Nant Gwrtheyrn
Nant Gwrtheyrn Welsh Language and Heritage Centre, is located in a former quarrying village on the northern coast of the Lleyn Peninsula, North Wales, and about 30 mins drive from our self-catering famhouse and barn conversion here at Cae Garw.
Access to Nant Gwrtheyrn is from a Car Park at the top Llithfaen village, with an extremely steep road winding down to the bottom- (not for the faint hearted!). Two footpaths lead to the beach - one at the side of the café- Caffi Meinir - and the other at the back of the quarrymen's cottages.
Nant Gwrtheyrn comprises of renovated quarrymen's cottages, a mansion house with a Heritage Centre housing an exhibition about the Welsh language and culture and Nant Gwrtheyrn's history.
Situated at the foot of the Rivals mountain range- Yr Eifl , with views over towards Anglesey, the Nant has a history going back at least two thousand years. Around 1700 AD a stone grave covered with a turf mound was found here, which was called Vortigern's Grave (Bedd Gwrtheyrn).
Up until the last century, Nant used to be used extensively for the quarrying of granite sets from the Rival mountain, which were shipped to the main centres of population in the North of England. Today granite chippings remain along the paths, but the landing quays have long disappeared, with many derelict farm houses - giving it a deep sense of isolation.
Wild goats can be often seen around the Rival's mountain range - even venturing down to Trefor village when grazing becomes scarce in the winter.
Today, Nant Gwrtheyrn comprises of renovated quarrymen's cottages, a mansion house with a Heritage Centre housing an exhibition about the Welsh language and culture and Nant Gwrtheyrn's history. The café has been named after Meinir - and her lover Rhys, who lived there many centuries ago according to the old tale. Prior to their wedding, it was custom for the bride to hide on the wedding day - thus Meinir hid in the local woodland. Unfortunately, she was never found, and Rhys became engulfed in grief. Years later - during a violent storm - they were reunited- when the tree that Meinir hid in was shattered after being hit by lightning. Rhys was said to have died at the location - together with his love at last
Since the Welsh Language Centre was established here in 1978, residential Welsh courses have been held at the Nant, as well as weddings, conferences and even music festivals.
