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Afon Glaslyn

Rivers of GwyneddRivers of SnowdoniaUse British English from January 2018
Aberglaslyn Pass
Aberglaslyn Pass

Afon Glaslyn (Welsh for 'River Glaslyn') is a river in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. While not of great significance in terms of its length (about 16 miles (26 km)), it is one of Gwynedd's primary rivers, and has greatly influenced the landscape in which it flows. It has its source in Glaslyn, a cirque lake on the flanks of Snowdon. It is joined by Nant Traswnant which drains Pen-y-Pass and by Nant Cynnyd before entering the beautiful lake, Llyn Gwynant. The river then flows through Llyn Dinas before entering the village of Beddgelert. In the middle of the village it is joined by the substantial tributary, the River Colwyn which drains the south-western flank of Snowdon. The much enlarged river flows down past Gelert's grave before tumbling down into the Aberglaslyn Pass. This is a small rocky gorge close to the main road which provides easy public access to a most picturesque piece of Snowdonian scenery. Passing through Pont Aberglaslyn, the river emerges from the gorge into the relatively flat agricultural land of Tremadog and Porthmadog. This wide flat valley – now called Traeth Mawr – was once the estuary of the Glaslyn before the Porthmadog Cob was created. This sealed off the mouth of the estuary, enabling the land to be reclaimed. Once the river has crossed under the railway line, it meanders in large pools and marshes before eventually passing through the tidal sluices on the Cob at the south-eastern end of the town of Porthmadog, and from there into Tremadog Bay. Further south, the River Dwyryd also drains into Tremadog Bay. The first pair of breeding ospreys in Wales nest at Pont Croesor about 4 miles (6.4 km) upstream from Porthmadog where the RSPB have set up observation facilities. They first bred in 2005 and have returned every year since. Fishing on the Glaslyn up to Beddgelert is controlled by the Glaslyn Angling Association.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Afon Glaslyn (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 52.916666666667 ° E -4.1166666666667 °
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The Cob
LL48 6HT , Penrhyndeudraeth
Wales, United Kingdom
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Aberglaslyn Pass
Aberglaslyn Pass
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Porthmadog cross town link
Porthmadog cross town link

The Porthmadog cross town link is a section of the 1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm) narrow gauge Welsh Highland Railway, specifically built to link with the Ffestiniog Railway in Porthmadog, and runs along partly what was called the Junction Railway, previously existing as part of the original Welsh Highland Railway. This had been removed some time after that railway closed in 1936. It has been built using the new powers obtained by the Ffestiniog Railway and runs from Harbour station on the Ffestiniog Railway to Pen-y-Mount Junction close to Pen-y-Mount on the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. The route is as follows: Junction with the Ffestiniog Railway at Harbour station. Cross Porthmadog High St and the River Glaslyn across the Britannia Bridge with road traffic stopped by lights when trains pass. Around the back of the Wilko supermarket. As such this is a deviation from the original line, that broadly speaking went in front of what is now the supermarket. Across the back streets, in front of the old mill. Across the standard gauge Cambrian Line on the level. This is the only mixed gauge flat rail crossing in the United Kingdom. Along the track bed of the Welsh Highland Railway. Junction just north Pen-y-Mount with Welsh Highland Heritage Railway to Porthmadog (WHHR).For reference, the Junction Railway was empowered to run: Junction with the Ffestiniog Railway at Harbour Station. Cross Porthmadog High St and the River Glaslyn across the Britannia Bridge with street running. a short small curve onto Madoc Street to join to the existing Croesor Tramway line which was taken over by the Welsh Highland Railway.The line reopened on 8 January 2011, linking the Ffestiniog Railway with the Croesor Tramway allowing passenger trains to run between Caernarfon and Blaenau Ffestiniog.