Things to do and places to visit
Beaches
Walking
- This great site lists the best walks near Dolgellau, including the estuary, Cader Idris, the Precipice Walk and many others.
- The Mawddach trail in particular is a well surfaced track on an old railway line from Dolgellau to Barmouth on the southern side of the estuary - easy for cycles, trailers, wheelchairs and feet.
- The Mawddach Way is a three day 50km circular footpath walk right around the Mawddach Estuary.
- The Snowdonia National Park website.
- Panorama Walk Barmouth's most famous walk. There is a car park and toilet at the top of the Panorama road. Great views over the estuary.
Fun Stuff
- Crab lining from Barmouth Harbour
- The Blue Lake - a flooded Slate Quarry.
- Talyllyn Railway
- King Arthurs Labyrinth and Corris Craft Centre
- The Centre for Alternative Technology
- Go Ape - High Wire Forest Adventure
- Dolgellau and Discover Dolgellau
Pony Trekking
- Bwlchgwyn Farm Pony Trekking Centre - trek along the estuary!
Sailing
Golf
Biking
- Bike hire & repairs- Dolgellau Cycles
- Snowbikers for details of the area’s way-marked trails. You can even hire mountain bike guides.
- We're on the National Cycle Network Route-8 which you can follow in a figure of 8 around the Mawddach estuary - it takes around 8 hours and 80 km.
- Mountain Biking Wales for more trails
- The Mawddach trail is the nearest trail
- Coed y Brenin is the best known with tracks for all levels of skill.
- the circuit of Cadair Idris is not to be missed!
Adventure & Watersports
- Outdoor Adventure Activities Llanbedr (16 miles)
- Up4adventures Dolgellau
- Balawatersports (20 miles)
- National Whitewater Rafting Centre (20 miles)
- Geocaching
- Kitesurfing
Castles
- Visit Cadw for many of the old sites
- Harlech
- Criccieth
- Castel Y Bere built by the Welsh Prince Llywelyn the Great in the 13th century.
- Cymer Abbey - ruin of a Cistercian abbey founded in 1198
- St.Celynin's - Llangelynin medieval church
Local history
- Bronze Bell Shipwreck Exhibition, Ty Gwyn Museum (above Davy Jones' Locker), The Quay, Barmouth. Tells the story of the nearby wreck of 1709, and of the salvage operation.
- Quaker Trail Dolgellau.
- Llanfair Slate Caverns (18 miles).
- Corris Mine Explorers (15 miles)
Fishing
- Lynn Jericho: View Larger Map of Lynn Jericho
- Dolgellau Angling Association
- Sea fishing trips run from Barmouth Harbour
- Talyllyn Lake
Bird Watching & Nature
- There are two within easy walking or cycling distance Coed Garth Gell RSPB nature reserve
- Arthog Bog RSPB nature reserve
- Bird Rock or Craig yr Aderyn - of European importance as a traditional breeding and roosting site.
- Coed Ganllwyd Nature Reserve
Pubs & Eating
- Dylanwad Bwyty Dylanwad Da Restaurant, Bar, Wine Shop
- The Meirionnydd hotel/restaurant
- T H Coffee Shop, Parliament House, Heol Glyndwr, Dolgellau, Gwynedd LL40 1BB. Tel. 01341 423552. Marvellous cafe with broadband, games, great food.
- Y Sospan, Queen's Square, Dolgellau, Gwynedd LL40 1AR. Tel. 01341 423 174. Lovely intimate Welsh restaurant.
- George III - a historic pub on the estuary by the wooden toll bridge
- Bwyty Mawddach
- Bistro Bermo
Entertainment
- Discover Dolgellau
- Dolgellau Music Club
- Ty Siamas folk centre
- Barmouth Nightlife
- Visit Mid Wales What's on
- Dragon Theatre, Barmouth
- Theatr Harlech
Steam Trains:
- Fairbourne Narrow Gauge Railway and Barmouth Ferry.
- Welsh Highland Railway
- Corris Railway
