Our first full day in Wales was dedicated to hiking in an area just 30 minutes west of where we stayed in Betws-y-Coed (which means prayer-house in the woods in Welsh and is pronounced “bettoos-uh-koid”). This view over Llyn Idwal (Llyn is the Welsh word for lake and this lake is pronounced “thlinn idd-wal”) on the right and Llyn Ogwen (thlinn ogg-wyn) is from a steep, rugged rock face on the northwest side of the hanging valley known as Cwm Idwal (koomm idd-wal), which is tucked away on the northern side of the Glyderau (gluddair-eye) mountains. The spectacular scenery here is due to glaciation, with an amphitheater of towering rock surrounding the small lake, some of which can be seen in the panorama and other photos below. We got there early in the morning with foreboding skies that gave way to sunshine later in the morning and then a brief, heavy shower later in the morning.
According to local legend Bedwyr Bedrynant, who was a knight of King Arthur, threw the famous sword Excalibur into Llyn Ogwen. Many say that this is the location where that legendary sword still lies today.
