Beddgelert

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Village and community in the Snowdonia area of Gwynedd, Wales

title: "Beddgelert" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["beddgelert", "villages-in-gwynedd", "communities-in-gwynedd"] description: "Village and community in the Snowdonia area of Gwynedd, Wales" topic_path: "general/beddgelert" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beddgelert" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Village and community in the Snowdonia area of Gwynedd, Wales ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox UK place"]

FieldValue
countryWales
official_nameBeddgelert
area_total_km285.93
coordinates
static_image_nameBeddgelert from Mynydd Sygun.jpg
static_image_captionThe village viewed from Mynydd Sygun
population460
population_ref(2021 census)
community_walesBeddgelert
unitary_walesGwynedd
constituency_welsh_assemblyDwyfor Meirionnydd
constituency_westminsterDwyfor Meirionnydd
post_townCAERNARFON
postcode_districtLL55
postcode_areaLL
dial_code01766
os_grid_referenceSH591482
module[[File:Wales Gwynedd Community Beddgelert map.svg
Map of the community
::

| country = Wales | official_name = Beddgelert | area_total_km2 = 85.93 | welsh_name = | coordinates = | static_image_name = Beddgelert from Mynydd Sygun.jpg | static_image_caption = The village viewed from Mynydd Sygun | population = 460 | population_ref = (2021 census) | community_wales = Beddgelert | unitary_wales = Gwynedd | lieutenancy_wales = | constituency_welsh_assembly = Dwyfor Meirionnydd | constituency_westminster = Dwyfor Meirionnydd | post_town = CAERNARFON | postcode_district = LL55 | postcode_area = LL | dial_code = 01766 | os_grid_reference = SH591482 | cardiff_distance = | module= [[File:Wales Gwynedd Community Beddgelert map.svg|240px]] Map of the community Beddgelert () is a village and community in the Snowdonia area of Gwynedd, Wales. The population of the community taken at the 2021 census was 460 (rounded to the nearest 10). This includes Nantmor and Nant Gwynant. Despite the village being reputably named after the legendary hound Gelert, it's actually named after Saint Gelert, an early leader in Celtic Christianity. The community is large and sparsely populated and covers 86 square kilometres.

Geography

The village stands in a valley at the confluence of the River Glaslyn and the Afon Colwyn. Just above the confluence of the rivers, in the centre of the village, is an old stone bridge with two arches. Many of the houses and hotels are built of local dark stone. To the west is Moel Hebog and to the north and a series of hills rising to the Snowdon horseshoe. The A4085 between Caernarfon (13 mi north) and Porthmadog (8 mi south) runs through the village.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Beddgelert_-_1.jpg" caption="The River Glaslyn at Beddgelert"] ::

The village stands next to Afon Colwyn just upstream of its confluence with the Afon Glaslyn. It is also the nearest village to the scenic Glaslyn gorge, an area of tumultuous river running between steep wooded hills. Much of the area is, however, becoming invaded by the alien plant, Rhododendron ponticum which provides a covering of pink blossom in May and June, but which is slowly blanketing out the native flora. Attempts have been made to control its spread by cutting and burning.

River levels on the River Glaslyn in Beddgelert are constantly monitored by the Natural Resources Wales, in order to give advance warning of flood conditions lower down the valley.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Gelert's_Grave,Beddgelert-geograph.org.uk-_2886483.jpg" caption="Gelert's Grave in 2012"] ::

The folk tale of the faithful hound "Gelert" is often associated with the village. But the raised mound in the village called "Gelert's Grave" was built by David Pritchard, a late 18th-century landlord of the Goat Hotel. He created it in order to encourage visitors and it still remains popular attraction. Similar legends can be found in other parts of Europe and Asia.

The village is actually named after an early Celtic Christian missionary and leader named Saint Gelert (Celert or Cilert) who settled here early in the 8th century. The earliest record of the name Beddgelert is in a 1258 document where it is recorded as "Bekelert". In a document of 1269 it is recorded as "Bedkelerd". The current name of the village is often rendered "Begél" in the local Welsh dialect. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Eglwys_y_Santes_Fair_Beddgelert_St_Mary's_church_Gwynedd_Wales_28.JPG" caption="St Mary's Church"] ::

The Priory & Parish Church of Saint Mary (Beddgelert)|Church of St. Mary stands at the end of Stryd yr Eglwys (Church Street). This was originally a part of an Augustinian Monastery (the chapel), but is all that remains since the rest of the monastery was burnt down during Edward I's war of conquest. Rebuilding was probably not completed at the time of the suppression of the monastery in about 1536. Parts of the building date from the 12th century & is still in active use today.

Demographics

In 2021 the population of Beddgelert was recorded as 460, 34.5% of which were aged 55 to 74, higher than the national average of 25.1%. The largest ethnic group is White, making up 97.2% of the population, higher than the national average of 93.8%, with the second largest being Mixed with 2.2% of the population, higher than the national average of 1.6%. The largest religious group in Beddgelert is No religion with 46.5% of the population, which is also the national average, with the second largest being Christianity with 42.6%, lower than the national average of 43.6%.

Economy

Beddgelert is a significant tourist attraction, its picturesque bridge crosses the Afon Colwyn. It has a range of hotels with public bars, guesthouses, cafes, and restaurants. The car park in the village provides the easiest access route for climbing Moel Hebog, the mountain which directly overlooks the village. The outdoor equipment company Gelert originated in Bryncir then moved to Beddgelert but later moved its headquarters to nearby Porthmadog.

Part of the restored Welsh Highland Railway runs through the village. In April 2009 the railway station was reopened to the public. The line links the village with Caernarfon to the north and Porthmadog to the south.

Other local attractions include the Sygun Copper Mine.

The village is also linked with the Rupert Bear stories, as Alfred Bestall wrote and illustrated some of the stories whilst he lived in the village, in a cottage at the foot of Mynydd Sygun. There is even a small area known as 'Rupert Garden' in the village, dedicated to the Bear; a short walk from Alfred Bestall's old home.

Many films have made use of the scenery around Beddgelert, most notably The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, starring Ingrid Bergman. Parts of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life, starring Angelina Jolie, were also shot here. The area was also used to double for the Khyber Pass in India for the film Carry On Up The Khyber in 1968, the cast and crew staying in The Royal Goat Hotel in Beddgelert during filming.

Notable locals

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/A_view_of_Beddgelert,_Carnarvonshire.jpeg" caption="1814}}"] ::

Beddgelert meteorite

On 21 September 1949 a meteorite struck the Prince Llewelyn Hotel in the early hours of the morning, causing damage to the roof and a bedroom in the hotel. The following week the Caernarvon & Denbigh Herald reported the incident:

The proprietor of the hotel, a Mr Tillotson, subsequently sold half the meteorite to the British Museum and half to Durham University, which had placed an advertisement in the local papers asking for information and offering a reward for any recovered fragments of the meteorite.

There have only ever been two such verified meteorite falls in Wales: the Beddgelert incident, and an earlier incident 14 mi away in Pontllyfni in 1931, at the other end of the Nantlle Ridge.

References

;Notes

;Bibliography

References

  1. "Build a custom area profile - Census 2021, ONS".
  2. "Beddgelert Parish".
  3. [https://rivers-and-seas.naturalresources.wales/Station/4155/?lang=en&parameterType=1 Natural Resources Wales - Glaslyn at Beddgelert ]
  4. "The Legend of Gelert the Dog".
  5. {{Harvnb. Nicolaisen. Gelling. Richards. 1986
  6. Rhys, Guto. (2022). "Amrywiaith 2 - Blas ar dafodieithoedd Cymru". Carreg Gwalch.
  7. "An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Caernarvonshire: II Central: the Cantref of Arfon & the Commote of Eifionydd". Royal Commission on the Ancient & Historical Monuments of Wales.
  8. "Gelert - About us". Gelert.
  9. "Rupert Bear and Beddgelert". Beddgelerttourism.com.
  10. "Places in Wales known for being TV or film locations".
  11. [https://biography.wales/article/s-WILL-JOH-1584 WILLIAMS, JOHN (fl.1584-1627?), goldsmith, Dictionary of Welsh Biography]
  12. Ceridwen Lloyd-Morgan, 'Marged ferch Ifan (bap. 1696, d. 1793)', [[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]], Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/62908, accessed 10 Oct 2015]
  13. "Meteorite falls in Wales".

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