Snowdonia
Bala is located in the Snowdonia National Park
Bala is located in the Snowdonia National Park, North Wales and makes an excellent location to enjoy the Park.
Snowdonia National Park covers 823 square miles (2,140 km2) of the most beautiful and unspoilt countryside in North Wales. In Welsh, the area is named Eryri. It is the second largest National Park in England and Wales and the second oldest acquiring National Park status in 1951.
The Park contains not only some of the most beautiful scenery in Britain but also contains a variety of landscapes, and habitats for animals, birds and plants; from 23 miles (37km) of coastline with sand dunes, estuaries; to glacial valleys, the remnants of broad-leaved woodlands of oak, ash, rowan and hazel that once covered the mountain slopes, lakes, streams and rugged mountains. There are more National Nature reserves in Snowdonia than any other National Park in Britain and it is home to many nationally and internationally rare species such as the Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, and the Snowdon Lily an arctic/alpine plant only present in the park, and the beautiful rainbow coloured Snowdon Beetle found only around Snowdon.
The Park's entire coastline is a Special Area of Conservation, which runs from the Llŷn Peninsula down to the mid-Wales coast, the latter containing valuable sand dune systems. A large proportion of the Park is today under designation (or under consideration for designation) as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, National Nature Reserves, Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas, Biosphere and Ramsar sites, such as Bala Lake.
Snowdonia provides outstanding opportunities for outdoor activities including mountain walking, scrambling, rock climbing, water-sports and mountain biking, as well as leisure activities including fishing, bird-watching etc. The Park has a rich history with castles, churches, mines and quarries. There are several railways which were originally used to connect the mines and quarries with the ports.
More information: Snowdonia National Park Authority