Mochdre
The village west of Colwyn Bay with a pig-town name and a quiet place in railway history
About Mochdre
Mochdre is a village and community immediately west of Colwyn Bay in Conwy County Borough, sitting just off the A55 expressway between Colwyn Bay and Rhos-on-Sea. It was originally part of the municipal borough of Colwyn Bay, becoming a separate community only after local government reorganisation in April 1974. Its population stood at 1,923 at the 2011 census. Bryn Euryn, the wooded hill fort just to the north, gives a good vantage point — the whole village can be seen from its summit in one view.
Mochdre isn't a tourist village in the way Old Colwyn or Rhos-on-Sea are. It functions today mainly as a retail, industrial and business area convenient for the A55, and most visitors pass through rather than stop — but it has a genuinely curious history worth knowing if you're in the area.
The Pig-Town Name
Mochdre means ‘pig town’ in Welsh: moch (pigs) and tref (town, homestead). The story behind the name comes from the Mabinogi, the great collection of medieval Welsh mythological tales first written down in the Middle Ages but rooted in much older oral storytelling. In the branch known as Math fab Mathonwy, the magician Gwydion steals a herd of enchanted pigs from Pryderi, lord of Dyfed, and on the journey north stops for the night at a spot that became known as Mochdre as a result. It's one of several place names across North Wales that trace back to this same story.
A Place in Railway History
Mochdre sits on the North Wales Coast Line between Chester and Holyhead, and has a genuinely notable claim to railway engineering history: it was the site of some of the earliest trackside water troughs, from around 1860, allowing steam locomotives to scoop up water at speed without having to stop. The technique went on to be used on railways worldwide. The original site is now buried under the A55 dual carriageway, which was realigned through the area in the 1980s. Mochdre & Pabo railway station once served the village, closing for good in 1931; today there's no working station and the nearest rail access is Colwyn Bay.
Church, Sport & Community
The parish church associated with Mochdre is actually a little outside the village centre, at Llangystennin (also spelled Llangwstenin) — a site with a genuinely old story attached to it, as the current 1843 building is said to stand where the oldest early Christian church site in Wales once stood. Locally, Mochdre is also known for Mochdre Sports FC, based at the MSA Sports Arena on Swan Road, which it shares with Mochdre Cricket Club.
Getting There
Mochdre is reached directly from the A55 expressway, with Colwyn Bay around 10–15 minutes away on foot or a short bus or drive, and Rhos-on-Sea and Bryn Euryn both close by to the north. There's no dedicated rail station in the village; the nearest is Colwyn Bay station on the North Wales Coast Line.
For other quieter villages around Colwyn Bay, see Old Colwyn and hilltop Llysfaen to the east.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Mochdre?
Mochdre is a village and community immediately west of Colwyn Bay in Conwy County Borough, North Wales, just off the A55 expressway. It was originally part of the municipal borough of Colwyn Bay until local government reorganisation in 1974 made it a separate community.
Why is Mochdre called ‘pig town’?
Mochdre means ‘pig town’ in Welsh (moch = pigs, tref = town). The name comes from the Mabinogi, a collection of medieval Welsh tales: in the story of Math fab Mathonwy, the trickster Gwydion stops overnight here with a herd of magical pigs stolen from Pryderi, and the place became known as Mochdre as a result.
What is Mochdre known for today?
Mochdre is best known locally as a retail, industrial and business area just off the A55, built up around the former Quinton Hazell car-parts factory site. It’s a practical stop for shopping and services rather than a tourist destination, and sits within easy reach of Colwyn Bay, Rhos-on-Sea and Bryn Euryn.
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