnarvonshire Railway. Passenger services ceased in 1932; freight continued until closure in 1964.<ref>Baughan, Peter E. (1980). North and mid Wales. David & Charles. p. 105.</ref> The heritage Snowdon Mountain Railway and [[Llanberis Lake Railway|Template:Lang Lake Railway]] both have stations in the town, but serve primarily as tourist attractions rather than local transport links.

Notable people

• Griffith Williams (1769–1838), bardic name Gutyn Peris, a Welsh language poet, brought up in Llanberis
• Annie Foulkes (1877-1962), a writer and teacher of French.
• Thomas Rowland Hughes (1903–1949), broadcaster, dramatist and poet.
• Marc Lloyd Williams (born 1973) a former footballer with 576 club caps and the Welsh Premier League's all-time top scorer with 319 goals; brought up in Llanberis

Gallery

• Error creating thumbnail:
  View across Llanberis Lake toward Snowdon c.1799-1800 - William Turner - Tate Britain
• Llanberris, Template:Circa
  Llanberris, Template:Circa
• St Template:Lang's church]]
  St Template:Lang's church]]
• Template:Lang Station forecourt
  Template:Lang Station forecourt

See also

• [[Llanberis Pass|Template:Lang Pass]]
• [[St Padarn's Church, Llanberis|St Template:Lang's Church, Template:Lang]]

External links

• Llanberis' Website
• Llanberis Tourism
• Llanberis Mountain Rescue – Online home of the country's busiest mountain rescue team
• www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Llanberis and surrounding area