In collaboration with the Eryri National Park Authority, University of Chester academics work with local schools to create a poetry collection focusing on Wales’ most iconic mountain.
In a celebration of language, landscape, and imagination, the University of Chester has partnered with the Eryri National Park Authority to launch a unique poetry project that brings Wales’s most iconic mountain, Yr Wyddfa, to life through the eyes of local schoolchildren. This creative collaboration culminated in a bilingual poetry book inspired by historical visitor books and a new exhibition at Betws-y-Coed Visitor Information Centre, blending history, art, and education to explore the enduring importance and appeal of the mountain.
In March 2025, a special workshop brought together 24 children (Years 3-6) from local primary schools in Capel Garmon, Betws-y-Coed, and Dolwyddelan. The schools received a sneak preview of the exhibition before it opened to the public and listened to Dr Daniel Bos and Dr Cian Quayle discuss the history of tourists and the mountain, as well as the 19th-century visitor books kept at the summit, which have been a focus of the Retracing Footsteps project.
The group was joined by a very special guest, Casia Wiliam, a Welsh children’s author and former Wales Poet Laureate. Drawing inspiration from historical extracts from the visitor books, Casia gently guided children to reflect on their thoughts and experiences with the mountain, using their senses, memories, and imagination to bring the mountain to life through words and sketches. The children created some fantastic poems, providing insight into how the mountain is seen today.
Following the workshop, Dr Alan Summers (3Dpixels) collected the words and drawings produced by the children to create a unique poetry book titled ‘Yr Wyddfa: Retracing Footsteps – I Remember…’. Using the children’s handwritten words and sketches, the poetry was brought to life, capturing their experiences and thoughts of climbing the mountain, as well as what was seen and heard along the way. The poems are presented bilingually, highlighting and celebrating the strong connection between the Welsh language and landscape, while offering opportunities to support those learning the language.
The book was inspired by the ‘Retracing Footsteps: The Past, Present and Future of Yr Wyddfa’ exhibition, which is currently on display at Betws-y-Coed Visitor Information Centre. The exhibition results from a collaborative project involving the University of Chester, including Dr Daniel Bos (Geography & Environment), Dr Cian Quayle (Art & Design), and Dr Alan Summers (3Dpixels), along with graduate students Jane Evans and Emma Petruzzelli, as well as the Eryri National Park Authority.
The exhibition combines archival research of 19th-century visitor books held at the summit of Yr Wyddfa with photographs and moving images documenting the modern experience of the mountain. By pairing the historical visitor book extracts with contemporary imagery, the exhibition invites visitors to consider the past, present, and future sustainability of one of the world’s busiest mountains.
Dr Daniel Bos (Geography and Environment, University of Chester) says
“Working closely with the local schools offered a wonderful glimpse into how students engage with the history and poetry found in those books. It was truly inspiring to see how young people today reimagine and perceive the mountain, bringing fresh perspectives to our understanding of this special place”
“It has been particularly rewarding to collaborate with the Eryri National Park Authority in understanding some of the challenges they and local communities face in conserving and protecting the mountain, as well as exploring how creative work can influence and offer new perspectives on the landscape.”
“Being able to visit and personally deliver the books to the schools and students was a memorable experience. Seeing the students’ faces and the excitement that their poems are now part of a book they can keep and share with their families and friends was especially gratifying.”
Ioan Gwilym (Head of Communications at Eryri National Park Authority) says
“It’s important for us as an organisation that helps care for this place, to listen to what the next generation thinks and feels about Yr Wyddfa. The children’s poems capture the wonder, respect, and curiosity that so many feel when they visit the mountain, and how creativity can deepen our connection with the landscape and help us think about its future. These poems are not just reflections, they’re reminders that this mountain belongs to them too.”
Nia Artell-Jones (Headteacher at Dolwyddelan, Capel Garmon & Betws-y-Coed schools says
“Taking part in this project has been such a special opportunity for our pupils. Yr Wyddfa is a mountain they have all experienced in some form of another, but through poetry and art they discovered new ways to connect with it and to share what it means to them. Working with the University of Chester, the Eryri National Park Authority and Casia Wiliam really sparked their imagination, and they were all very proud to see their words and drawings brought together in a beautiful book. It’s something they’ll remember for a long time”.