Pwllheli is the main market town of the Ll?n Peninsula in Gwynedd, north-western Wales. It is a mainly Welsh-speaking town. Pwllheli is the place where Plaid Cymru was founded. It is the birthplace of Albert Evans-Jones - Cynan - the Welsh poet.

History

The town's name means saltwater basin. The pronunciation of Pwllheli includes a sound not found in the English language (a voiceless alveolar lateral fricative), but is very approximately pu-HLEL-ee, .

The town was given its charter as a borough by Edward, the Black Prince in 1355, and a market is still held each Wednesday in the centre of the town on the 'Maes' (=field in English).

The town grew around the shipbuilding and fishing industries.

Pwllheli Railway Station

The town contains numerous retail shops, including Woolworth's, Euronics and many more smaller shops. Supermarkets include Somerfield, SPAR, Co-operative, Iceland and Asda. A new Lidl store is due to open shortly.

Education

• Ysgol Cymerau, Primary School (Welsh-medium.)
• Ysgol Glan y Môr, Secondary School (Welsh-medium.)

Ysgol Glan y Môr was formed by the merger of the former Pwllheli Grammar school and the Frondeg Secondary Modern Schools. These occupied sites at Penrallt and Upper Ala Road, respectively. The two schools merged in mid-1969 to form a comprehensive school based at two separated sites within the town.

The junior pupils (year 1 and year 2) were located at the Penrallt site (former grammar school site) and the senior pupils (year 3 and upwards) were located at a new complex constructed at Cardiff Road. This new school was subsequently expanded to accommodate all pupils under the Ysgol Glan y Môr name.

The Penrallt site was later redeveloped to form the Pwllheli campus of Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor. The facade of the main building of the old grammar school was retained and incorporated into the design of the current college buildings. Thus the 'old school' is readily seen from the town square (Y Maes) in much the same way as it has been since the former Pwllheli County School moved to Penrallt in the early 20th century.

• Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor. (Mostly Welsh-medium.)

Transportation

Rail

Pwllheli railway station is the terminus of the Cambrian Coast Railway running to Dovey Junction near Machynlleth.

Road

• A497 road
• A499 road

Attractions

• Plas Bodegroes, the only Michelin starred restaurant in Wales
• Two Blue Flag beaches
• Penarth Fawr, a 15th century house
• Marina
• Hafan Y Môr, a former Butlin's holiday camp now operated by Haven
• Pwllheli Market
• Clwb Golff Pwllheli - a par 69 links and parkland golf course
• Pwllheli Sailing Club - competitive junior and senior sailing is available locally and the club frequently hosts national and international events.

Arts

Pwllheli hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1925 and 1955, as well as an unofficial National Eisteddfod event in 1875.

Language

According to the United Kingdom Census 2001, 80% of the population speak Welsh, with the highest percentage of Welsh speakers in the 10-14 age bracket, 94%.

Sport and leisure

Pwllheli is home to association football team Pwllheli F.C. and rugby union team Pwllheli RFC.

External links

• Pwllheli.info from the Croeso Group of Websites
• Your online guide to the Ll?n Peninsula, of which Pwllheli is the unofficial capital
• Marina website
• Memories of Butlin's at Pwllheli
• www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Pwllheli and surrounding area

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