Trefriw

Trefriw is situated in the heart of the Conwy Valley, on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park. Perfectly situated for visiting the many attractions in the Park as well as the busy sea-side towns on the North Wales coast.

Trefriw first makes an appearance in history books in the twelfth century, when Llywelyn the Great had a hunting lodge here. He had strongholds all over north west Wales, from Aberffraw on Anglesey to Dolwyddelan in the Lledr valley south of here, and it’s impossible to know how much time he spent here. It was enough, however, to make it necessary for him to commission a church on the site where St Mary’s now stands.

Trefriw developed much later, during the industrial revolution. Trefriw turned into a port, where the lead and slates brought down from the mines in the hills were loaded into boats and transported down the River Conwy to the sea. Tourism began soon afterwards, and the wharf where the ships were loaded became a quay. Here pleasure boats ended their journey from Conwy and delivered holiday makers.

There are some large Victorian houses in the village that began as boarding houses for these early tourists. The block, of which Glanrafon Stores is now a part, was a hotel. The nineteenth century saw Trefriw flourishing. It was the century of the Welsh Chapels, and Trefriw had several. The largest and most imposing, Peniel, built about 1870, can be seen from the village street by the Post Office.

Trefriw is ideally placed for all manner of activities and attractions.

The splendour of the Snowdonia National Park, and the amusements of the North Welsh Coast, are both on Trefriw’s doorstep.

Inside the village, you can visit the Trefriw Woolen Mills where you can see the weaving and hydro-electric turbines and buy crafts from its shop.