Llyn Conwy

Llyn Conwy is a natural lake in the Migneint moors of central north Wales. It sits at about 454 metres above sea level and feeds the River Conwy, which flows north for 43 kilometres to Conwy Bay. The lake covers a catchment area of 175 hectares and reaches a depth of five metres. It is the largest body of water in the blanket mire, an area of wetland with high rainfall of around 260 centimetres each year. The surrounding Ordovician rocks form the Llyn Conwy Formation, recognised by its yellowish rhyolitic tuffs. A view of Arenig Fawr dominates the skyline to the south. The lake is managed as a reservoir by Welsh Water and supplies water to the upper Conwy Valley. It acts as a secondary source during droughts and can feed part of the Llyn Cowlyd supply area. The National Trust owns the land and works with tenant farmers to restore the blanket bog. Drainage ditches are blocked to hold more water and reduce peat loss. The pH level of the lake is around 7.5, and limestone from the banks is slowly neutralising the water. This process should restore conditions for fish over the next decade. Three old huts stand on the shores, including a repaired boathouse struck by lightning in 1881. A second boathouse still holds a former lifeboat, and a ruined hut was once used by fishermen. Two small islands lie in the lake, one with a cairn and grassy area. The easiest access is from the B4407 via Llyn Cottage, where parking and a path lead to the water. The catchment area is open access, though paths are less defined from Penmachno. The lake has been written about by Thomas Pennant, George Borrow and Wilson MacArthur in his novel The River Conwy.