Trefor, Gwynedd

Trefor is a village on the north coast of the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, Wales. Its population, with nearby Llanaelhaearn, is 1,560.

Location and amenities

Located just off the main A499 road, Trefor has a small harbour and a beach with some sand. At the top of the beach is an emergency telephone to summon help in the event of a maritime emergency. The land behind the beach is made of boulder clay deposited during the last glaciation, which is being slowly eroded by the sea.

Rising steepy behind the village is Yr Eifl and its neighbouring hills. A granite quarry, 'Trefor granite quarry' or the Yr Eifl quarry opened there in 1850. The industrial narrow gauge railway—Trefor Quarry railway—opened in 1865 and brought rock from the quarry to the coast, but was gradually replaced by road transport and was finally closed in 1960. Trefor granite is used to make curling rocks. There is one school in Trefor, a primary school called Ysgol yr Eifl.

Yr Eifl is a range of three tall hills that dominate the skyline above Trefor. Tre'r Ceiri, the second highest of the hills has on one the best examples of a stone age or Neolithic settlement on its summit in Europe. Views from the summits, on a clear day, extend to Ireland, the entirety of Cardigan Bay, Anglesey, Snowdonia and even the northern mountains of England! The centre peak, and tallest at 564 metres is called Garn Ganol and the most seaward, and smallest peak is Garn For which is home to the quarry.

There is a football club in Trefor, which was re-established in the 2000-01 season. It has won one cup in its history, in the 2001-02 season. There is also a members club in the village, Clwb Y Twr, which have pool and darts teams, its open everynight and reguarlly hosts entertainment.

There are two retail outlets in Trefor: a village shop which opens between 7.00 am and 7.00 pm Monday to Friday with shorter hours on the weekend, and a post office. To the north end of the village is a children's play area that includes baby and older swings, a climbing frame, bouncy fish and duck, see-saw and rocking horse. It's possible to go on a circular walk which is pushchair friendly, starting at the play area, down to the beach, across the headland and back into the village again.

Visitors can surf the other side of the harbour wall at Trefor. It can be a nice left hand point over a stony reef thrown off the headland. It holds up well in a southerly wind when the swell wraps around the point.

There is a small pier next to the harbour; it has been deemed unsafe so is currently closed to the public.

External links

• Photos of Trefor and surrounding area on www.geograph.co.uk