Snowdonia's People
Snowdonia’s People
Around 26,000 people live in Snowdonia. This may seem like a large figure but it’s the same number who watch Cardiff City when they play a home game! When you consider Snowdonia as a quarter of Wales’ land mass, it isn’t a very populated area!
There are no large towns or cities in Snowdonia, which mean most of the population live in towns or villages. The largest town is Dolgellau with around 2,500 people living there.
Facts about some of Snowdonia’s towns and villages
Town/Village Number of People Welsh Speakers
Dolgellau 2,678 70% Y Bala 1,980 80% Harlech 1,406 56% Aberdyfi 781 36% Beddgelert 617 60% Betws y Coed 534 57%
Living in Snowdonia is different to living in a large town or city. Because the area is rural, sometimes people have to travel miles to access local services, which are readily available in populated areas. The journey to the nearest hospital or to see the doctor or dentist could take time. Not all villages have a shop or petrol station so people have to travel considerable distances to access these services.
A lot of people who live in rural Snowdonia travel to Bangor or Llandudno to do their shopping and many don’t think twice about spending the day in Chester, Liverpool or even Manchester when looking for something extra special.
Travelling to Work & School
In a rural area such as Snowdonia, many people are reliant on cars to take them to work or to take the children to school. Around two thirds of Snowdonia’s population travel to their place of work by car. Sometimes, a taxi collects children from small villages and farms and take them to school or to catch the bus at the nearest town.
There are two sections of the main railway line running through Snowdonia National Park; between Betws y Coed and Dolwyddelan in the Conwy Valley and the coastal line connecting Penrhyndeudraeth with Barmouth and Tywyn.
Speak Welsh?
Over 60% of people living in Snowdonia speak Welsh and use the language on a daily basis. In some parts of Snowdonia the language is used every day by 80% of the population. It’s true to say that the Welsh language is strong in Snowdonia. You can hear the Welsh language in the shops, at work and at school where primary schoolchildren are taught through the medium of Welsh.