Trefriw
is located in the Conwy Valley, Conwy County, North Wales between the
towns of Dolgarrog to the north and Betws-y-Coed to the south. It is
an excellent starting point for walks in the Conwy Valley and the foothills
of Snowdonia. There is an information board in the centre of the village
that displays several of the walks.
Trefriw is also popular with tourists
who visit the Trefriw Woollen Mill and the Trefriw Wells Spa, indeed
it's popularity goes back to Roman times when it is believed soldiers
of the XXth legion discovered the caves from whence flows the spa mineral
water. The Roman road known as Sarn Helen passed through the village
linking the fort at Caerhun (a few miles north of Trefriw) to the fort
at Tomen-y-mur (near Trawsfynydd in Gwynedd).
Later visitors to Trefriw
included the Welsh Prince Llywelyn the Great or Llywelyn Fawr. Llywelyn
had a hunting lodge in Trefriw but his church was in Llanrhychwyn at
the top of a very steep hill that leads south out of Trefriw. His wife
Siwan, Joan, daughter of King John of England grew tired of the hike
to the top of the hill and Llywelyn built a church within the village
on the site of the present church of St Mary's.
The hill is just as steep
to this day but I would strongly recommend the walk to Llanrhychwyn old
church as you will be rewarded with splendid views of the Conwy Valley
and an atmospheric church believed to be the oldest in Wales.
By the
early 20th Century the village had become popular as an inland holiday
resort with the Victorian visitors arriving by both boat and railway
train. Railway passengers would disembark at the nearby Llanrwst Railway
Station and complete the journey via the Gower Bridge, while Paddle Steamers
would carry passengers from Conwy through the Conwy Valley on a scenic
90 minute trip.
In the 21st Century I am afraid that the boat trips are
no longer in business but the Conwy Valley Railway still runs a service
from Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog with glorious views of
the Conwy Valley and surrounding countryside, and you may still cross
to Trefriw from the Llanrwst Station over the
splendid Gower Suspension Bridge.
The village has a number of pubs, hotels,
guesthouses and holiday cottage accommodation and the Fairy Falls Hotel
keeps alive the ancient tradition of Fairies in the village of Trefriw.
