Swallow Falls
| Swallow falls | |
| Caernarfonshire | |
|---|---|
 Swallow Falls | |
| River: | River Llugwy |
| Type: | Cascade |
| Co-ordinates: | 53°6’9"N, 3°50’48"W |
Swallow Falls is a multiple waterfall system in Caernarfonshire, on the River Llugwy near Betws-y-Coed. It is visited by tens of thousands of tourists annually.
Name
The name 'Swallow Falls' appears to be a name coined by or for early tourists. In Welsh it is Rhaeadr Ewynnol, meaning "Foaming Waterfall". One suggestion is that the Welsh word ewynnol ('foaming') was mistaken for the similar-sounding y wennol ('swallow').[1]
In 1913 the second Lord Ancaster, the landowner, gave the Swallow Falls to the local council, who decided to make a charge for visiting it in order to pay off some of the £15,000 debt incurred through the installation of water and electricity supplies to the village. Once the debt was cleared the parish retained the fee, resulting in Betws-y-coed having the lowest rates in the country. This was ended in 1974.[2]
Admission
Admission is via an automatic turnstile gate which rotates when a fee of £1.50 is inserted into the coin slot.
There are several viewing platforms, accessed by a pathway and a set of steps.
References
- ↑ "icNorthWales - Culture clash at bird-free falls". Icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk. 2001-11-29. http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/holidays/visits/page.cfm?objectid=11452045&method=full&siteid=50142#story_continue. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
- ↑ Swallow Falls Waterfall Betws-y-Coed