Some historical and interesting facts about our area.

ABERDOVEY. A seaside town with beautiful beach, nature reserves and idyllic setting. Nearby TYWYN is home to the Talyllyn Light Railway.

BARMOUTH, at the mouth of the Mawddach is a town boasting not only the usual attractions of a small holiday resort, but also spectacular mountain and estuary walks, sailing, and other watersports. There is something here for everyone!

BALA is a small, busy market town at the northern end of Bala Lake (Llyn Tegid). The lake, 4 miles long, provides an exciting inland base for watersports of all kinds. For those with an inclination towards the “hair-raising”, the National Whitewater Centre at Tryweryn, provides the stiffer challenge of whitewater rafting and kayaking.

BEDDGELERT. ‘Gelert’s Grave’, is named in memory of Prince Llewelyn’s faithful and fearless hound, whose grave you can visit. This is an attractive little town of stone and slate, made all the more attractive by its proud inhabitants, whose earnest endeavours have brought them a Gold Award in the prestigious European Entente Floral competition, in past years! It is situated, on one hand, at the entrance to the Gwynant Valley, which leads on up to the Llanberis Pass, and to the world famous Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel, with its collection of autographed photographs, and other memorabilia of famous mountaineers, past and present; and, on the other hand, at the head of the Aberglaslyn Pass, where the river assumes the strange green hue, which gives it its name.

BETWS-Y-COED. A popular holiday village, much frequented since Victorian times, because of its fishing and charming river scenery. Nearby are the enchanting Fairy Glen and the Swallow Falls.

BLAENAU FFESTINIOG. A slate quarrying town, now more famous for its two show caverns; and its “little train” that takes you down to the old slate port of Porthmadog, some 12 miles away.

CAPEL CURIG. A small mountain village which is home to the National Mountain Centre at Plas-y-Brenin, and much favoured by climbers and walkers.

CORWEN. A small market town and fishing resort on the edge of the Berwyns.

DOLGELLAU, situated where the Wnion and Mawddach rivers meet, is a pleasant little town of stone houses, narrow streets, and hidden alleyways, and was once the centre of the woollen trade. Its association with gold still lingers on, as you can come away from its excellent ironmongers with all the equipment needed for gold panning! A six mile drive north takes you to the Coed Y Brenin Mountain Biking Centre, where a series of graded trails will take you over mountains and deep into the forest.

HARLECH. A famous historic Welsh town with a splendid castle, sited high up on a rock, overlooking a vast expanse of sand dunes. A good centre for walking, fishing, and sunbathing!

LLANBEDR, a lovely little village on the Cwm Nantcol River, which leads up to the Roman Steps, and down to the aptly-named Shell Island.

LLANBERIS at the foot of Snowdon and the awesome Llanberis Pass, is a popular touring centre. Here you find the station for the spectacular Snowdon Mountain Railway, which wends its way up to the very summit! The lakes of Padarn and Peris are also to be found here. Padarn with its accompanying country park, slate museum, and facilities for sailing, canoeing, and walking: Peris, with its unique hydroelectricity plant, hidden away inside the very mountain itself!

LLANRWST is a market town in the Conwy Valley, which boasts a fifteenth century courthouse and a bridge dating from 1636.

MACHYNLLETH. A pleasant market town, which was the scene for Wales’ very first Parliament under Owain Glyndwr in 1404. A few miles out along the road to CORRIS, you can visit Europe’s leading “Green Eco-Centre” - the fascinating Centre For Alternative Technology.