| Great Orme | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 207 m (679 ft) |
| Location | Conwy county borough, Wales |
| Prominence | 201 m |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 115 |
| OS grid reference | SH767833 |
| Listing | Marilyn |
The Great Orme (Welsh: Y Gogarth or Pen y Gogarth) is a prominent limestone headland on the north coast of Wales situated in Llandudno. Welsh ( cy Cymraeg or cy y Gymraeg, kəmˈrɑːɨɡ and {{IPA|[ə ɡəmˈrɑːɨɡ]}}, is a member of the Brythonic branch of Celtic Limestone is a Sedimentary rock composed largely of the Mineral Calcite ( Calcium carbonate: CaCO3 Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment North Wales (Gogledd Cymru is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales, bordered to the south by Mid Wales and to the east by England. Llandudno (pronounced /ɬan'dɪdnɔ/ is a Seaside resort and Town in Conwy, Wales. It is referred to as Cyngreawdr Fynydd in a poem by the 12th century poet Gwalchmai ap Meilyr. Gwalchmai ap Meilyr (fl 1130 - 1180) was a Welsh language court poet from Ynys Môn who composed poems in praise of Owain Gwynedd [1] It is echoed by the Little Orme, a smaller but very similar limestone headland, which is on the other side of Llandudno Bay in the parish of Llanrhos. The Little Orme is known in Welsh as Rhiwledyn and is 141 metres (or 463 feet in height Creuddyn peninsula is the geographical term for a peninsula in the county of Conwy in North Wales. Llanrhos (also called Eglwys Rhos is a Village to the east and south of Llandudno in the Conwy County Borough, North Wales.
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Geology and natural history
The Great Orme is run as a nature reserve by the Conwy County Borough Countryside Service, with a number of protective designations (including Special Area of Conservation, Heritage Coast, Country Park, and Site of Special Scientific Interest), being an area two miles (3. Geography It contains the major settlements of Llandudno, Llandudno Junction, Llanrwst, Betws-y-Coed, Conwy, Colwyn Bay A Special Area of Conservation (SAC is defined in the European Commission Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC also known as the Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats A Heritage Coast is a strip of UK Coastline designated by the Countryside Agency in England and the Countryside Council for Wales as having notable A Site of Special Scientific Interest or SSSI is a Conservation designation denoting a Protected area in the United Kingdom. 2 km) long by one mile (1. 6 km) wide. It is home to a long-established herd of several hundred feral Kashmir goats (a present from Queen Victoria). Cashmere wool, usually simply known as cashmere, and sometimes known as Pashmina, is a fiber obtained from the Cashmere goat. Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901 was from 20 June 1837 the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland There are numerous paths for walking on the summit, including a section of the North Wales Path, a long distance route. The North Wales Path is a long distance walk of some 60 miles which runs close to the North Wales coast between Prestatyn in the east and Bangor in About half the Great Orme is in use as farmland, mostly for sheep grazing.
The geology of the Great Orme is limestone and the surface is particularly noted for the limestone pavements covering several headland areas. Geology (from Greek γη gê, "earth" and λόγος Logos, "speech" lit Limestone is a Sedimentary rock composed largely of the Mineral Calcite ( Calcium carbonate: CaCO3 There are also rich seams of Dolomite-hosted copper ore. Dolomite (ˈdɒləmaɪt is the name of a Sedimentary Carbonate rock and a Mineral, both composed
The Great Orme has a very rich flora, including most notably the only known site of the critically endangered Wild Cotoneaster Cotoneaster cambricus, of which only six wild plants are known. Cotoneaster cambricus ( Wild Cotoneaster; Welsh: Creigafal y Gogarth "rock apple of Gogath" is a species of Cotoneaster [2]
Many of the flowers growing in shallow lime-rich earth on the headland have developed from the alpine sub-arctic species that developed following the last ice-age. An ice age is a period of long-term reduction in the Temperature of the Earth 's surface and atmosphere resulting in an expansion of continental Ice sheets
Spring and early summer flowers include Bloody Cranesbill, Thrift and Sea Campion, clinging to the sheer rock face, while Pyramidal Orchid, Common Rockrose and Wild Thyme carpet the grassland. Gardeners often use the name "geranium" to mean Pelargonium: see below. Silene is a Genus of Flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae. The pyramidal orchid, Anacamptis pyramidalis, is an Orchid native to central and southern Europe. The Cistaceae (or rock-rose family, rock rose family) is a rather small family of plants known for its beautiful shrubs vastly covered by Flowers at The old mines and quarries also provide suitable habitat for species of plants including Spring Squill growing on the old copper workings. Scilla verna, commonly known as spring squill, is a Flowering plant native to Western Europe.
The White Horehound (marrubium vulgare), which is found growing on the western-most slopes of the Orme is said to have been used, and perhaps cultivated, by fourteenth century monks, no doubt to make herbal remedies including cough mixtures. Marrubium vulgare ( White Horehound or Common Horehound) is a Flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to Europe, The rare Horehound Plume Moth (pterophorus spilodactylus) lays her eggs amongst the silky leaves and its caterpillars rely for food solely upon this one plant. The Pterophoridae or plume- Moths are a family of Lepidoptera with unusually modified wings Caterpillars are the Larval form of a member of the order Lepidoptera (the Insect order comprising butterflies and Moths
The headland is the habitat of several endangered species of butterflies including the Silky Wave, the Silver-studded Blue (plebejus argus ssp. A butterfly is an Insect of the order Lepidoptera. Like all Lepidoptera butterflies are notable for their unusual life cycle with a The Silver-studded Blue ( Plebeius argus) is a Butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. caernesis) and the Grayling (hipparchia ssp. semele thyone) These last two have adapted to the Great Orme by appearing earlier in the year to take advantage of the limestone flowers and grasses. Also they are smaller than in other parts of the country and are recognised as a definite sub-species.
The Great Orme is reported as the northernmost known habitat within Britain for several ‘southern’ species of spider notably: Segestria bavarica, Episinus truncatus, Micrargus laudatus, Drassyllus praeficus, Liocranum rupicola and Ozyptila scabricula. Spiders are Predatory Invertebrate Animals that have two body segments, eight legs no chewing mouth parts and no wings Segestria is a genus of segestriid spiders that occur mainly in Eurasia. Episinus truncatus is a small dark tangle-web spider In England it is mostly found on Heather and sometimes on coastal grassland Ozyptila is a genus of rather small Crab spiders Species Ozyptila aculeipes Strand 1906 (Tunisia
The caves and abandoned mine workings are home to large colonies of the rare Horseshoe bat. Horseshoe bats (the Rhinolophidae family are a large family of bats including approximately 130 species grouped in 10 genera This small flying mammal navigates the caves and tunnels by using echo location to obtain a mental picture of its surroundings. During the daytime, Horseshoe bats are found suspended from the roof of tunnels and caves, with their wings tightly wrapped around their bodies. Only at dusk do the bats leave the caves and mine shafts, to feed on beetles and moths.
The cliffs are host to colonies of seabirds (such as Guillemots, Kittiwakes, Razorbills and even Fulmars as well as Gulls). Guillemot is the Common name for several species of Seabird in the Auk family comprising two genera Uria and Cepphus The kittiwakes ( Genus Rissa) are two closely related Seabird species in the Gull family Laridae the Black-legged Kittiwake The Razorbill, Alca torda, is a large Auk, 38-43 cm in length with a 60-69 cm wingspan The two Fulmars are closely related Seabirds occupying the same niche in different Oceans. Gulls (often informally Seagulls) are birds in the family Laridae The Great Orme is also home to many resident and migrant land birds including Ravens, Little Owls and Peregrine Falcons. Raven is the common name given to the largest species of Passerine Birds in the Genus Corvus. The Peregrine Falcon ( Falco peregrinus) also known simply as the Peregrine, and historically as the "Duck Hawk" in North America is a
Below the cliffs, the rock-pools around the headland are a rich and varied habitat for aquatic plants and animals including barnacles, red beadlet anemones and hermit crabs. A barnacle is a type of Arthropod belonging to infraclass Cirripedia in the subphylum Crustacea, and is hence distantly related to Anemone ( A-ne-mó-ne, from the Gr Άνεμος wind is a Genus of about 120 Species of flowering plants in the Crabs are decapod Crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" (βραχύ / brachy
Gogarth Manor
The medieval parish of Llandudno comprised three townships, each established on the lower slopes of the Great Orme. The township of Y Gogarth at the south-western 'corner' of the Great Orme was latterly the smallest but it contained the palace of the Bishop of Bangor. The Bishop of Bangor is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Bangor. The Manor of Gogarth (which included all three townships) had been bestowed on Anian, Bishop of Bangor by King Edward I in 1284 in recognition of services rendered to the crown, notably the baptism of the first English Prince of Wales, newly born at Caernarfon. Edward I (17 June 1239 – 7 July 1307 popularly known as Longshanks, was a King of England who achieved historical fame by conquering large parts of Wales and almost In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted Prince of Wales (Tywysog Cymru is a title traditionally granted to the Heir Apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom (and formerly the Kingdom Caernarfon (the original Welsh spelling is now almost always used in preference to the anglicised forms "Caernarvon" or "Carnarvon" is a The palace was burnt down by Owain Glyndŵr in 1400 and the ruins have mostly been washed away together with much of the township by coastal erosion in the Conwy Estuary. Owain Glyndŵr (pronounced 'owain glin'dwr or Owain Glyn Dŵr, Anglicised by Shakespeare into Owen Glendower (c
The significant agricultural yet north facing township of Cyngreawdr includes the original parish church and rectory of St Tudno, a sixth or seventh century foundation. A parish church, in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a Parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches Depending on denomination, local custom and the status of the minister the Building inhabited (or formerly inhabited by the leader of a local Christian church can Following the Glyndŵr uprising, the villagers of the Creuddyn peninsular were harshly taxed and by 1507 they had nearly all fled their homes. Henceforth the cultivated land lay fallow and is now grazed by sheep and goats. Llandudno's Victorian cemetery, which is still in regular use, was laid out in 1859 adjacent to the 12th century church of Saint Tudno where open-air services are held every Sunday Morning in summer. Nearby are several large ancient stones that have become shrouded in folklore and also an unexplained stone lined avenue called Hwylfa'r Ceirw leading towards Cilfin Ceirw (Precipice of Deer). History The concept of folklore developed as part of the 19th century ideology of Romantic nationalism, leading to the reshaping of oral traditions to serve modern ideological
The third township was Yn Wyddfid clustered below the Iron Age hill fort of Pen y Dinas at the north eastern 'corner' of the Great Orme. This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age for the mythological Iron Age see Ages of Man. A hill fort is a fortified refuge or defended settlement With the reopening of the copper mines from the 18th century onwards, this township grew considerably in size with the streets and cottages of the mining village laid out on the largely abandoned agricultural holdings.
The Great Orme Wells
Natural wells were greatly prized in limestone districts and the Great Orme was no exception. Water was required for copper mining purposes as well as for domestic and agricultural use. The following Great Orme wells are known and most still supply running water:
- Ffynnon Llygaid
Possibly one of the wells supplying the needs of the once populous Gogarth community before much of it was lost to coastal erosion.
- Ffynnon Gogarth
The main water source for Gogarth and in the later eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries the power source to operate the famous Tom and Gerry engine that though a long series of Brammock rods powered the mine water pumps at the Higher shaft near the summit above Pyllau.
- Ffynnon Powel
One of the water supplies together with ffynnon Tudno and ffynnon Rufeinig serving the medieval farming community of Cyngreawdr.
- Ffynnon Galchog
This well, near Mynydd Isaf, to the north of Pen Dinas, is a source of lime-rich water known for its petrifying qualities, it is one of two wells known to have been used in the washing of copper ores. A petrifying well is a well with the mythical ability to turn everyday objects into stone
- Ffynnon Tudno
Situated beyond the road, near the north-east corner of St Tudno's Church, ffynnon Tudno was, together with ffynnon Rufeinig, a principal source of water for the community settled round the church.
- Ffynnon Rufeinig
Translated Roman Well it takes its name from the tradition that Roman copper miners used its waters to wash the copper ores mined nearby.
- Ffynnon Llech
A spring of water located in Ogof Llech, a cave on the headland very difficult of access, and claimed to have been used as a hermitage by Saint Tudno a sixth century monk of Bangor-is-y-Coed who established the first church here. Bangor-on-Dee (Bangor-is-y-Coed or Bangor Is Coed is a Village in the ancient district of Maelor in Wales, situated on the banks of the River Dee
- Ffynnon Gaseg
Literally "Mare's well" this spring was revealed, at the side of the road, about half way round and near the highest point (and where it can still be seen), during the construction of the Marine Drive in the nineteenth century. It was thus ideally situated to refresh the horses on that five mile carriage drive round the base of the Great Orme.
The Copper Mines
The Great Orme Mines are possibly the most important copper mines of the Bronze Age yet discovered and excavated. Currently the most common source of Copper Ore is the mineral Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2 which accounts for about 50% of copper production The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for Apparently abandoned around 600 BC, but with some evidence of Roman patronage, the mines were reopened in 1692 and continued to be worked until the end of the 19th century. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar It is possible that some of the copper from the mine was exported to Continental Europe, even in the Bronze Age. Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the Continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European In addition to the three main mining areas, there are many opencast bell pit mines along the lines of the main geological faults.
In the 20th century the mines have been once again reopened, and the Bronze Age mine workings are now a fee-paying attraction for the public to experience. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on
Tourism
A cabin-lift (built 1969) and the Great Orme Tramway, a vintage tram system (built 1902), convey visitors to the summit of the Great Orme, past one of only two artificial ski slopes in North Wales, complete with one of the longest toboggan runs in the UK. A gondola lift is a type of Aerial lift, often called a cable car, which consists of a loop of Steel cable that is strung between two stations The Great Orme Tramway (Tramffordd y Gogarth is a cable-hauled gauge Tramway in Llandudno in north Wales. A tram, tramcar, trolley, trolley car, or streetcar is a railborne vehicle, of lighter weight and construction than a Train A ski is a long flat device worn on the feet designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow A toboggan is a simple Sled used on snow to carry one or more people (often children down a hill or other slope for recreation The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located
Around the lower slopes of the Orme are landscaped gardens in the Happy Valley and terraces in the Haulfre Garden on the landward facing steeply sloping southern side. Invalid walks link the Haulfre Gardens with the western end of the Marine Drive.
The 'Marine Drive' toll road runs around the coastal perimeter of the Orme and leads to St. Tudno's Church, the award-winning Bronze Age Copper Mine and to the Great Orme Summit complex with car park. The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for Currently the most common source of Copper Ore is the mineral Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2 which accounts for about 50% of copper production The toll road ticket also pays for the parking at the Summit Complex.
Among the summit complex attractions are a tourist shop, cafeteria, visitors' centre, a play area for young children a licensed hotel, cable car terminal and funicular railway/tram terminal. An aerial tramway is a type of Aerial lift in which a cabin is suspended from a cable and is pulled by another cable
On the northernmost point of the Orme there is the decommissioned Llandudno lighthouse which has been converted to a small bed & breakfast guest house with accommodation for eight guests. A lighthouse is a Tower, building or framework designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or in older times from a fire and used as an Bed and breakfast, also known as B&B, is a term originating in the United Kingdom, but now also used all over the world for an establishment that offers accommodation Nearby, on the Marine Drive, is the old established "Rest and be thankful" café with a large car park.
Military occupation
The Royal Artillery coastal gunnery school was transferred from Shoeburyness to the Great Orme in 1940 (and additionally to the Little Orme in 1941) during the Second World War. The Royal Artillery, is the common name for the Royal Regiment of Artillery, is an Arm of the British Army. Shoeburyness is a Town in southeast Essex, England, situated at the mouth of the river Thames. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Target practice was undertaken from the headland to anchored boats. The foundations of some of the buildings and installations remain and can be seen from the western end of the Marine Drive. There was also a Chain Home Low radar station operated bt the Royal Air Force at the hotel during WWII. Chain Home Low (CHL was the name of a Radar system used by the RAF during WWII. Radar is a system that uses electromagnetic waves to identify the range altitude direction or speed of both moving and fixed objects such as Aircraft, ships World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including
Origin of the word 'Orme'
Both the Great and Little Ormes have been etymologised to the Old Norse word for sea serpent (transliterated to urm (or orm). Etymology is the study of the History of Words &mdash when they entered a language from what source and how their form and meaning have changed over time Old Norse is the North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age This article is about sea serpents in mythology and cryptozoology Transliteration is the practice of Transcribing a Word or text written in one Writing system into another writing system or system of rules for such practice Marauding Vikings are thus said to have believed that the Ormes (and the wider Creuddyn peninsula) resembled a sea serpent - with the Great Orme being the serpent's head - as their boats came in. A Viking is one of the Norse ( Scandinavian Explorers Warriors Merchants, and pirates who raided and colonized wide areas Creuddyn peninsula is the geographical term for a peninsula in the county of Conwy in North Wales. This article is about sea serpents in mythology and cryptozoology But it is very difficult to substantiate this belief because the Vikings left us no written texts, because it seems unlikely that the Vikings ever colonised the area (there are no other Norse names in Gwynedd), and because etymology is an imprecise tool. Etymology is the study of the History of Words &mdash when they entered a language from what source and how their form and meaning have changed over time
Until the coming of tourism in the 19th century (and the first tourists and developers came by sea), the name used for the wider peninsula as a whole was usually Creuddyn (the name of the medieval cwmwd in the area) but Y Gogarth or Pen y Gogarth for the Orme itself, and the name Orme appears to have been used for the headland as seen from the sea. A commote ( Welsh cwmwd, plural cymydau, less frequently cymydoedd) sometimes spelt in older documents as cymwd, was a Secular This is the case in the "Plan of the Bay & Harbour of Conway in Caernarvon Shire" by Lewis Morris and published in 1748, which map boldly shows the name "CREUDDYN" in the body of the peninsula and applies the name "Orme's Head" beyond the Great Orme headland at its north-westerly seaward point. [3]
References
- ^ J. Llandudno (pronounced /ɬan'dɪdnɔ/ is a Seaside resort and Town in Conwy, Wales. E. Caerwyn Williams (ed. ), Gwaith Meilyr Brydydd a'i ddisgynyddion (University of Wales Press, 1994). 9. 153n.
- ^ Species Action Plan: Wild Cotoneaster (pdf file)
- ^ Mary Aris, Historic Landscapes of the Great Orme page 32
- Ivor Wynne Jones. Llandudno Queen of Welsh Resorts Landmark, Ashbourne Derbyshire 2002 ISBN 1-84306-048-5 .
- Mary Aris. Historic Landscapes of the Great Orme. Carreg Gwalch, Llanrwst Wales, 1996 ISBN 0-86381-357-7 .
- Jim Roberts. Llandudno Past & Present, Sutton Publishing Ltd, Stroud, Gloucestershire 1992 ISBN 0-7509-2903-0 .
Saxon's 1578 Map of Anglesey and Caernarvonshire labels the head of the peninsula Ormeshead Point.
External links
- The Great Orme Exploration Society
- The Great Orme Tramway
- The Great Orme Summit Experience
- The Marine Drive
- Great Orme Mines
- www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Great Orme and surrounding area
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