Betws Garmon is a community and small hamlet outside Waunfawr and near Beddgelert in Gwynedd, Wales. It has a population of 249.[1]

Betws Garmon
Footbridge at Betws Garmon
Betws Garmon is located in Gwynedd
Betws Garmon
Betws Garmon
Location within Gwynedd
Population249 (2011)
OS grid referenceSH535575
Community
  • Betws Garmon
Principal area
Preserved county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townCAERNARFON
Postcode districtLL54
Dialling code01286
PoliceNorth Wales
FireNorth Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
List of places
UK
Wales
Gwynedd
53°05′42″N 4°11′17″W / 53.095°N 4.188°W / 53.095; -4.188

The summit of Snowdon lies within the community boundaries. Bryn Gloch has the newly reopened narrow gauge Welsh Highland Railway passing alongside it. The hamlet of Rhyd-Ddu is in the community.

Over the road from Bryn Gloch there is a parish church. Along the mountain extensive slate workings can be seen.

Betws Garmon also has a park near it. Near the station there is a road which leads to Rhosgadfan. Up that road there is a footpath that leads to Y Fron. A river that flows through the hamlet is called Afon Gwyrfai.

Site of Welsh Highland Railway station to be built at Betws Garmon, 1999

There was a folk tale concerning the family of Pellings, who lived at Betws Garmon until the 19th century. It was said that they were descended from a man and a fairy named Penelope. Penelope lived happily with her human husband until she was accidentally touched with a piece of iron, whereupon she disappeared forever.[2]

Etymology

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The first part of the name of the village comes from the Middle English word bedhus, meaning "prayer house", which became betws in Welsh.[3]

Demographics

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Betws Garmon's population was 249, according to the 2011 census;[4] a 15.28% increase since the 216 people noted in 2001.[5]

The 2011 census showed 54.8% of the population could speak Welsh, a rise from 45.0% in 2001.[6]

Nearly half of the population was born in England. [7]

References

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  1. ^ Office for National Statistics : Neighbourhood Statistics : Census 2001 : Gwynedd Archived 22 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Ash, Russell (1973). Folklore, Myths and Legends of Britain. Reader's Digest Association Limited. p. 382. ISBN 9780340165973.
  3. ^ Welsh Place Names Dictionary
  4. ^ "Area: Betws Garmon (Parish)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  5. ^ "Area: Betws Garmon (Parish)". Office for National Statistics. 18 November 2004. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  6. ^ "2011 Census results by Community". Welsh Language Commissioner. 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Custom report - Nomis - Official Labour Market Statistics".
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