Bwlch-y-Ddeufaen

The taller (3m) south-east stone

The north-west stone (2m)

Bwlch-y-Ddeufaen (Welsh: Gap/Pass of the Two Stones) is a mountain pass in Conwy county borough, north Wales, traversable only on foot or horseback, following the former Roman road from Caerhun (Canovium) to Caernarfon (Segontium). The route may be followed by road to Rowen or to Llanbedr-y-Cennin and from either, the way, through a mountain gate, is a clearly marked green path to Abergwyngregyn. The route lies between the peaks of Tal y Fan and Drum, in the Carneddau range in north Snowdonia. The distance from Rowen to Abergwyngregyn is about nine miles of mostly high mountain footpath. Near the Abergwyngregyn end, the route forms part of the North Wales Path.

History

The Two Stones are large pre-historic monoliths of unknown date, which mark the summit at about 1,400 feet (430 m). The south-eastern stone measures 3m in height, the smaller north-western stone is 2m high. Also, near the mountain gate, on the south side of the track, is a stone circle and a cromlech called Maen-y-bardd (the bard's stone) nearer Rowen.

The path was in fact a drovers' road leading via the Lavan Sands to Anglesey. On the mainland side, the route was part of the network of drovers' roads that reached all the major centres of population in Wales and England and, of course, London. Cattle, sheep and even geese were regularly driven that way on foot down the ages to 1850 or even later, quite often as far as London, which was the largest market in Britain.

Several Roman milestones have been discovered on this route or in the area, including one giving the distance to Kanovium (sic).

Near the Abergwyngregyn end of the green path is a green mound, the relic of a motte-and-bailey castle of Llywelyn the Great.

In the eighteenth century, when turnpike road construction was in vogue, the Caernarvonshire Turnpike trust was authorised by an Act of 1777 to reconstruct this ancient Roman road from Tal-y-Cafn via Bwlch-y-Ddeufaen over the high pass to Abergwyngregyn but they failed to carry out the work.

References

Snowdonia, National Park Guide Number 2, edited Edmund Vale, HMSO 1958/1960 (foot of page 61)

Coordinates: 53°13′41″N 3°55′40″W / 53.2280°N 3.9279°W / 53.2280; -3.9279

Conwy Valley

Towns	Llanrwst Conwy

Other Settlements	Betws-y-coed Caerhun Dolgarrog Eglwysbach Glan Conwy Henryd Llanbedr-y-cennin Llanddoged Llangelynnin Llanrhychwyn Maenan Rowen Tal-y-bont Tal-y-Cafn Trefriw Tyn-y-groes

Rivers & Streams	Afon Conwy Afon Crafnant Afon Geirionydd Afon Hiraethlyn Afon Machno Afon Lledr Afon Llugwy Afon Gallt y Gwg Nant y Goron Afon Ddu (1) Afon Porth-llwyd Afon Dulyn Afon Ddu (2) Afon Garreg-wen Ffrwd Cerriguniawn Afon Melynllyn Afon Roe Afon Tafolog Afon Gyffin

Lakes	Llyn Crafnant Llyn Elsi Llyn Geirionydd Llyn y Parc

Waterfalls	Conwy Falls Grey Mare's Tail Fairy Falls

Hills & Mountains	Mynydd y Dref Tal y Fan Bwlch-y-Ddeufaen Cefn Cyfarwydd Mynydd Hiraethog

Castles & Forts	Canovium Conwy Castle Gwydir Castle Pen y Gaer

Bridges	Conwy Suspension Bridge Pont Fawr (Llanrwst) Tal-y-Cafn Bridge Waterloo Bridge (Betws-y-coed)

Other Features	Bodnant Garden Conwy RSPB reserve Gwydir Forest Klondyke mill Moel Maelogan Snowdonia National Park Surf Snowdonia

Transport	A470 B5106 Conwy Valley Line

Railway Stations	Betws-y-Coed railway station Dolgarrog railway station Glan Conwy railway station Llanrwst railway station North Llanrwst railway station Tal-y-Cafn railway station

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