The Afon Gwyrfai is a short river in Gwynedd, Wales. For half of its length it flows through Snowdonia National Park. Exiting Llyn y Gader it flows north through the small village of Rhyd-ddu to enter the southeastern end of Llyn Cwellyn. Downstream of the lake it flows northwest past Betws Garmon, leaving the national park and continues to the southern edge of Waunfawr. It then turns slightly west to flow on to Bontnewydd beyond which it turns slightly south to enter Foryd Bay (Y Foryd). The tidal channel within the bay flows north into the western end of the Menai Strait. Principal tributary streams include the Afon Treweunydd which contributes water from the reservoir of Llyn Ffynnon-y-gwas and from the lakes of Llyn Glas, Llyn Coch and Llyn Nadroedd in Cwm Clogwyn immediately west of the summit of Snowdon. The tidal channel of the Gwyrfai within Foryd Bay also accepts the flow of the left bank tributaries, the Afon Foryd, Afon Rhyd and Afon Carrog. The river is shadowed by the line of the Welsh Highland Railway for much of its length, and by which it is crossed four times.[1]
The name may signify the '(river of) curved places', referencing its meandering course.[2]
References
edit- ^ 254 Lleyn Peninsula East [Pen Llyn Ardal Ddwyreiniol] (Map) (A2 ed.). 1:25,000. Explorer. Ordnance Survey. 2005. ISBN 0319236471.
- ^ Owen, Hywel Wyn; Morgan, Richard (2007). Dictionary of the Place-names of Wales (First ed.). Llandyssul, Ceredigion: Gomer Press. p. 184. ISBN 9781843239017.
53°06′24″N 4°18′39″W / 53.10653°N 4.31088°W
