Directory of Great Orme Resources

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The Great Orme is a prominent limestone headland on the North Wales Coast immediately to the north of the modern tourist resort of Llandudno in the County Borough of Conwy. A smaller but very similar limestone headland separating Llandudno Bay from Penrhyn Bay is commonly called 'The Little Orme'. The name 'Orme' is of Norse origin and is indicative of a significant Viking presence perhaps a thousand years ago. In Wales the name 'Orme' (including derivatives) occurs only at Llandudno and yet the name, in its various forms, is quite common in Scotland and Northern England. In medieval times, the Great Orme was divided into three townships, Gogarth in the south-west (where the ruins of the Bishop of Bangor's Palace survive), Cyngreawdr to the north (the area centred on St. Tudno's church), and Yr Wyddfid to the east. The whole area, including the marshy land (now drained) on which the modern resort now stands, was of course and still is called Llandudno after the sixth century saint in whose honour the former parish church is named. Archaeological evidence indicates human occupation of the Great Orme during the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Age periods and also in Roman times. Since when there has almost certainly been continuous occupation down to the present day. Several hundred people continue to live on the Great Orme, in several farms, but mostly in the modern residential township of Tyn y Coed. The geology, wildlife, archaeology and landscape of the Great Orme, including several unique features, is of such importance that much of the headland has been officially and legally designated as a Special Area of Conservation, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Heritage Coast this triple designation is unusual. The designated areas are managed as a Country Park and a Local Nature Reserve by the Conwy Countryside Service. The summit is accessible by tramway (see the subsidiary category), cable lift, road, and nature trail. There is also a very popular four-mile Marine Drive.

Subcategories

• Tramway

Resources in This Category

• Assessment of Recent Field Work on the Great Orme

  http://www.assemblage.group.shef.ac.uk/4/4wager.html
  Co-ordinated research of the extensive copper mineralisation on the Great Orme, exploited in prehistory and later. Observations at Llety'r Filiast, Pen y Dinas, Mynydd Isaf, Badger's Cave, Pen Trwyn and Ffynnon Rufeinig.

• Camera Obscura Llandudno

  http://www.camobscura.co.uk/
  Profile and history with opening times and prices.

• Conwy CBC: Great Orme Country Park and Local Nature Reserve

  http://www.conwy.gov.uk/section.asp?cat=1495
  The official council website includes an introduction to the Orme, its wildlife and its attractions, the management plan for the country park, details of conservation events, and information for schools.

• Croeso: Great Orme

  http://www.llandudno.com/orme.html
  Describing the Orme and its history, archaeology, ecology, mining, shipwreck, flora and fauna including the long established herd of feral goats.

• Great Orme Bronze Age Mines

  http://www.greatormemines.info/
  Dating back 4,000 years, 2,000 years before the Roman invasion, prehistoric mining and smelting of malachite. Includes archaeological research with project reports, videos, educational resources, visitor information with opening times, admission charges, contacts and location.

• Great Orme Copper Mine -  Tourist Photos

  http://www.galenfrysinger.com/wales_copper_mine.htm
  Photographs comprehensively illustrating the tourist view of the Bronze Age copper mine.

• Great Orme Copper Mines

  http://www.data-wales.co.uk/orme.htm
  Includes a historical sketch of what may possibly have been the world's largest Bronze Age copper mining complex.

• Great Orme Exploration Society Ltd.

  http://www.goes.org.uk/
  Information on the exploits of the "diggers" of the past and present. Features activities, discoveries and achievements, in video, photographs, surveys, journal archive, and contacts for officials.

• Great Orme Hang Gliding and Paragliding Guide

  http://www.nwhgpc.org/flyingsites/great-orme
  Site description and map with take off and landing notes.

• Great Orme`s Head/ Pen y Gogarth

  http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/protectedsites/sacselection/SAC.asp?EUCode=UK0014788
  DEFRA information on the Special Area of Conservation, including selection criteria for site.

• Modern Antiquarian: Great Orme Mine

  http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/2157
  Photographs of the Bronze Age Copper Mines and of two other antiquities, the 'stone rows' and Llety'r Filiast (Cromlech burial chamber).

• Old Mine, Great Orme Copper Mine

  http://www.mindat.org/loc-4814.html
  Describing the Old Mine, the largest of the three Gt Orme copper mines, which accesses very important Bronze Age workings for copper (malachite and azurite) exploiting horizontal galleries.

• Pentrwyn Bronze Age Metalworking Site, Great Orme

  http://www.ancient-arts.org/Pentrwyn%20Bronze%20Age%20Metalworking%20Site.htm
  Archaeological report on the earliest known metalworking site in the United Kingdom.

• St Tudno's Church Great Orme Llandudno

  http://llandudno-parish.org.uk/wordpress/st-tudnos-church
  History, fabric, churchyard, information for tourists and pilgrims, with details of services and events, and Friends society.

• Summit Complex

  http://www.thesummitcomplex.co.uk/
  Restaurant, cafeteria, bar and entertainment centre at the summit of the Great Orme near the tram and cable car point.

• Wild Flower Society: Great Orme Visit April 2006

  http://www.thewildflowersociety.com/wfs_report_menus/wfs_great_orme_2006/great_orme_2006_pages/great_orme_2006_page_1.htm
  Four pages of wild flowers photographs.

 

Home > Regional > Europe > United Kingdom > Wales > Conwy County Borough > Llandudno > Travel and Tourism > Attractions > Great Orme

 

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