AN EXHIBITION exploring the life of a famous Welsh poet has won an award 100 years after he was tragically killed at war.

Yr Ysgwrn in Trawsfynydd, the home of Hedd Wyn, was one of the stars of the show at the Go North Wales Tourism Awards where it was named as the best newcomer.

Hedd Wyn was the bardic name of Ellis Evans who was killed on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele during the First World War. He was posthumously awarded the bard’s chair at the 1917 National Eisteddfod in Birkenhead just a few weeks after he died on the frontline.

Yr Ysgwrn reopened to the public earlier this year after a £3 million project to change the original outbuildings into interpretive centres.

Project manager Sian Griffiths felt Hedd Wyn would have been proud of what they achieved.

She said: “It’s the icing on the cake for all the hard work that has been put in by a lot of people. It encapsulates how important Hedd Wyn’s story is to Wales and the nation.

“We have worked very closely with Snowdonia National Park which owns the site and we are grateful for their support. We have two full-time members of staff and an awful lot of dedicated volunteers who have helped make the venture a success.”

Meanwhile, an adventure tourism company that’s created 350 new jobs in Gwynedd in four years has been honoured for its massive contribution to the economy of north Wales.

According to a recent study, Zip World, which created Europe’s longest zip wire and a host of other high-adrenaline attractions, pumps £121m into the north Wales economy every year.

Managing director David Stacey says the award recognises all the hard work his team has put into making the business the success it is.

He said: “It’s a tremendous accolade and we are just delighted to be playing a part in this amazing boom that is going on in the north Wales tourism sector.

“In just a little over four years we have gone from eight staff to 350, and what a team we have.

“We are now welcoming close to 400,000 visitors a year to north Wales and we continue to reinvest in our tourism offer.

“It’s our frontline staff that deserve this award. We attract the best, most passionate and dedicated team players and the feedback we get from customers is amazing. Their enthusiasm knows no bounds and I dedicate this award to them.”

Five-star mountain retreat Gors-lwyd Cottage, Llithfaen, also won Best Self Catering Accommodation at the ceremony.

The event held at Venue Cymru in Llandudno was organised by North Wales Tourism to celebrate the best of the region’s tourism and hospitality sector.

The Welsh Government’s new Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas – who is also Assembly Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd – was delighted to be there.

He said: “These awards mark the success and excellence the north Wales tourism has to offer. We have such a lot to celebrate.

“The quality of what we have to offer here in north Wales goes from strength to strength and the awards are an opportunity for us to celebrate the industry and to showcase the outstanding quality of our vibrant tourism sector.

“Congratulations to all the winners – a much-deserved reward for their commitment, hard work and passion.”