#gwynedd wildlife preserve

[birdghost]

curious

[natlands-blog]

Gwynedd Wildlife Preserve. Photo by Julie Novak Stafford, preserve visitor.

[carvedlakeart]

Things to do in Wales

Navigation:

Ride the Welsh Highland Railway, one of the spectacular train rides in the world

Get your gear on and surf the waters of the Gower Peninsula

Discover the most spectacular views at the Wales Coast Path

Be mesmerize with the beauty of Snowdonia

Let your imagination soar within the many castles of Wales

The history of Wales began thousands of years ago when Neanderthals first step foot in the country. Homo sapiens arrived in Cymru or Wales about 31,000 BC and the recorded modern human dates from the last ice age era about 9000 BC. Experts consider Wales as one of the significant countries for its ancient discovery of civilizations which dates back from the Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Bronze Age. But like of all Britain, the Celtic Britons and the Brittonic language dominated the country of Wales.

In 43 AD the Romans began their aggressive conquest of Britain, they started their invasion in northeast Wales against the Deceangli. But it’s not until the 79 AD when they regained total control of Wales with their victory against the Ordovices. The Romans retreat from Britain in the 5th century gave way to the Anglo-Saxon invasion in Wales. The largest of these groups, the Welsh people stood as the foundation of the Wales countryside.

Today, Wales is increasingly becoming popular as UK’s most favorite and most beautiful outback destination. Despite its size, it packed with a lot of fun outdoor activities that every family would enjoy.

Ride the Welsh Highland Railway, one of the spectacular train rides in the world

Almost every country has its own railway systems, but the country’s very own railway system is something you wouldn’t miss when visiting the country. Known for its charming green valleys and majestic mountains, the Welsh Highland Railway system is home to some of the oldest and most scenic railways in the entire planet. Many travelers who had been on the trains, claims that it’s the most spectacular ride they had. The journey starts from the Porthmadog station and ending in Blaenau Ffestiniog. It will take travelers to the most beautiful route that runs through the narrow gauge and making its way at the very heart of Snowdonia National Park. It’s hop-on-hop-off, ride so travelers can freely disembark at any of the trailheads, and enjoy a short walk to really enjoy the journey.

Get your gear on and surf the waters of the Gower Peninsula

The Gower Peninsula remains as a very popular destination for Beach lovers and everyone who loves the sea. But the waters of the peninsula attracts most surfers even beginner surfers who want to experience the waves in the region. The area has lots of bays that has swell of waves forming at varying degrees. There are a number of surf communities that offers surf lessons for everyone who wants to be on the water. For adrenaline junkies, the peninsula features vertigo-inducing sea cliffs, rock arches, and hidden coves waiting to be discovered. But for travelers who just want to chill and enjoy the scenery, there are plenty of kayaking and coasteering spots all around the Gower Peninsula.

Discover the most spectacular views at the Wales Coast Path

There really no denying that Wales has one of the most spectacular views on the planet. Dubbed as the most beautiful view in all of UK, the Welsh coast offers an abundance of lush green valleys and majestic cliffs. The 870-mile walk links all the seaside tracks together in Wales, starting from Chepstow in the southeastern region to Queensferry in the North Wales Borderlands. The highlights of the tour are seeing the grand Pembrokeshire coast which looks like a giant chiseled it out from the Atlantic Ocean and the Llŷn Peninsula with views that teeming with wildlife and wild vistas. To celebrate the beauty of the Wales Coast, there are many walking festivals happening each year. Organizers have set a variety of walks to suit every traveler need like experiencing the authentic Welsh cuisine and craft ales.

Be mesmerized with the beauty of Snowdonia

Snowdonia clearly represents the entire Wales scenery, beautiful mountain ranges with lush forestry. Located at the county of Gwynedd, Snowdonia boats of 14 majestic peaks standing at over 3,000 feet high and peeking through the clouds. The most famous of the peaks is perhaps the 3,546-foot Snowdon in which travelers can ride a train to see more of its spectacular view. Snowdonia can be seen as far on the West Coast in the county of Porthmadog. Because of its beauty, the place inspires some of the known legends in the world like King Arthur, who locals insist was Welsh.

Let your imagination soar within the many castles of Wales

Another known fact about Wales is that the regions are teeming with historical castles – where history and myth co-exist, paving the way for many fairy tales like stories of the modern world. Wales houses more than 600 castles with dozens of them in well-preserved conditions. Some of the most famous castles include Harlech, Conwy, Criccieth and of course Caernarfon. Caernarfon Castle was the most extravagant and expensive castles ever built by a king of England.

from Carved Lake Art Blog http://blog.carvedlakeart.com/2018/06/things-to-do-in-wales.html

[whatson-northwales]

Snowdonia the heart of Wales

Snowdonia National Park was the first UK National Park named in Wales, covering over more than 2,100 square kilometers of land in north Wales. The terrain of Snowdonia largely consists of the upland rocky terrain that run the length of Wales. Its lower reaches move directly onto the foreshores and coastal areas in an almost boreal nature.

The rugged interior of the Park in years gone by had supported many mining communities which thrived from the industries that supported their craft.  With the change in global economies and shifting of emphasis of trade abroad, these communities and trades like the slate mining have retracted somewhat, leaving most of the industry that was once, behind. Consequently the ares are less industry intensive and therefore more light free. Thats not to say urban sprawl and its light haven’t reached north Wales, quite the contrary, however the secluded passes in Snowdonia still are off the beaten track and have yet to feel the warmth of the midnight glow from our now modern world.

Snowdonia borders two other Dark Sky Parks such as the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Elan Valley Estate to its south, and is among the darkest places remaining in the UK. The Snowdonia National Park staff and leadership worked hard to build their profile of their campaign for the idea of protecting Snowdonia’s night skies by forming a Dark Sky Reserve. They have made great strides in educating the public and the UK about the importance of dark skies in the Snowdonia national Park for both its ecosystem and the tourism for many moons to come.

Image by Kris Williams : @jixxerkris Instagram

  Dark sky staus in Snowdonia national park

In December of 2015 Christmas the night sky above the Snowdonia National Park was granted special protection. Officially recognised as an International Dark Sky Reserve, Snowdonia is just one of ten specially selected sites across the globe granted ‘Dark Sky’ status. If you are keen about Night photography, Astronomy, tourism and a pollution free environment this is a must for you.

Snowdonia was appointed a Dark Sky Reserve by the Dark Sky Institute, based in Tucson Arizona. It joins a prestigious and rare list of places, including the nearby Brecon Beacons National Park, Westhavelland Germany, Pic du Midi and the not so near Aoraki Mackenzie Reserve in New Zealand.

A Dark Sky reserve is; the dark sky preserve is usually an area of land that restricts artificial light pollution and any area with superb quality night air – clear and unpolluted enough to allow a good view of the night sky. The primary purpose of this area of land is to promote astronomy.  

It’s imperative we know that the Dark sky status in not awarded based on landmass or natural beauty. The dark sky status is only awarded to locations that have the highest quality of Night air that makes them a perfect place for stargazing.

Image by Kris Williams : @jixxerkris Instagram

Anyone with an appreciation of our galaxy– young or old, amateur or techy – can enjoy our wonderful dark skies in snowdonia. Its within mostly only 30 minute to an hour drive from most places i if your in a rush, we’re encouraging you to grab your binoculars, telescope, warm flask with hot drinks your warm weather gear and have an evening or even if your brave a night under the stars.

There are many young climbers, mountaineers and photographers now all over Instagram and other social media sites documenting their adventures and creative flair online in the north Wales area, They are out in all conditions bring home some top quality content for their followers- it certainly gives you a boost to get motivated for adventure! Big thank you to all of the especially @googleygaz and @jixxerkris for the front cover image Some of my favourites local creators on Instagram are below, head over to them and show them some love!  : @jixxerkris @alynwallace @googleygaz @darkskywales @eilir30 @angiejonez.

Image by Kris Williams : @jixxerkris Instagram

The Snowdonia national park

Snowdonia National Park is the first park in Wales established 1951, it also happens to be the third of its kind in the United Kingdom, This park is also the natural fortress for the princess of Gwynedd and for Llewellyn, which happens to be the last true prince of Wales.

Snowdonia National Park is a large area of land with wild landscape and village steeped in history, this park happens to be one of the perfect destinations for holidays for outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers and families alike with weekend breaks and picnic days out  being incredibly popular because of the breathtaking scenery.

Snowdonia is very well known for being a good point for hiking, its waterfalls, the lakes and world class mountain biking, zip lining, climbing or scrambling. With the Dark Sky reserve adding to the list of what you can do in Snowdonia National park this furthers to boost its potential as a world leading site for visitors to the area. We are sure the wildlife of Snowdonia National Park will be improved and the environmental quality and sustainability will definitely be protected as a result of this. Visitors have and will come into snowodonia and the local economy of Snowdonia North Wales will be improved. 

  Image by Kris Williams : @jixxerkris Instagram

  Make your way over to Snowdonia to experience the dark skies

  Having Snowdonia being provided with such a prestigious title, the Snowdonia national park not only wishes to protect the environment and enhance the biodiversity and dark skies of the area, but wants go a step further than other designations in the world by raising awareness of the features that link the stars of our culture, from the Mabinogi to the old penillion. This we LOVE. 

The journey of gazing discovering and appreciating the stars has only just started,  with the opportunities to stargaze take amazing photography and admire the night sky from the mountains and foothills of Snowdonia are just beginning and wonderfully abundant.. Why not come experience our dark skies for yourself? 

  Our Top spots to Go and Gaze at the dark skies in Snowdonia for families and walkers.

  We’ve compiled a list of our favourite local spots to enjoy Snowdonia’s dark status, we have chosen these spots so its not too far a walk which may make a whole lot easier to get the kids motivated and out and about for some adventure.

Cwm Idwal – Park at the carpark and maybe pull a few for out chairing start gazing, its really that simple. if your feeling like a hike (maybe not so suitable for little ones at night) head up to Cwm Idwal lake and sit on the glacial boilers and gaze for a while. –Beginner / intermediate level!

Pen Y Pass : Another easy location for hobbyist gazers would be one y pass car park at night, dive up past LLanberis and all the way tot the top of the pass (take note* in winter it could be icy so take care driving) – Beginner level!

Capel curig : A short drive north west from Pen Y pass at the top of the valley is Capel Curig. All though this is a small village light  is low and you can park on the edge of Llyn Mymbyr and just step out of the car and gaze – Beginner level ! 

Marchlyn Mawr reservoir : This one is an exciting drive in itself plus a little walk up top and would be best suited to more experienced walkers in winter. Although the walk is easy we all know that winter conditions are fickle and sometimes a little unfriendly! You can dive to a gate at the bottom of road leading unto a closed off service road to mallynmawr which you can then hike up. Best to walk on the verges we found as its gets icy. From here you will each the reservoir head. If your feeling adventurous you can tackle Elidir face or Elixir fair for a full panoramic views! Pack full winter kit of your heading out- you have been warned! – More advanced level! 

We hope this article has been helpful on Snowdonia Dark Sky Status, and if you have a friend who’s into photography, stargazing or night skies share it with them on Facebook  Twitter or send them a link to this blog about the Snowdonia National Park and the Dark sky status of the Park.

  Pack list :

*Warm woolen layers I wear all year round Helly Hansen– you can’t beat them here.

*Warm coats synthetic down is great and way more ethical. I love belay jackets for this style of activity.

*Warm footwear, socks, gloves and hats 

*Binoculars that we use

*Celestron Telescope I use at home, maybe a bit big to be carting to the hills..

*Camera- that some of the good guys use

*Star book / App(s) – that I use, this is review site that is really good.

*Head torch I use- Cree 6000lm

*Warm drinks in a Thermos flask – *note if I could I would buy a vintage retro one as the    new types are not so robust and can loose their vacuum properties. Expanding foam seems to be good solution. Mind you thermos have a 5 year warranty..

*Maps if your hiking 1:25000  obviously a compass

*Garmin GPS I use- this is only in the bag for real tricky conditions

*Rucksack I use in the summer and autumn time

Useful links :

Our choice, we only choose what we have used and what we think is a real great experience for our followers. We have lived and breathed these areas for 30 plus years and these spots are our tried and tested favourites- that doesn’t mean they are bijou luxury choices, more the everyday on the move choices to suit a family or visitors on the move.

To Stay –  best resources are online look at Menai holiday cottages or North Wales holiday cottages or Air B&B

To Eat – The heights in Llanberis. Lovely warm wintery setting with generous and lovely food.

To go visit  –  Pen y gwyrydd hotel this place is amazing, its where Hillary stayed whilst training for Everest.

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  Weather links – MWIS, XCweather, Metoffice.

Mountain rescue– Llanberis, Ogwen

Winter kit list –   See our previous blog on winter mountaineering kit list

Books guides – Stargazing, Snowdonia guide

  Further reading :

Go see Kris Williams beautiful landscape photography of north Wales- truly wonderful

Rough guides article on Kiris Williams photography 

Gostargazing.co.uk

Mudandrountes.com

Visitwales.com

discoveryinthedark.com

TheGardian.com

At the time of writing we could not find any events (which there normally are) for darkskies in north Wales, when we find theme-ill update the blog. Hope the article was helpful, If you likes it give it a thumbs up and share with a friend! 

  Snowdonia national park dark skies Snowdonia the heart of Wales Snowdonia National Park was the first UK National Park named in Wales, covering over more than 2,100 square kilometers of land in north Wales. 

[thesivellife]

Living Large in Lower Gwynedd

Lower Gwynedd Township is rich in history dating back to the 1600’s- from the first settlers to it’s founding by William Penn in 1891. This area is easily accessible, whether you are traveling into or out of the city, a trip to Doylestown, or even heading to New Jersey or New York City. It is close to major roadways, 202, 309, and 476, and train stations so that you can enjoy some of the country life while still being able to easily go anywhere!

Attractions and Restaurants ~

If you enjoy the outdoors, Lower Gwynedd has plenty of nature trails and preserves. The Gwynedd Wildlife Preserve Trail and the John  C. Parry Bird Sanctuary are nearby. You can also do a run or take a leisurely walk on the Dager Trail or take the Green Ribbon Trail through Fort Washington State Park. The Township is continuing to add to many of the existing trails.

You don't have to go far to enjoy some great dining, there are the classic restaurants of The William Penn Inn, The Springhouse Tavern, Ristorante San Marco & good old Rich's Other Place. BYOB's are also sprinkled around the area like Po Le Cucina and Arpeggio's. Some of Lower Gwynedd is undergoing a revitalization of sorts. The new Springhouse Shopping Center is currently under construction, when finished, it will house a brand new Whole Foods & larger Starbucks, as well as a variety of other shops and restaurants. A new restaurant is opening up this month on the Pike, Banh Street Fried Chicken (MMMmmmm)!

The Ambler Main Street is 5 minutes away where curb appeal, walkability, restaurants, and shopping meet! Ambler restaurant week is about to start- Jan. 16-23rd. Alice Bakery & Confectionary is wonderful, so is Bridget’s Steak House, and Dettera Wine Bar. You’ll also find Pizzerias, American Grills, Mexican, Italian, Indian, and Breweries. The shopping is much like Chestnut Hill, clothing shops, hardware, garden, bridal and much more. Info from www.amblermainstreet.org.

Events, Schools, and Clubs ~

There are some great events that take place in Lower Gwynedd, you can look forward to the yearly 4th of July Fireworks and Fair that is held at the Wissahickon High School, and The Fall Pikefest which has food trucks, live music, games for the kids, & plenty of local vendors!

Speaking of schools, Wissahickon High School has been awarded & named as a Blue Ribbon School. You also have Gwynedd Mercy Academy and Gwynedd Mercy College close by, along with many other private academies and schools.  

Take a swing at Cedarbrook Country Club which offers a championship designed 18 hole golf course, swimming, tennis, bocce ball, & dining. There's also the Penllyn Club which offers swimming, tennis, & paddle ball tennis. Both clubs are very family oriented and offer a great social scene.

If you’re looking for a real workout, here's the brand new TruBARRE studio which just opened up. You can also hop into hot yoga at Dana Hot Yoga, or personal fitness/training at Fast Twitch or Motivate fitness. The new Ambler Y has plenty of classes from swimming and fitness to dance, a weight/fitness room, an indoor track, indoor & outdoor swimming pools with massive tube slides, daycare, and summer camps running week to week all summer (SCORE)!

There are so many perks to living in Lower Gwynedd, the above is simply a small glimpse into them! To visit our listings in this area visit www.sivelgroupluxury.com.

Article by:

Jennifer Herman Lloyd, RealtorThe Sivel Group ~ Move Smarter Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach, Realtors

Photo Credit: From Instagram- Bottom left of Wissahickon Trail by @maxgrudz, top right of The William Penn Inn by @kriebelbeth. Top left of Gypsy Hill Mansion for The Sivel Group by Herb Engelsberg and bottom right for the Sivel Group by Black & Poole.

[eionspennsylvania-blog]

A snowy Gwynedd Wildlife Preserve on this Sunday before the storm. (Betcha it'll be more snowy mid-week.) My video tour here --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTlRebjbCBs

[deoxify]

leaves of grass by Gwyn Michael on Flickr.

[natlands-blog]

Gwynedd Wildlife Preserve. Photo by Julie Novak Stafford, preserve visitor.

[natlands-blog]

Kids, grab your adults and come out to celebrate the arrival of spring with Natural Lands Trust! We’ll take a peek at early wildflowers, listen for peeping birds, laugh at croaking frogs, and look for animals emerging from hibernation.

We’ll explore meadows, woodlands, and wetlands of Natural Lands Trust’s 279-acre Gwynedd Wildlife Preserve. Early spring clues reveal an amazing array of creatures thriving in this suburban oasis.

This hike will cover approximately 1.5 miles at a family-friendly pace. Portions of the walk may cover tough terrain as we search for wildlife. Trails are not suitable for most strollers. Please leave pets at home. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy, waterproof shoes.

[natlands-blog]

Gwynedd Wildlife Preserve. Photo by Julie Novak Stafford, preserve visitor.

[birdghost]

i am very happy with this selfie, it feels like me. one million images of Gwynedd Wildlife Preserve incoming when i'm back on wifi.

[birdghost]

gwynedd wildlife preserve 🌙🌾⛅

[birdghost]

Went for a walk at Gwynedd Wildlife Preserve today and stumbled upon what I think might be the prettiest place I’ve ever seen, heard, or even smelled. Saw a huge amount of birds including mallards, robins, blue jays, redwing blackbirds, downy woodpeckers, chickadees, and cardinals and heard a few songs that I think must have been vireos but I can’t ID them! Everything smelled like dry grass and I saw about 10 deer while walking around for an hour and a half or so. Hardly any human noise, anyone else I saw there was either carrying a camera or binoculars.

[natlands-blog]

Kids, grab your adults and come out to celebrate the arrival of spring with Natural Lands Trust! We’ll take a peek at early wildflowers, listen for peeping birds, laugh at croaking frogs, and look for animals emerging from hibernation.

We’ll explore meadows, woodlands, and wetlands of Natural Lands Trust’s 279-acre Gwynedd Wildlife Preserve. Early spring clues reveal an amazing array of creatures thriving in this suburban oasis.

This hike will cover approximately 1.5 miles at a family-friendly pace. Portions of the walk may cover tough terrain as we search for wildlife. Trails are not suitable for most strollers. Please leave pets at home. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy, waterproof shoes.

[natlands-blog]

Getting to Upper Gwynedd is an easy affair for anyone looking for a home in the neighborhood as this Montgomery Township has great road access and SEPTA’s Doylestown Line also has a stop nearby, writes Alan J. Heavens for Philly.com.

Another draw to the area is the obvious dedication of the township to preserve and support the 240-acre Gwynedd Wildlife Preserve. This offers residents a diverse variety of the beauties of nature right in their backyard including ponds, wetlands, wildflower meadows, forests and conifer plantations.

[natlands-blog]

A Goldfinch at Gwynedd Wildlife Preserve from visitor Julie Novak Stafford.