To provide you with the best experience, cookies are used on this site. Learn more

You are here: Destinations > Southern Snowdonia

Southern Snowdonia | Dolgellau and the Mawddach

Southern Snowdonia

The southern part of Snowdonia National Park (Eryri) covers the area from Dolgellau south to Machynlleth and west to Barmouth and Aberdovey. It is less well known than the Snowdon area to the north, which is exactly its appeal. The mountains here are just as dramatic, the estuaries are wider, and the crowds are a fraction of what you find around Llanberis and Betws-y-Coed.

What are the main places in Southern Snowdonia?

Dolgellau is the main town, built from dark stone at the foot of Cadair Idris. It has narrow streets, good independent shops and serves as the base for walks up the mountain. Barmouth is a seaside town at the mouth of the Mawddach Estuary, with a long sandy beach and the famous railway bridge. Harlech has one of the great castles of Wales, built by Edward I in the 1280s on a clifftop with views across Cardigan Bay to the Llyn Peninsula. Aberdovey is a small sailing village on the Dyfi Estuary. Bala sits at the head of Llyn Tegid, the largest natural lake in Wales.

What walks are there in Southern Snowdonia?

Cadair Idris (893m) is the signature walk. The Minffordd Path from the south is the most popular route, climbing through old oak woods to the summit ridge. The Mawddach Trail is flatter: a 9.5-mile walking and cycling path along the estuary from Dolgellau to Barmouth, following a disused railway line with views of the mountains reflected in the water at low tide.

The Precipice Walk near Dolgellau is a 3.5-mile circuit with views across the Mawddach to Cadair Idris. It is not as dramatic as the name suggests but it is one of the finest short walks in Wales.

How do I get to Southern Snowdonia?

The Cambrian Coast Line runs through Barmouth, Dolgellau Road (Morfa Mawddach) and along the coast to Aberdovey and Machynlleth. By road, the A470 runs north from Dolgellau towards Southern Snowdonia, and the A487 connects to Machynlleth and Aberystwyth. From England, the quickest route is via Shrewsbury and the A458 to Dolgellau.

Where to eat in Southern Snowdonia

Dolgellau has several good independent restaurants and cafes. Barmouth has fish and chip shops on the harbour and pubs with sea views. Aberdovey has a small but reliable choice of restaurants serving fresh fish from the bay. The Fanny Talbot pub in Barmouth, owned by the National Trust, is worth a visit for its food and unusual name. For a full list, see our restaurants and cafes in the area.

Southern Snowdonia Towns | Places to Stay | See & Do

Inspiration

Harlech

Harlech is a historic town on the Snowdonia coast which has fantastic beaches, Royal St David's - one of Wales' finest golf courses and Harlech Castle which a World heritage site.
Bala & Penllyn

Bala & Penllyn is an area within the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park surrounded by the peaks of Aran Benllyn, Arenig Fawr and the Berwyn Mountains and home to the largest natural lake in Wales,
Abermaw | Barmouth

Barmouth is one of the most picturesque resorts on the Welsh coast and is surrounded by the unrivalled splendour of the Snowdonia National Park.
Dolgellau

Dolgellau is the ideal base to explore southern Snowdonia's dramatic scenery, adrenalin-fuelled activities and world heritage attractions. It's a historic mountain town built on the wool trade and steeped in folklore.
Aberdyfi | Aberdovey

Aberdyfi's pastel-coloured terraces front a large sandy beach and quaint old harbour. The town is a popular centre for sailing, watersports and golf.
Tywyn

Tywyn is a coastal town in Southern Snowdonia on the Mid Wales coast. The name Tywyn comes from the Welsh word for beach or sand dunes.

Number of results: 260

, currently showing 181 to 200.

Sort By: A-Z Lowest A-Z Highest

Bwlch y Groes Mountain Pass | Scenic Drive

Address

Dinas Mawddwy, Gwynedd, LL49 9LP

Telephone
01654 702653

marketing@mwtcymru.co.uk

Dinas Mawddwy

Bwlch y Groes (Pass of the Cross) is one of the highest public road mountain passes in Wales. The route lies on minor roads linking Dinas Mawddwy, Llanuwchllyn and Lake Vyrnw with views across the Dyfi valley and Cadair Idris
Llyn Mwyngil | Tal-y-Llyn Lake

Address

Southern Snowdonia, Tywyn, Gwynedd, LL36 9AJ

Telephone
01654 767321

TIC.Aberdyfi@snowdonia.gov.wales

Tywyn

Located at the foot of Cadair Idris, Tal-y-llyn Lake (Also known as Llyn Mwyngil) is north of Machynlleth and north-east of Tywyn.
Stations at Stations | Talyllyn Railway.

Address

Rheilffordd Talyllyn Railway, Gorsaf Wharf Station, Tywyn, Gwynedd, LL36 9EY

Telephone
01654 710472

enquiries@talyllyn.co.uk

Tywyn

Talyllyn Railway offers a unique “Stations at Stations” event that combines historic steam train travel with a reflective Stations of the Cross pilgrimage.
MWT Cymru | Meeting Room

Address

Mid Wales Tourism, The Station, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8TG

Telephone
01654 702653

davina@mwtcymru.co.uk

Machynlleth

Great location at Machynlleth Train Station, this first floor meeting room can be booked for interviews, training sessions, group/association meetings.
Penrhyndeudraeth Railway Station

Address

Cambrian View, Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd, LL48 6LN

Telephone
0800 464 0000

Penrhyndeudraeth

Penrhyndeudraeth railway station is on the Cambrian Coast Line from Machynlleth to Pwllheli.
Llwyngwril Railway Station

Address

Station Rd, Llwyngwril, LL37 2JS

Telephone
08457 484950

Llwyngwril

Llwyngwril railway station is on the Cambrian Coast line from Machynlleth to Pwllheli.
Dyffryn (Llanendwyn) Beach

Address

Dyffryn Ardudwy, Barmouth, Gwynedd, LL44 2HD

Telephone
01341 281617

info@barmouthstation.com

Barmouth

Dyffryn (Llanendwyn) is a long sandy beach backed by an extensive sand dune system between Shell Island and Dyffryn Ardudwy.
Sustrans Route 82:Machynlleth -Fishguard

Address

Sustrans Route 82:Machynlleth - Fishguard, Machynlleth Town Centre, SY20 8AB

Telephone
01179268893

Machynlleth Town Centre

This section of route 82 heads South towards Aberystwyth but the route is still under construction. Beyond Aberystwyth the route heads along the old railway line towards Tregaron and Lampeter. The route finishes in Fishguard.
Rhaeadr Ddu & Coed Ganllwyd | Walking Trails

Address

Coed Ganllwyd Nature Reserve, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, LL40 2TG

Telephone
01341 440238

eyri@nationaltrust.org

Dolgellau

A network of paths on the Coed Ganllwyd reserve mean you can choose from circular walks of 100 metres up to more demanding routes that stretch over two kilometres.
A Day with "Alice the Little Welsh Engine" | Bala Lake Railway

Address

Bala Lake Railway, Llanuwchlyn, Bala, Gwynedd, LL23 7DD

Telephone
01678 540666

enquiries@bala-lake-railway.co.uk

Llanuwchlyn, Bala

A Day with “Alice the Little Welsh Engine” at Bala Lake Railway is a family-friendly event celebrating the beloved children’s character with steam train rides behind 'Alice'.
Dyfi Discovery Walk | Llyn Barfog Walk

Address

Cwm Maethlon | Happy Valley, Aberdyfi, GWYNEDD

Telephone
0300 065 3000

Aberdyfi

Start: Snowdonia National Park Authority car park, Cwm Maethlon/Happy Valley
Grid Reference: SN 640 986
Distance: 5 km - 3.1 miles (shortcut 4 km – 2.5 miles)
Grade: Moderate
Terrain: Open moorland, firm tracks, fields and tarmac road.
Sustrans Route 8 | Dolgellau - Llanelwedd

Address

Dolgellau Town Centre, LL40 1SR

Telephone
01179268893

reception@sustrans.org.uk

The cycle route heads inland from the town of Dolgellau across the Cambrian Mountains and heads South East towards Builth Wells and Llanelwedd.
Wildlife of RSPB Ynys-hir Walk

Address

RSPB Ynys-hir, Eglwys-fach, Machynlleth, Ceredigion, SY20 8TA

Telephone
01654 700222

ynyshir@rspb.org.uk

Machynlleth

Join our knowledgeable guides and discover the wonderful wildlife of RSPB Ynys-hir. Receive expert commentary on all aspects of natural history, and see how many species we can find species in just a couple of hours! We will be looking for signs of…
Tywyn Beach

Address

Tywyn, Tywyn, Gwynedd, LL36 0DF

Telephone
01654 767321

TIC.Aberdyfi@snowdonia.gov.wales

Tywyn

The west facing beach at Tywyn in southern Snowdonia is a long stretch of sand and pebbles backed by sand dunes.
Corris Village Walk

Address

Corris, Gwynedd, SY20 9SS

Corris

Start: Corris Craft Centre car park
Grid Reference: SH 750 078
Distance: 5 km . 3.1 miles
Shorter option: 2.3 km . 1.4 miles
Grade: Moderate (some steep sections)
Terrain: Tarmac road and firm tracks
Maps: OS Explorer - OL 23
Victorian Train Day | Talyllyn Railway

Address

Rheilffordd Talyllyn Railway, Gorsaf Wharf Station, Tywyn, Gwynedd, LL36 9EY

Telephone
01654 710472

enquires@talyllyn.co.uk

Tywyn

Step back in time to the Era of Queen Victoria and travel through untouched and unparalleled Snowdonian scenery aboard The Victorian Train.
Dinas Mawddwy

Address

Dinas Mawddwy, Gwynedd, LL49 9LP

Dinas Mawddwy

North-east of Machynlleth and south-east of Dolgellau, the village of Dinas Mawddwy is just to the side of the A470 at the junction with the mountain road to Lake Vyrnwy and Bala.
Morfa Harlech Nature Reserve (NRW)

Address

Harlech, Gwynedd, LL46 2UR

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Gwynedd

Morfa Harlech is one of two extensive sand dune systems which make up much of the southern Snowdonia coastline, extending from the Mawddach estuary in the south to Black Rock Sands in the north west.
Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve

Address

Derwenlas, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8SR

Telephone
01654 781414

enquiries@dyfiospreyproject.com

Machynlleth

The Cors Dyfi reserve in the heart of the UNESCO Dyfi Biosphere is a mixture of bog, swamp, wet woodland and scrub supporting a plethora of animals and plants, including the magnificent ospreys and the recently introduced beavers.
Cymer Abbey (Cadw)

Address

Vaynor Farm, Llanelltyd, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, LL40 2HE

Telephone
0300 025 6000

cadw@gov.wales

Dolgellau

The serene ruins of Cymer Abbey stand in a lovely setting beside the River Mawddach. Particularly impressive are its great windows, arches and an unusual tower. Saif olion heddychlon Abaty Cymer mewn lleoliad hyfryd ger Afon Mawddach.