Afon Glaslyn

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Afon Glaslyn, meaning River Glaslyn, is a river in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It is about 16 miles (26 km) long.

Where it comes from and where it flows
- The river starts at Glaslyn, a cirque lake on the slopes of Snowdon. It is fed by Nant Traswnant and Nant Cynnyd and first flows into Llyn Gwynant, then through Llyn Dinas.
- It reaches the village of Beddgelert, where it is joined by the Afon Colwyn, its main right-hand tributary, draining Snowdon’s south-west slopes.
- From Beddgelert the Glaslyn runs down the Aberglaslyn Pass, a short rocky gorge that is easy to visit for its scenery.
- It passes Pont Aberglaslyn and enters the flat farming land around Tremadog and Porthmadog. The wide valley below is called Traeth Mawr and was once the Glaslyn estuary until the Porthmadog Cob blocked it, allowing land to be reclaimed.
- After crossing the railway, the river meanders through pools and marshes and flows through tidal sluices on the Cob at the south-eastern end of Porthmadog, finally reaching Tremadog Bay. To the south, the River Dwyryd also drains into Tremadog Bay.

Nature, wildlife and people
- Wales’ first osprey nest is at Pont Croesor, about 4 miles upstream from Porthmadog. The RSPB monitors the nest; ospreys first bred there in 2005 and return every year.
- Fishing on the Glaslyn up to Beddgelert is managed by the Glaslyn Angling Association.

Lakes and bridges along the river
- Nearby lakes include Llyn Gwynant, Llyn Dinas, Llyn Llydaw and Llyn Bach.
- Bridges you’ll see include Pont Aberglaslyn, Pont Croesor and Pont Britannia.