Aberglaslyn Pass and Gorge

Abstract

South of Beddgelert (SH 592482) the A498 makes use of the Aberglaslyn Pass to cross the last barrier of hills before it leaves Snowdonia. The Afon Glaslyn, which rises near Snowdon and trickles down through Llyn Llydaw, Cwm Dyli and the broad Nant Gwynant valley, flows beside the A498 through the pass. There is barely enough room for both the river and the road in the floor of this spectacular gorge. The extreme narrowness combined with the cliff-like walls of bare rock over 100 m high make this one of the most unusual features of Snowdonia, markedly different to the wide U-shaped valleys and armchair cwms commonly found elsewhere (see sites 18 & 19).