A Level Geographers Discover an Icy Past in North Wales

Shrewsbury School Geography Faculty recently took students on an immersive field trip to the dramatic Glyderau mountains in North Wales to conduct an in-depth study of its classic glacial landscapes. 

The focus of the trip was Cwm Idwal, a spectacular north-facing glacial cirque recognised as Wales’s first National Nature Reserve and a site of significant geological interest.   

Braving the elements, our Lower Sixth geographers embarked on a learning walk around the stunning Llyn Idwal, a lake occupying the base of the glacially-carved cwm. The trip was a fantastic opportunity for students to observe first-hand the powerful legacy of the last glacial period and to connect theoretical classroom knowledge with real-world geographical processes. 

Throughout the day, students delved into the deep geological history of the landscape, learning how immense glaciers sculpted the surrounding peaks and valleys thousands of years ago. Teachers guided them in identifying a wealth of distinctive glacial landforms, from the steep back wall of the cwm (‘Idwal Slabs’) to the moraines that mark the former margins of the ice. The trip also provided a valuable lesson in primary data collection, a cornerstone of geographical investigation.  Students were tasked with systematically collecting and analysing data on the sediments found in the area, allowing them to interpret the glacial and post-glacial processes that have shaped this unique environment.   

The field trip to Cwm Idwal was a resounding success, providing students with not only unforgettable views but also a deeper, practical understanding of the powerful forces that shape our planet. Fieldwork is crucial to our subject and our students left inspired and equipped with new analytical skills. 

Standing in the vast natural amphitheatre, our geographers could truly appreciate the scale of the forces that shaped our planet. It was a humbling and awe-inspiring experience that not only consolidated their classroom learning but also gave them a newfound appreciation for the vastness of geological time.

The trip began with a walk around Llyn Idwal, where students were immediately confronted by a classic glacial cirque (or cwm). Cwm Idwal is a site of major historical significance; it was here in the 1840s that past glaciation was first recognised in Britain, with Charles Darwin offering one of the first modern explanations for its landforms in 1842.