Lake Bala
A lost town, a shy monster and a unique species of fish inhabit the deep waters of Lake Bala.
Lake Bala (Lyn Tegid) is the largest natural body of water in Wales and a magnet for sailors and surfing dudes who benefit from high winds sweeping down from the Aran Mountains. Cyclists find much to challenge and inspire them in three mountain ranges, as well as numerous forest and moorland tracks at the edge of the National Park. In fact the small town of Bala, situated at the northern edge of the Lake, teems with sightseers and sporty folk for most of the summer.
Below the surface Lake Bala is equally busy. The gwyniad - a rare species of fish left over from the last ice age - lurks some 80 feet under water and, legend has it, it is not alone. A shy monster, nicknamed ‘Teggie’ on account of the Welsh name for Bala, is also said to inhabit the murky depths of this allegedly bottomless lake. Unlike her Scottish cousin, Teggie scorns publicity and was last caught on camera back in 1976.
Local lore also descibes how the old town of Bala was lost under the waters of the lake and can still be heard from the shore.
We can’t promise that things will go bump in the night, but we can vouch for the inherent thrills of skimming this vast lake on a surfboard or catermaran, for the charms of historic Bala and for the picturesque beauty of its mountainous surroundings.
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