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Survey Details for GWNDDVS013 - 2026-06-04

GWNDDVS013

Visual and Sensory

Llyn Padarn

Gwynedd

2015-02-06

  • Level 1: Water
  • Level 2: Inland Water (Including Associated Edge)
  • Level 3: Lake
  • Level 4: Lake

Monitoring

Q1 - Date of monitoring?

  • 2015-02-06

Q1a - Monitoring undertaken by

  • Stages 1, 2 and 3 change detection, field verification and amendment completed by White Consultants, in conjunction with the planning authority.Quality Assurance completed by Land Use Consultants.

Q1b - Has this record been updated following monitoring work?

  • This record remains unchanged following monitoring work

Q1c - Change indicated by

  • No Answer

Q1d - What has changed?

  • No Answer

Q1e - Has the information ever been verified in the field?

  • Yes
    • 1:25000

Q2 - Does this area have a special or functional link with an adjacent area?

  • No

Q2a - During which season(s) was fieldwork carried out?

  • No Answer

Description

Q3 - Summary Description

  • Llyn Padarn and Llyn Peris, divided by narrow strip of land, adjacent to Llanberis at edge of Snowdonia, with mountain character. Large scale inland waterbody in typical U-shaped glacial valley, with dramatic views of Snowdonia mountains, in particular, the reflected views distinctly add to the quality of the experience, when viewed from the western end. Dramatic Dinorwg quarry overlooking lakes, tourist railway alongside, Llanberis and important tourist route adjacent all means that these lakes are important part of Snowdonia image which needs protection especially as outside the National Park.

Q4 - Physical Form And Elements: Topographic Form?

  • Hills/Valleys

Q5 - Physical Form And Elements: Landcover Pattern?

  • Water

Q6 - Physical form and elements: Settlement pattern

  • No settlements

Q7 - Physical form and elements: Boundary type

  • None

Q8 - Aesthetic Qualities: Scale?

  • Large

Q9 - Aesthetic Qualities: Sense of Enclosure?

  • Open

Q10 - Aesthetic Qualities: Diversity?

  • Uniform

Q11 - Aesthetic Qualities: Texture?

  • Smooth

Q12 - Aesthetic Qualities: Lines?

  • Sinuous

Q13 - Aesthetic Qualities: Colour?

  • Colourful

Q14 - Aesthetic Qualities: Balance?

  • Balanced

Q15 - Aesthetic Qualities: Unity?

  • Unity

Q16 - Aesthetic Qualities: Pattern?

  • Random

Q17 - Aesthetic Qualities: Seasonal Interest?

  • None

Q18 - Other Factors: Level of Human Access?

  • Infrequent

Q19 - Unused

  • No Answer

Q20 - Other Factors: Use of Construction Materials?

  • Generally Appropriate

Q21 - What materials? Give Details:

  • Empty value

Q22 - Attractive views (of high scenic quality, variations and typical views)?

  • Yes
    • Also refer to questions 62 to 64 on visible settings and key views. There are attractive views within and out from this area.

Q23 - Detractive views (of low or degraded scenic quality, variations and typical views)?

  • No
    • . Also refer to questions 62 to 64 on visible settings and key views.

Q24 - Perceptual and Other Sensory Qualities

  • Tranquil
    • water
  • Attractive

Q25 - What is the sense of place/local distinctiveness

  • Strong
    • Lake flanked by mountains/reflections

Condition

Q26 - Are there any significant threats to the current integrity and condition of the visual & sensory features of the area?

  • Not known

Q27 - Condition:

  • Unassessed

Q28 - Trend:

  • Constant

Recommendations

Q29 - Existing management

  • Unassessed

Q30 - Management recommendations

  • water uses. Retain clean unspoilt water body, Restrict recreational and other use to avoid pollution and disturbance.

Q31 - Define the key qualities that should be conserved and enhanced

  • tranquility

Q32 - Define the key qualities that should be changed:

  • Empty value

Q33 - Define the key elements that should be conserved and enhanced

  • lake habitat. lakeside

Q34 - Define the key elements that should be changed:

  • Empty value

Tranquillity & Dark Skies

Q35 - Tranquillity information and links

  • Q35 Link to Tranquillity & Place Programme Overview and Index. Containing summaries and links relating to themes, indicators, reports, downloads, headlines, StoryMaps, webapps and guidance. https://landmap-portal.naturalresources.wales/downloads/Tranquillity_Place_Programme_Overview_Index_April_2026.docx Visit the NRW Local Tranquillity Assessment Guidance Dashboard, for a link to the published Guidance and use of the interactive mapping tool at https://luc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/0441bb4b932f49c582cad6803fc4da21

Q36a - Dark Skies light pollution % (Theme 3) <0.5

  • 0.7
    • Data has been classified into eight colour bands of brightness values (nw/cm2/sr). <0.5 (darkest); 0.5 - 1; 1 - 2; 2 - 4; 4 - 8; 8 - 16; 16 - 32 and > 32 (brightest). Lower values equate to lower light pollution and darker skies.

Q36b - Dark Skies light pollution % (Theme 3) 0.5-1

  • 39.4
    • Data has been classified into eight colour bands of brightness values (nw/cm2/sr). <0.5 (darkest); 0.5 - 1; 1 - 2; 2 - 4; 4 - 8; 8 - 16; 16 - 32 and > 32 (brightest). Lower values equate to lower light pollution and darker skies.

Q36c - Dark Skies light pollution % (Theme 3) 1-2

  • 29.5
    • Data has been classified into eight colour bands of brightness values (nw/cm2/sr). <0.5 (darkest); 0.5 - 1; 1 - 2; 2 - 4; 4 - 8; 8 - 16; 16 - 32 and > 32 (brightest). Lower values equate to lower light pollution and darker skies.

Q36d - Dark Skies light pollution % (Theme 3) 2-4

  • 30.4
    • Data has been classified into eight colour bands of brightness values (nw/cm2/sr). <0.5 (darkest); 0.5 - 1; 1 - 2; 2 - 4; 4 - 8; 8 - 16; 16 - 32 and > 32 (brightest). Lower values equate to lower light pollution and darker skies.

Q36e - Dark Skies light pollution % (Theme 3) 4-8

  • 0.0
    • Data has been classified into eight colour bands of brightness values (nw/cm2/sr). <0.5 (darkest); 0.5 - 1; 1 - 2; 2 - 4; 4 - 8; 8 - 16; 16 - 32 and > 32 (brightest). Lower values equate to lower light pollution and darker skies.

Q36f - Dark Skies light pollution % (Theme 3) 8-16

  • 0.0
    • Data has been classified into eight colour bands of brightness values (nw/cm2/sr). <0.5 (darkest); 0.5 - 1; 1 - 2; 2 - 4; 4 - 8; 8 - 16; 16 - 32 and > 32 (brightest). Lower values equate to lower light pollution and darker skies.

Q36g - Dark Skies light pollution % (Theme 3) 16-32

  • 0.0
    • Data has been classified into eight colour bands of brightness values (nw/cm2/sr). <0.5 (darkest); 0.5 - 1; 1 - 2; 2 - 4; 4 - 8; 8 - 16; 16 - 32 and > 32 (brightest). Lower values equate to lower light pollution and darker skies.

Q36h - Dark Skies light pollution % (Theme 3) >32

  • 0.0
    • Data has been classified into eight colour bands of brightness values (nw/cm2/sr). <0.5 (darkest); 0.5 - 1; 1 - 2; 2 - 4; 4 - 8; 8 - 16; 16 - 32 and > 32 (brightest). Lower values equate to lower light pollution and darker skies.

Q37a - Sound Environment Combined category 0 % (Theme 4)

  • 0.00
    • Tranquillity and Place Sound Environment (Part 2) Report No: 736 https://naturalresourceswales.sharefile.eu/share/view/scb65ef647e91414faa82449c8410704f/fof17cc7-0d05-469d-a183-bd0fb08a28eb

Q37b - Sound Environment Combined category 1 % (Theme 4)

  • 0.00
    • Tranquillity and Place Sound Environment (Part 2) Report No: 736 https://naturalresourceswales.sharefile.eu/share/view/scb65ef647e91414faa82449c8410704f/fof17cc7-0d05-469d-a183-bd0fb08a28eb

Q37c - Sound Environment Combined category 2 % (Theme 4)

  • 0.18
    • Tranquillity and Place Sound Environment (Part 2) Report No: 736 https://naturalresourceswales.sharefile.eu/share/view/scb65ef647e91414faa82449c8410704f/fof17cc7-0d05-469d-a183-bd0fb08a28eb

Q37d - Sound Environment Combined category 3 % (Theme 4)

  • 1.83
    • Tranquillity and Place Sound Environment (Part 2) Report No: 736 https://naturalresourceswales.sharefile.eu/share/view/scb65ef647e91414faa82449c8410704f/fof17cc7-0d05-469d-a183-bd0fb08a28eb

Q37e - Sound Environment Combined category 4 % (Theme 4)

  • 3.56
    • Tranquillity and Place Sound Environment (Part 2) Report No: 736 https://naturalresourceswales.sharefile.eu/share/view/scb65ef647e91414faa82449c8410704f/fof17cc7-0d05-469d-a183-bd0fb08a28eb

Q37f - Sound Environment Combined category 5 % (Theme 4)

  • 7.31
    • Tranquillity and Place Sound Environment (Part 2) Report No: 736 https://naturalresourceswales.sharefile.eu/share/view/scb65ef647e91414faa82449c8410704f/fof17cc7-0d05-469d-a183-bd0fb08a28eb

Q37g - Sound Environment Combined category 6 % (Theme 4)

  • 24.79
    • Tranquillity and Place Sound Environment (Part 2) Report No: 736 https://naturalresourceswales.sharefile.eu/share/view/scb65ef647e91414faa82449c8410704f/fof17cc7-0d05-469d-a183-bd0fb08a28eb

Q37h - Sound Environment Combined category 7 % (Theme 4)

  • 45.95
    • Tranquillity and Place Sound Environment (Part 2) Report No: 736 https://naturalresourceswales.sharefile.eu/share/view/scb65ef647e91414faa82449c8410704f/fof17cc7-0d05-469d-a183-bd0fb08a28eb

Q37i - Sound Environment Combined category 8 % (Theme 4)

  • 16.39
    • Tranquillity and Place Sound Environment (Part 2) Report No: 736 https://naturalresourceswales.sharefile.eu/share/view/scb65ef647e91414faa82449c8410704f/fof17cc7-0d05-469d-a183-bd0fb08a28eb

Q37j - Sound Environment Combined category 9 % (Theme 4)

  • 0.00
    • Tranquillity and Place Sound Environment (Part 2) Report No: 736 https://naturalresourceswales.sharefile.eu/share/view/scb65ef647e91414faa82449c8410704f/fof17cc7-0d05-469d-a183-bd0fb08a28eb

Q37k - Sound Environment Combined category 10 % (Theme 4)

  • 0.00
    • Tranquillity and Place Sound Environment (Part 2) Report No: 736 https://naturalresourceswales.sharefile.eu/share/view/scb65ef647e91414faa82449c8410704f/fof17cc7-0d05-469d-a183-bd0fb08a28eb

Q38a - % in visually tranquil category 1

  • 0
    • Sourced from the nationally consistent Tranquillity & Place Visually Tranquil Areas version 2 re-published 2024 (rural themes 1, 2 and 3 combined). The visually tranquil categories range from 1 (least visually tranquil) to 10 (most visually tranquil).

Q38b - % in visually tranquil category 2

  • 0
    • Sourced from the nationally consistent Tranquillity & Place Visually Tranquil Areas version 2 re-published 2024 (rural themes 1, 2 and 3 combined). The visually tranquil categories range from 1 (least visually tranquil) to 10 (most visually tranquil).

Q38c - % in visually tranquil category 3

  • 0
    • Sourced from the nationally consistent Tranquillity & Place Visually Tranquil Areas version 2 re-published 2024 (rural themes 1, 2 and 3 combined). The visually tranquil categories range from 1 (least visually tranquil) to 10 (most visually tranquil).

Q38d - % in visually tranquil category 4

  • 0
    • Sourced from the nationally consistent Tranquillity & Place Visually Tranquil Areas version 2 re-published 2024 (rural themes 1, 2 and 3 combined). The visually tranquil categories range from 1 (least visually tranquil) to 10 (most visually tranquil).

Q38e - % in visually tranquil category 5

  • 0
    • Sourced from the nationally consistent Tranquillity & Place Visually Tranquil Areas version 2 re-published 2024 (rural themes 1, 2 and 3 combined). The visually tranquil categories range from 1 (least visually tranquil) to 10 (most visually tranquil).

Q38f - % in visually tranquil category 6

  • 1.21
    • Sourced from the nationally consistent Tranquillity & Place Visually Tranquil Areas version 2 re-published 2024 (rural themes 1, 2 and 3 combined). The visually tranquil categories range from 1 (least visually tranquil) to 10 (most visually tranquil).

Q38g - % in visually tranquil category 7

  • 44.19
    • Sourced from the nationally consistent Tranquillity & Place Visually Tranquil Areas version 2 re-published 2024 (rural themes 1, 2 and 3 combined). The visually tranquil categories range from 1 (least visually tranquil) to 10 (most visually tranquil).

Q38h - % in visually tranquil category 8

  • 50.36
    • Sourced from the nationally consistent Tranquillity & Place Visually Tranquil Areas version 2 re-published 2024 (rural themes 1, 2 and 3 combined). The visually tranquil categories range from 1 (least visually tranquil) to 10 (most visually tranquil).

Q38i - % in visually tranquil category 9

  • 4.24
    • Sourced from the nationally consistent Tranquillity & Place Visually Tranquil Areas version 2 re-published 2024 (rural themes 1, 2 and 3 combined). The visually tranquil categories range from 1 (least visually tranquil) to 10 (most visually tranquil).

Q38j - % in visually tranquil category 10

  • 0
    • Sourced from the nationally consistent Tranquillity & Place Visually Tranquil Areas version 2 re-published 2024 (rural themes 1, 2 and 3 combined). The visually tranquil categories range from 1 (least visually tranquil) to 10 (most visually tranquil).

Q39a - Tranquillity & Place overall category 1 % (Theme 6)

  • 0

Q39b - Tranquillity & Place overall category 2 % (Theme 6)

  • 0

Q39c - Tranquillity & Place overall category 3 % (Theme 6)

  • 0

Q39d - Tranquillity & Place overall category 4 % (Theme 6)

  • 0

Q39e - Tranquillity & Place overall category 5 % (Theme 6)

  • 0

Q39f - Tranquillity & Place overall category 6 % (Theme 6)

  • 2.42

Q39g - Tranquillity & Place overall category 7 % (Theme 6)

  • 53.87

Q39h - Tranquillity & Place overall category 8 % (Theme 6)

  • 41.65

Q39i - Tranquillity & Place overall category 9 % (Theme 6)

  • 2.06

Q39j - Tranquillity & Place overall category 10 % (Theme 6)

  • 0

Aspect Area Boundary

Q40 - To what level was this information site-surveyed?

  • Level 3

Q41 - At 1:10,000, how much of the Aspect Area boundary is precise?

  • All

Q42 - What baseline information source was used for Aspect Area boundary mapping?

  • OS Raster

Q43 - If OS Data was used, what was the scale?

  • 1:25,000

Q44 - What is the justification for the Aspect Area boundaries?

  • lake and associated edge

Natural Beauty

Q45 - Contribution of this area to natural beauty

  • No Answer

Evaluation

Q46 - Evaluation Criteria: Scenic quality

  • High
    • views across lake to mountains, dramatic reflections

Q47 - Evaluation Criteria: Integrity

  • High
    • views to Llanberis and main road slight detractor

Q48 - Evaluation Criteria: Character

  • High
    • high visual unity and distinctive form and backdrop of quarry

Q49 - Evaluation Criteria: Rarity

  • Outstanding
    • rare qualities - only glacial lake outside National Park

Q50 - Evaluation Criteria: Overall Evaluation

  • High
    • views across lake to mountains, dramatic reflections. Dramatic views of mountains , and reflected quality of the water when still, notable quality. strong sense of place derived from dtramatic upland setting and less attractive visual link with Llanberis. Highly visible and associated with Snowdonia

Q51 - Justification of overall evaluation

  • 75% high - rarity(outs) marginal score therefore unlikely to affect overall outcome

Information Sources

Q52 - Sources and additional assessments

  • No Answer

Q53 - Landscape Institute Landscape character assessment database

  • . Check the online resource for Wales for links to other relevant assessments e.g. NLCA, NMCA, LCA, LSCA, management plans, sensitivity assessments https://landscapeinstitute.org/technical-resource/landscape-character-assessment-lca-database/

LMP 14 & 09

Q54 - LANDMAP derived landscape types (LMP14)

  • Inland water

Q55 - LANDMAP derived landscape types (LMP09)

  • Inland water

Unused

Q56 - Unused

  • No Answer

Q57 - Unused

  • No Answer

Q58 - Unused

  • No Answer

Q59 - Unused

  • No Answer

SLAs

Q60 - List the Special Landscape Areas (SLAs) in this local authority or region

  • Yes
    • Joint Gwynedd & Ynys Mon: Vaynol Estate and Surrounds, North-Western Fringes of Snowdonia, Western Llyn, Porthmadog and Tremadog Bay, Bala Hinterland, Corris, Barmouth, Foryd Bay, Malltraeth Marsh & Surrounds, Parciau Estatelands, Parys Mountain & Slopes, Mynedd Mechell & Surrounds, Glaslyn & Dywryd Estuary Landscapes, Bangor Mountain & Minffordd rural hinterland, Beaumaris Wooded Slopes and Llandoeg Vale, Southern Anglesey Estatelands

Q61 - SLA policy and resources

  • Joint Local Plan Policy AMG2 Anglesey & Gwynedd https://www.anglesey.gov.uk/documents/Docs-en/Planning/Planning-policy/Local/Supporting/Review-of-Anglesey-Gwynedd-Special-Landscape-Areas-Executive-Summary.pdf . The Special Landscape Areas GIS dataset is available from DataMapWales https://datamap.gov.wales/layers/geonode:nrw_special_landscape_area

Visible Settings

Q62 - Visible settings of LANDMAP V&S areas

This is a Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV), calculated using a 30 metre Digital Terrain Model (DTM), using multiple observer points scattered across the area, 1.5m above ground level, and taking into account the Earth’s curvature. The data does not extend beyond 35km from an observer point, meaning that more distant views may also be possible.

Q63 - Visible Settings of Designated Landscapes

Q64 - Key views into or out from Designated Landscapes