Since before the Mediaeval Era, the village was a stopping point on the only firm road that crossed the marshes between the Little Orme and Bryn Euryn.. Our Valley is the crossing point for many estuarine waders who stop off in the fields to feed when tides are high. In 1824, as a very young man, Charles Darwin visited the area and called it the Butterfly Valley. To this day we are blessed with ma
ny butterflies, moths, bees, hover flies and more, making the aim of achieving Friends of the Earth Bee Friendly Status an obvious and achievable objective. There are remnants of the marsh left, Ancient Woodland with wildflowers along the trails and a Limestone Pavement above the now defunct Ffolt Quarry Nature Reserve which is under the protection of North Wales Wildlife Trust. The area provides an invaluable green lung or recreational area for walkers, runners, cyclists following Route No 5 and Horseriders from neighbouring Penrhyn Bay, Llandudno, Rhos, Mochdre & Deganwy. Many of us work in partnership with the wildlife trust and the Woodland Trust to conserve this lovely place and document it's many species. The village has a great pub, The Queens Head, at it's heart and around 54 houses. It was the centre of the local construction limestone quarry trade in the 17th century with most of the stone being used in the 19th Century to build the hotels in Llandudno. The most notable feature of Glanwydden is the round base of the Old Windmill now a large house, built in 1503, but given official royal approval when it was mentioned in Queen Elizabeth I's Royal Charter of 1580. This was to safeguard flour supply, boost wheat production and prevent famine across the country during adverse weather and when the Spanish were blockading supplies from the Continent. A vibrant community now based around farming and people from all walks of life, Glanwydden and neighbouring Llangwstenin & Bryn Pydew have proven themselves to be villages with hearts of lions. During the First & Second World Wars blacksmiths, farm labourers, fishermen, tram drivers and more left this area to Win the Peace alongside their countrymen. 10 of these men Fell and died either in battle or at home from wounds sustained. We Will Remember Them...
Over the 20th Century the community began to look more outward and has welcomed many people over the years, whilst the tiny local shop and bakery closed in favour of greater choice in Penrhyn Bay. Since 2014 the Community has collaborated in a number of exciting and increasingly ambitious events. Not bad for a little hamlet and it's sister villages of Llangwstenin & Bryn Pydew.
