Brits flock to tiny 'hidden gem' village in Wales right in Eryri National Park
A town in Wales with its own fish has been named the best hidden gem of a place in the country. If you are looking to get off the beaten trail and visit somewhere new, then Bala in North Wales may be the place to go.
It has won the top Welsh spot in the Hidden Gem Index, organised by holiday let firm HomeToGo to pinpoint picturesque places in the UK that have managed to stay more under the radar than most.
"Surrounded by mountains and sitting on the shore of Llyn Tegid (the largest natural lake in Wales), Bala is blessed with both incredible scenery and plenty of options for outdoor adventures," the letting firm wrote of its winner.
"It’s close to the National White Water Centre, with guides and coaches on hand for rafting safaris and canyoning excursions.
"Fans of a holiday barbecue will also be pleased to know that there are two award-winning butchers in the town. Legend has it that Wales' own lake monster, named Teggie, lives in the depths of Llyn Tegid."
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It is rumoured that an aquatic beast named Teggie lives in the water (Getty Images/iStockphoto)What is particularly lovely about the town, which has a population of around 2,000 people, is its location beneath the mountains and on a three mile long lakes - Llyn Tegid, the biggest in Wales and the centrepiece of Bala as a holiday location.
The expansive lake sandwiched between Eryri (Snowdonia) and the Berwyn mountains is a great spot for a whole variety of watersports including canoeing, kayaking, sailing and windsurfing.
It is particularly popular with fishing enthusiasts, as it contains 13 different species of fish that you can try to catch. What is particularly exciting for pisces fans is the fact there is a fish species that is completely unique to the lake.
Rod rangers should know that you are not allowed to fish for the protected gwyniad however. Legend has it that there's a monster named Teggie in the lake as well, but that has not been scientifically verified.
You are spoilt for choice when it comes to walking routes in Bala. To the west are the peaks of Eryri, while the easterly Berwyns have an isolated grandeur.
A walk up to the peak of Arenig Fawr - the highest point visible from the town - is so nice it became an obsession for a group of the artists in the early 1900s, so much so they turned themselves mad by painting it so much.
Water is regularly released from a dam into the River Tryweryn next to the town, providing a big boost for those wanting to run the rapids down the steep, rocky and fast-flowing mountain waterway.
Bala is home to great white water rapids (Getty Images/AWL Images RM)The National White Water Centre runs family rafting sessions for anyone aged 10 and over, as well as other kayaking and canyoning activities.
When it comes to exploring Bala itself, you will find that the town certainly has all the banks, pubs, shops and cafés that you’ll need for a holiday, as well as an award-winning butchers.
It has a bit of history as well, having launched the Bible Society, which has been on a mission to spread the gospel across the world for the past 200 years.
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It was inspired by a farm girl from Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, Mary Jones, who walked 26 miles over-hills, barefoot, to buy a copy of the Welsh Bible from Bala.
The old Ruabon-Barmouth railway line used to run alongside Llyn Tegid before it was axed in 1960s. Happily, a 4.5mile stretch was reopened by enthusiasts using old locos that had hauled slate in the nearby quarries.
The resulting Bala Lake Railway provides a delightful hour-long ride along the lake’s shores, from Llanuwchllyn to Bala, to this day.
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