At a glance
Remote National Trust stone farmhouse in the Wybrnant valley — birthplace of Bishop William Morgan, who translated the Bible into Welsh in 1588 (widely credited with saving the Welsh language). Collection of Welsh Bibles. Open April–September, Thu–Sun. Car essential. LL25 0HJ.
About Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant
Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant is a stone farmhouse in the Wybrnant valley above Penmachno — a remote upland cwm in the hills between the Conwy Valley and the Crimea Pass. It is the birthplace of Bishop William Morgan (c.1545–1604), whose translation of the Bible into Welsh in 1588 is considered one of the most important acts in the history of the Welsh language. Elizabeth I's 1563 Act of Parliament required a Welsh translation of both the Bible and the Prayer Book; Morgan, a scholar working from the original Hebrew and Greek texts rather than existing translations, completed the entire Old and New Testaments by 1588 — a feat of scholarship that also standardised Welsh orthography and gave the language a literary prestige at the moment it most needed it. That the Welsh language is spoken today by around 900,000 people — more than any other Celtic language — owes something to Morgan's work.
The National Trust manages the farmhouse as a heritage attraction with a focus on Morgan's life and the history of the Welsh Bible. The collection of Welsh Bibles at the house — spanning four centuries of editions from the 1588 original — is one of the most important in existence. The house itself is furnished to represent 16th-century domestic life: simple, functional, and characteristic of the upland farming families from which Morgan came. The surrounding landscape — the narrow valley, the wooded hillsides, the sound of the Wybrnant stream — is largely unchanged from the 16th century.
The approach to the house is part of the experience: a narrow lane ascends from Penmachno village through increasingly dramatic valley scenery, with the farmhouse appearing at the end in a setting far removed from the tourist circuit of Betws-y-Coed (6 miles) or Llanrwst (10 miles). The remoteness is both the point and the limitation — the house is open only from April to September, on limited days, and the lane makes it inaccessible to large vehicles. Check the National Trust website before visiting.
Find it on the map
Frequently asked questions
Bishop William Morgan (c.1545–1604) was a Welsh clergyman born at Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant who translated the entire Bible into Welsh, completing his work in 1588. Elizabeth I's Act of Parliament in 1563 had required the Welsh translation — recognising that the people of Wales could not be expected to understand the English Bible — and Morgan spent years of intense scholarly work to produce a translation of both the Old and New Testaments directly from the original Hebrew and Greek. The 1588 Welsh Bible is considered a landmark in Welsh cultural history: it standardised the Welsh language at a critical period, gave it literary prestige, and — by ensuring that Welsh was the language of Sunday worship — is widely credited with saving Welsh from the slow decline that overtook other Celtic languages in the British Isles.
The National Trust has assembled at Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant one of the most important collections of Welsh Bibles in existence — spanning from early editions of Morgan's 1588 translation through to the 20th century. The collection includes editions that demonstrate the successive revisions and reprints of the Welsh Bible across four centuries, as well as related devotional literature. Seeing a 16th-century Welsh Bible in the house where Morgan was born gives the collection an unusual resonance. The house also has information on the history of Welsh Bible translation and its cultural significance.
Tŷ Mawr (meaning "big house") is a modest stone farmhouse typical of the upland Conwy Valley — built in the 16th century with thick stone walls, small windows, and low-beamed ceilings. By modern standards it is a simple building; by the standards of a 16th-century Welsh hill farm, it was a comfortable family house. The interior is furnished to represent 16th-century domestic life. The surrounding landscape — the narrow Wybrnant valley, the wooded hillsides, the sound of the stream — is largely unchanged from Morgan's childhood and gives the visit a quality of immersion that more accessible heritage sites cannot provide.
Tŷ Mawr is genuinely remote by North Wales standards — 4 miles from Betws-y-Coed via the B4406 to Penmachno village, then a further mile or more up a narrow lane into the Wybrnant valley. The approach is part of the experience: the lane narrows as it ascends, the valley closes in, and the farmhouse appears at the end in a setting that feels far from the tourist circuit of the Conwy Valley. A National Trust car park is at the house. The narrow lane means the site is not suitable for large vehicles; check the National Trust website for any seasonal road restrictions before visiting.
Tŷ Mawr is open from April to September, typically Thursday to Sunday (and Bank Holiday Mondays). Opening hours are limited — check the National Trust website (nationaltrust.org.uk) before visiting, as exact dates and times vary by year. National Trust members enter free; a charge applies to non-members. The remote location means that arriving outside opening hours — easy to do given the restricted schedule — results in a wasted journey. The surrounding landscape can be enjoyed even when the house is closed, but the collection and interpretation are only accessible when open.