Discover the hidden history of Eryri’s ghost road, a lost path beneath a reservoir that once connected communities across Wales
Trawsfynydd: Have you heard about that old road that pops up during droughts? It’s like a ghostly reminder of what used to be there. This road was actually the precursor to Wales’ longest road, connecting the north and south.
Back in the day, this road was part of a bustling area with farmhouses and even a chapel. But when they flooded Y Gors Goch to create a reservoir in the 1920s, a lot of that history went underwater.
They built a new road that kind of followed the old railway line. Over time, it got renumbered and became the A487, then the A470 after the Welsh devolution referendum in 1979. It’s wild how things change!
The old Trawsfynydd-Gellilydan road was pretty straight, probably because it followed an ancient Roman route. But it also had some ups and downs, with parts still visible along the lake today.
Elfed Wyn Ap Elwyn, a local councillor, loves to think about the people who walked that road a century ago, chatting and enjoying their day. It’s fascinating to think about the lives that were once connected by those paths.
When they built the reservoir, they created four dams, one of which was the tallest arch dam in Britain at the time. It was all about supplying electricity to North Wales, which was seen as a good thing, even if it meant losing some historical farms.
Sure, some folks were bummed about losing their rights of way, but overall, the project was welcomed. They even built a small road along the lake’s edge to help with the detours.
In 1928, they added a footbridge to replace the lost paths, but it closed in 2022 due to structural issues. Now, who knows what will happen to it?
Today, parts of the old road are part of a cycle route around the reservoir. Elfed mentions how the old road was narrower and had a different vibe compared to the modern A470. You can still see remnants of it if you know where to look.
During the reservoir’s construction, several bridges were lost, and farms had to adapt to the new layout. Elfed shares how some farms had to change their entrances because of the new road. It’s a real testament to how much the landscape has changed.
For Elfed, these lost roads tell a story just as much as the buildings do. He feels a deep connection to this place and its history, and it’s clear he’s passionate about preserving that memory.
