Rhaeadr y Cwm
Waterfall of the Cwm
Rhaeadr y Cwm
LocationGwynedd, Wales
Coordinates52°57′25″N 3°52′37″W / 52.957°N 3.877°W / 52.957; -3.877[1]
Total height400 feet (120 m)
Number of dropsSix

The Rhaeadr y Cwm is a waterfall on the Afon Cynfal river in Gwynedd, North Wales. The falls are located near the B4391 road, some 3 miles (5 km) east of Ffestiniog.[2]

Description

Rhaiadr Cwm, (by David Cox)

Rhaeadr y Cwm is located at SH736415 on the Afon Cynfal river, a watercourse that drains Migneint (to the east), an area of upland covering over 47,000 acres (19,000 ha).[3][4] The river drops about 400 feet (120 m) as it flows through the gorge which separates the upland from the lowland course of the river.[5][6] The waterfall's run covers a cascade of six steps through a narrow gorge.[5]

The waterfall can be viewed from a lay-by on the adjacent B4391 road (SH732418) between the A470 and A4212 roads.[7][8] Due to the nature of heavy rainfall on the long falls over a steep drop, it has been described as "..one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Britain."[9]

There is a proposal to build a weir above the waterfall and pipe some of the water away from a hydrolectric scheme. Those backing the scheme state that it will generate enough electricity to power 700 homes. Opponents say that up to 70% of the water will be diverted away from the falls, which will change the overall look of the waterfall.[10] There are also concerns that the moisture-loving mosses and liverworts that line the gorge's sides will be affected by the water diversion.[11]

Rhaeadr means waterfall in Welsh, and cwm means mountain hollow.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Rhaeadr y Cwm waterfall walk". cavinguk.co.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  2. ↑ Styles, Showell (1987). Snowdonia National Park. Exeter: Webb & Bower. p. 119. ISBN 0-8635-0137-0.
  3. ↑ "Migneint-Arenig-Dduallt - Special Areas of Conservation". sac.jncc.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  4. ↑ Gregory 1997, p. 123.
  5. 1 2 Jones, John Llewellyn (1986). The waterfalls of Wales. London: Hale. p. 151. ISBN 0-7090-2584-X.
  6. ↑ Gregory 1997, p. 124.
  7. ↑ Perrin, Jim (30 November 2019). "Country diary: a perfect setting for dramatic folktales". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  8. ↑ Condry, William (1987). Snowdonia. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. p. 124. ISBN 0-7153-8734-0.
  9. ↑ "Voelas, Ysbyty Ifan, Rhaeadr-y-Cwm". The North Wales Weekly News. 19 July 1954. p. 6.
  10. ↑ Somerville, Ewan (3 January 2024). "Snowdonia waterfall could be diverted to hit net zero target". The Daily Telegraph. No. 52, 453. p. 12. ISSN 0307-1235.
  11. ↑ Forgrave, Andrew (24 November 2023). "'Unthinkable' hydro plan to divert water from 'majestic and iconic' waterfall in Snowdonia - Experts say diverting up to 70% of the waterfall will have a 'negligible' impact on its look". infoweb.newsbank.com. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  12. ↑ Sale, Richard (2010). North Wales. London: Collins. p. 12. ISBN 9780007351404.

Sources

  • Gregory, Kenneth John, ed. (1997). Fluvial geomorphology of Great Britain. London: Chapman and Hall. ISBN 0-4127-8930-2.
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