National park officials agree to name more than 200 lakes and waterfalls in Welsh alone

Officials at Wales’ biggest national park have voted to name just over 200 lakes and waterfalls in Wales to promote their cultural heritage.

Eryri National Park – which changed its official name from Snowdonia last year – wants to “standardize” the names and protect them for future generations.

This means that popular beauty spots known in English as Lake Australia and Bala Lake will now only be referred to by their Welsh names, Llyn Bochlwyd and Llyn Tegid. Llyn Barfog – also known as Bearded Lake – will also take on its Welsh name.

While some of the 200+ lakes are already named in Welsh, others have an English translation. The National Park Authority unanimously supported the move in a vote Wednesday.

It comes amid growing calls from language campaigners to rename Welsh websites in their mother tongue.

English-speaking tourists called the measure a “waste of money” and accused officials of focusing on the wrong priorities. In the photo: Llyn Tegid (Balameer)

Snowdonia became officially known as Eryri last year and Mount Snowdon – which lies in the national park – was renamed Yr Wyddfa. Earlier this year, the Brecon Beacons National Park also renamed itself Bannau Brycheiniog.

Bannau means peak in Welsh, while Brycheiniog refers to the fifth-century kingdom of King Brychan.

The move was met with strong opposition – even Prime Minister Rishi Sunak admitted he would use the old name Brecon Beacons. Both British ministers and Welsh Conservatives have accused those responsible for the national parks of trying to appear “new” with the measure.

Earlier this week it was also revealed that Caerphilly and Barry could be renamed as language campaigners campaign for “Welsh names for Welsh places”.

After the vote to refer to the Lakes of Snowdonia in Wales, Naomi Jones, head of the National Park Authority’s heritage department, said the park’s “wealth of names” was a “valued part of our heritage”.

“By recommending the standard list of names of Eryri Lakes, the authority ensures that these historic names are recorded for future generations and are widely used in daily life,” it added.

But English-speaking tourists called the measure a “waste of money” and accused officials of focusing on the wrong priorities.

One said: “I don’t agree at all.” “We all speak English.”

Another said: “What percentage of people in Wales speak Welsh?”

Llyn Bochlwyd, literally meaning “grey-cheeked lake”, has in recent years been referred to on maps and guides as Lake Australia due to its land-like contours.

Snowdonia became officially known as Eryri last year and Mount Snowdon – which lies in the national park – was renamed Yr Wyddfa. Pictured: Llyn Barfog (Bearded Lake)

The National Park Authority unanimously supported the move in a vote Wednesday. Pictured: Snowdonia’s mountains and lakes with a view from Mount Snowdon

The original name refers to a legend about an old gray deer that escaped from archers and dogs by throwing itself into the water and swimming with its head above the surface.

Dr Dylan Foster, Head of Cardiff University’s School of Welsh, said: “Place names are part of everyone’s heritage and in a digital age where information is instantly shared online, standardized names benefit everyone.”

“Projects like this also draw attention to the richness of our local dialects and folklore and enable us to share a range of stories about the names that are such an important part of our communities’ identity.”

A petition calling for “Welsh names for Welsh places” has won the backing of a Labor government minister to scrap the English spelling of famous tourist towns.

This week it emerged that campaigners want Caerphilly cheese to become Caerffili cheese – and for the beloved hometown of TV comedies Gavin and Stacey to switch from Barry to Barri during England’s recent clean-up.

A 1,300-person petition submitted to the Cardiff-based Senedd by linguist Mihangel ap Rhisiart called for the use of “Welsh-only names for places in Wales”.

He also criticized the “cultural oppression” of Welsh speakers by English people.

Labour’s Welsh Language Minister Jeremy Miles – a candidate to replace Prime Minister Mark Drakeford – said there was “a strong case” for using Welsh only in some cases.

Mr ap Rhisiart said it would “show respect for Wales as its own nation with its own history and culture; and as a sign of recognition of some of the cultural oppression that has historically been imposed on Wales and its language and culture.

He added: “English names may initially be used by some out of habit, but in all official channels and in spoken and written media the original Welsh names for places in Wales should be used.”

Minister Miles said: “We should strive for uniform spelling when there is only a few letter differences between the Welsh and English versions.”

This would mean that places with distinctly English names such as Cardiff, Swansea or Newport would not automatically be changed to Caerdydd, Abertawe or Newwydd because of the differences.

But Caerphilly was changed to Caerffili, Merthyr Tydfil to Merthyr Tudful and Treorchy to Treorchi to add Welsh as the only official name.

This would mean that road signs and other official documents change over time.

The raid follows a campaign to have Anglesey known only by its Welsh name, Ynys Môn, despite a backlash from local residents.