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Tours > Wales > Bala
Bala
Despite being the summer destination of back-packers, hikers, cyclists, mountain climbers, musicians, canoers, white-water rafters and so-on, Bala has retained its thoroughly Welsh character. Situated on Wales' largest natural body of water, Lake Bala (Llyn Tegid: Thlin Teggid), its long, tree-lined street is today the home to many fine hostelries, but the town's historical past is a long and distinguished one.
At the north end of High Street, signs point to Tomen y Bala an Iron Age motte and nearby is a statue of M.P. Thomas Ellis, who fought so hard at the end of the last century for Home Rule for Wales. The great religious leader, Sunday School pioneer and founder of the British and Foreign Bible Society, Thomas Charles, lived in High Street and is commemorated there.
Noted Methodist leader Hywel Harris is also associated with the town. In the middle of the 19th century the Rev. Michael Jones, called by many "the father of Welsh nationalism" held meetings at his Bala home, Bod Iwan,where it was decided that the Welsh people needed a home overseas in order to practice their religion and their language undisturbed by government fiat. The home is being restored as a museum and a memorial to the brave pioneers who went out from Wales to settle the deserts of southern Patagonia and build a thriving colony there. (Brief History of Wales: Patagonia to Van Diemen's Land").
In the 18th century the town became famous for its prodigious output of woollen stockings, knitted by women and children of all ages and sold throughout Britain, where they were in great demand. Today's demands are met by a more modern industry specializing in Celtic-designed t-shirts, etc., with the unusual name of Cowbois.
One of Wales' great little trains (narrow-gauge railways) runs along Lake Bala, from Llanuwchllyn (Thlan yuke thlin) and Bala, at opposite ends of the lake. The town can be reached from Wrexham on the A483 and A5 to Llangollen; then the A5 to Corwen, and the A494 to the lake. The same road comes in from Dolgellau in the west.
Next Stop: Llanuwchllyn
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