The Sychnant Pass, Dwygyfylchi

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The Sychnant Pass is a deep cleft between Alltwen, to the north, and Maen Esgob, to the south. Along this section of the North Wales coast, the uplands of Snowdonia press close on the sea, so the pass was the most practical route for the turnpike road west of Conwy built in 1772.

sychnant_pass_1890sThe historian Thomas Pennant praised the civil engineering after ascending the new road in the late 1770s. He also wrote about earlier accidents at the pass, including one in 1762 when the Rev Jones, rector of Llanelian, Anglesey, fell down the “steepest part” with his horse and a midwife who was riding behind him. She and the horse died but the rector survived and walked away, “exulting at his preservation”.

The steep climb from the west was taxing for the horses, and in 1830 Thomas Telford engineered an almost level road around Penmaen Bach, the rocky hill between Alltwen and the sea.

The concrete track leading north from the car parks at the pass runs below Carreg Felen (“Yellow Rock”), an outcrop formed of volcanic lava from c.450m years ago. Iron stains are responsible for its distinctive colour.

The best route down if you’re on foot is the old track, a little below the current road. As you descend, don’t forget to shout at the scree slope opposite, to hear the echo! The old track and the newer road are both clearly visible in the 1890s photo above.

Beside the current road are remains of anti-tank blocks from the Second World War. They were built in case an invading German army tried to proceed to Conwy via the pass.

Use the image below to identify features visible from the Sychnant Pass. “Sych” is Welsh for dry, “nant” means stream or valley. Water rarely flows along the bottom of the cleft.

To hear how to pronounce Sychnant, press play:
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sychnant_pass_coachingTo hear how to pronounce Capelulo, press play:
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Dwygyfylchi means "two circular forts". There are prehistoric remains on the uploads to the south. To hear how to pronounce Dwygyfylchi, press play:
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Foel means hill, Llus means bilberries. To hear how to pronounce Foel Lus, press play:
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To hear how to pronounce Alltwen, press play:
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image_of_sychnant_pass

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