View source for Lôn Goed

{{Short description|Lane in Eifionydd, Gwynedd}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Coord|52.9133|N|4.3221|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}
{{langnf|cy|'''Lôn Goed'''|Tree Lane|italic=no}}, also known as '''Y Lôn Goed''', is a rural lane in [[Eifionydd]], Gwynedd, Wales. The lane is lined with trees, mainly [[oak]] and [[Fagus sylvatica|beech]].<ref name="dailypost">{{cite web|url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/beautiful-seven-mile-walk-down-17173345| title=The beautiful seven mile walk down a leafy lane where you can see all the colours of autumn |date=3 November 2019|website=dailypost.co.uk}}</ref><ref name=donia>{{cite web| url=https://www.visitsnowdonia.info/garn-bentyrch| website=visitsnowdonia.info| title=Garn Bentyrch|access-date=5 November 2023}}</ref> It was celebrated by the poet [[R. Williams Parry]] (1884–1956) in his Welsh-language poem ''Eifionydd''.

Lôn Goed starts in the hamlet of [[Afon Wen]], on the [[A497 road|A497]] main road about half a mile to the south of [[Chwilog]] and halfway between [[Criccieth]] and [[Pwllheli]]. Afon Wen lies on a river of the same name, near where it reaches the sea. The lane runs for about {{convert|5|mi|spell=in|0}}, at first north-east then in a northerly direction, from Afon Wen to Hendre Cennin on the slopes of [[Mynydd Cennin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mudandroutes.com/routes/y-lon-goed/ | website=mudandroutes.com| title=Y Lon Goed}}</ref><ref name=dailypost/> The lane is used as a footpath, other than a short section that follows a minor road.

[[File:Y Lôn Goed - geograph.org.uk - 955219.jpg|thumb|Y Lôn Goed information signpost]]

==History==
The lane is also referred to locally as '''Lôn Môn''', a corruption of the name ''Maughan'',<ref name=lon>{{cite web|url= https://rhosyddbach.co.uk/lon-goed/| website=rhosyddbach.co.uk| title=Lon Goed}}{{Self-published source|date=November 2023}}</ref> named after John Maughan, steward of [[Talhenbont Hall|Plas Hen]] (now Talhenbont) near Llanystumdwy, who helped rebuild the path with trees to help the water drainage system between 1819 and 1828.<ref name=donia/><ref name=dailypost/>

The lane was developed for the carriage of [[Agricultural lime|lime]], [[coal]] and [[peat]] to the farms of the Talhenbont estate, from materials landed from ships on the beach at Afon Wen.<ref name="dailypost"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Criccieth - The Lime Kiln |url=https://www.peoplescollection.wales/items/1899031 |website=People's Collection Wales |access-date=4 November 2023}}</ref> The use of the lane for transporting goods ended in the late 1800s after the opening of the [[Carnarvonshire Railway]] in 1862 between [[Brynkir railway station]] (Bryncir) and the [[Afon Wen railway station]]. The railway allowed goods to be transported by train instead of by horse and cart.<ref name=dailypost/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theequinerambler.org/lon%20eifion.htm|website=equinerambler.org| title=Lon Eifion|access-date=5 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://trawslinkcymru.org.uk/en/afon-wen-line/| website=trawslinkcymru.org| title=Afon Wen Line|access-date=5 November 2023}}</ref>

In 1977–78, a Government employment scheme run by Gwynedd County Council's countryside service managed the trees along Lôn Goed.<ref> David Eagar (Ynys Cybi), Gwynedd Countryside Service manager, 1975-83.{{nonspecific|date=November 2023}}</ref>

{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=380px|header=Lôn Goed through four seasons |image1=Y Lôn Goed looking South from Beudy Newydd - geograph.org.uk - 343116.jpg|caption1=Winter|image2=A bend in Y Lon Goed - geograph.org.uk - 1991737.jpg|caption2=Spring|image3=Y_Lôn_Goed_-_geograph.org.uk_-_955264.jpg|caption3=Summer|image4=Y Lon Goed (cropped).jpg|caption4=Autumn}}

==National Eisteddfod 2023==
In February 2014, [[Storm Darwin]] made landfall in Gwynedd, after causing a record amount of damage in Ireland. The storm felled an 200-year-old oak tree on Lôn Goed, a piece of which donated by a local farmer to make the [[Chairing of the Bard|bardic chair]] for the 2023 [[National Eisteddfod of Wales]] in nearby [[Boduan]]. The chair was made by the sculptor Stephen Faherty, who formed it by carving the entire piece of oak, instead of the usual method of cutting up and jointing the wood. The chair was won by the poet [[Alan Llwyd]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nation.cymru/culture/national-eisteddfod-chair-awarded-to-one-of-wales-most-prominent-poets/|website=nation.cymru| title=National Eisteddfod Chair awarded to one of Wales' most prominent poets| date=11 August 2023|access-date=8 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/ireland-s-worst-storm-damage-on-record-was-in-2014-1.2882706| website=irishtimes.com| title=Ireland's worst storm damage on record was in 2014| date=25 November 2016| access-date=8 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Crump |first1=Eryl |title=Stephen Faherty: the man behind this year's Chair |url=https://eisteddfod.wales/node/29 |publisher=National Eisteddfod of Wales |date=20 February 2023}}</ref>

Lôn Goed was the inspiration for the design of the [[Crowning of the Bard|bardic crown]] created by jeweller Elin Mair Roberts, which was awarded at the 2023 National Eisteddfod.<ref>{{cite web |title=Crown and Chair presented to Llŷn and Eifionydd Eisteddfod Committee |url=https://eisteddfod.wales/node/21 |publisher=National Eisteddfod of Wales |date=13 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://nation.cymru/news/2023-eisteddfod-crown-honours-historic-landmark/| website=nation.cymru| title=2023 Eisteddfod crown honours historic landmark| date= 13 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Writer from Caernarfon wins the National Eisteddfod Crown |url=https://nation.cymru/culture/writer-from-caernarfon-wins-the-national-eisteddfod-crown/ |work=[[Nation.Cymru]] |date=7 August 2023}}</ref>

==Literary references==
R. Williams Parry's poem ''Eifionydd'' includes the couplet:<ref>{{cite book |last1=Parry |first1=R. Williams |author1-link=R. Williams Parry |title=Cerddi'r Gaeaf |trans-title=Winter Poems |date=1952 |publisher=[[Gwasg Gee]] |location=Denbigh |edition=1st |language=cy |oclc=563638712}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cerddi'r Gaeaf |url=https://www.ylolfa.com/products/9780707403489/cerddir-gaeaf |website=[[Y Lolfa]] |access-date=6 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Perrin |first1=Jim |title=Country Diary – Lleyn Peninsula |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/apr/04/country-diary-lleyn-peninsula |work=The Guardian |date=4 April 2009 |location=London}}</ref>
{{Verse translation
|lang=cy
|A llonydd gorffenedig
    Yw llonydd y Lôn Goed
|lang2=en
|A perfected, accomplished quiet
    Is the quiet of Lôn Goed
}}

The literary editor [[Meic Stephens]] described Parry's poem as one of the most famous in the Welsh language, and as expressing the poet's love for the countryside of Eifionydd, and for Lôn Goed in particular, contrasting them with the quarrying district of the [[Nantlle Valley]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stephens |first1=Meic |author1-link=Meic Stephens |title=Poem Cards & Envelopes - Eifionydd |url=https://siop.llyfrgell.cymru/en/products/poem-cards-envelopes-eifionydd-cardiau-cerdd-ac-amlenni-eifionydd |publisher=Graffeg |year=2016}}</ref> In the 1970s the [[Welsh Arts Council]] published a poster of the poem  that was illustrated by a painting of a wooded lane by Sue Shields; this has since been republished.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eifionydd - Poster Poem |url=https://graffeg.com/collections/poster-poem-collection-sue-shields/products/eifionydd-poster-poem |website=Graffeg |access-date=5 November 2023}}</ref> 

The Eifionydd writer {{ill|J. G. Williams|cy|John Griffith Williams}} refers to Lôn Goed in his work, including in his book ''Pigau'r Sêr''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Pigau'r Ser|trans-title=Reaching for the stars|author-first=J. G. |author-last=Williams | date= 1970|publisher=[[Gwasg Gee]] |isbn=0900996129}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Lôn Eifion]], a cycle route that passes near the northern end of Lôn Goed

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Transport in Gwynedd]]
[[Category:Welsh-language literature]]
[[Category:Recreational walks in Wales]]