Snowdon

Snowdon, or Yr Wyddfa, rises in the rugged mountains of Gwynedd in northwestern Wales. Steep slopes, ridges and valleys are better suited to grazing than extensive arable farming. Households used seasonal upland pasture and resources from lower ground. Passes and valley paths connected communities, although weather and terrain restricted travel.

In the Middle Ages, the wider Snowdonia region formed part of the heartland of the princes of Gwynedd. Mountains provided barriers and shaped routes for armies and officials. English conquest in the late thirteenth century changed the political order, while the Welsh language and local traditions continued. Early modern upland production connected communities with markets beyond the mountains; by the eighteenth century, more travellers came to appreciate and explore the scenery.