Safeguarding Historic Landscape Names | Snowdonia National Park

Welsh historic place names capture the spirit of places, spark the imagination and sometimes vividly conjure everyday life, the struggles, battles and glories of times gone by. They form an integral part of the vibrance of the Welsh language, which has been identified as one of Eryri’s Special Qualities.

The Park Authority has two long term projects that looks at place names within the National Park. To oversee this work the Authority has a place names focus group that meets regularly to discuss issues and report back to the full Authority.

Llyn Idwal and Llyn Ogwen with Tryfan in the background

Project 1: Standardising landscape names

A collaborative project with the Welsh Language Commissioner and Cardiff University to standardise the landscape names in the National Park. We work through the names systemically, one feature at a time, with the standardised names then adopted by the Ordnance Survey on their maps.

Standard List of the Lake Names of Eryri

pobl yn edrych ar enwau lleoedd ar fap - people looking at place names on a map

Project 2: Recording landscape names

In collaboration with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales and local partners, we hold sessions to record landscape names in communities across the National Park. All the names recorded, from the names of rivers, peaks and ruins, to slopes, waterfalls, springs and fields, are added to the Wales List of Historical Place Names, and the relevant names included in the above standardising project.

Anyone can contribute names to the above projects, or directly to the Wales List of Historic Place Names (details at the bottom of this page).

Why are landscape names so important?

Wherever we go in the world, place names portray the character of a community and gives meaning to the land and its features. They also act as very practical tools, that help us navigate our way from one place to another. They remind us of our place in the world, both geographically and culturally and in Eryri, place names are considered one of the National Park’s special qualities.

Sometimes, we may find ourselves uncertain of the pronunciation of an unfamiliar name, but at other times place names can bring us closer together through common derivations of similar names. By recognising and understanding the meaning of place names, we can understand the landscape, which leads us to a better understanding of the history of the land, language and communities and their connection with plants, animals and the people’s story. All of this gives us a sense of pride, compelling us to embrace wholeheartedly our duty to protect and pass on our heritage to future generations.

Celebrating Eryri’s place names

As part of the Eryri Ambassador scheme, the poet Myrddin ap Dafydd wrote a poem using only valley names in Eryri. The poem reflects the wealth of unique names found in the National Park.

The noun ‘cwm’ that is prominent in this poem means a cirque or a valley, and in place names it is preceded with a name or an adjective describing the characteristic of a particular place. As you can see, there are many Cwms in Eryri!

Cymoedd yn Eryri

Cwm Bleiddiaid, Cwm Brwynog, Cwm Bowydd,
Cwm Croesor, Cwm Ciprwth, Cwm Coch,
Cwm Cywarch, Cwm Clogwyn, Cwm Cynfal,
Cwm Cneifion, Cwm Cowlyd, Cwm Cloch.

Cwm Dulyn, Cwm Dyli, Cwm Dylluan,
Cwm Dreiniog, Cwm Deiliog, Cwm Du,
Cwm Eigiau, Cwm Esgyll, Cwm yr Eglwys,
Cwm Ffernol, Cwm Dôl a Chwm Dŵr.

Cwm Gerwyn, Cwm Garmon, Cwm y Gylchedd,
Cwm Gwyn, Cwm y Gaer, Cwm-y-glo,
Cwm Hetiau, Cwm yr Hafod, Cwm Hesgen,
Cwm Hirnant, Cwmfynhadlog, Cwm y Go’.

Cwm Llechen, Cwm Llusog, Cwm Llefrith,
Cwm Llugwy, Cwm Llwy a Chwm Lloer,
Cwm Maesgwm, Cwm Mynach, Cwm Marchlyn,
Cwm Penamnen, Cwm Meillionen, Cwm Merch.

Cwm Nantcol, Cwmorthin, Cwm Oerddwr,
Cwm Ochain, Cwm Caeth, Cwm Blaen y Glyn,
Cwm Prysor, Cwm Penmachno, Cwm Pandy,
Cwm Tylo, Cwm Tryweryn, Cwm Gwyn.

Cwm Ffynnon, Cwm Idwal, Cwm y Lloiau,
Cwm Onnen, Cwm yr Haf, Cwm Afon Goch,
Cwm yr Ychain, Cwm yr Hyrddod, Cwm Marchnad,
Cwm Beudy Mawr, Cwm Tal-y-braich a Chwm Moch.

—Myrddin ap Dafydd

Documentation and further information

Further information is available in the adjacent documentation or on the websites listed below:

Standardised List of Lake Names in Eryri National Park (BILINGUAL)

Principles – English Landscape Names in Eryri National Park

Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales: Home – Historic Place Names of Wales (rcahmw.gov.uk)

Welsh Language Commissioner: Welsh Place-names (welshlanguagecommissioner.wales)

Welsh Government: Other resources: Place-names in Wales | GOV.WALES

Ordnance Survey Website: The Welsh origins of place names in Britain | OS GetOutside (ordnancesurvey.co.uk)

You can also direct any enquiries directly to the Eryri National Park Authority by emailing: parc@eryri.llyw.cymru, and addressing your email to the Head of Cultural Heritage.