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: 255

, currently showing 221 to 240.

Sort By: A-Z Lowest A-Z Highest

Mid Wales Rail Trails | Barmouth to Porthmadog.

Address

Barmouth Railway Station, Station Approach, Barmouth - Porthmadog, LL42 1LS

Barmouth - Porthmadog

Mid Wales Rail Trails | Points of interest travelling on the Cambrian Line from Barmouth to Porthmadog.
Bala & Penllyn | Scenic Drives

Address

Bala & Penllyn, Bala, Gwynedd, LL23 7AD

Bala

Explore Bala & Penllyn by road using the free Trail leaflets, which you can download. Each Trail has fascinating local history information, picnic locations, walks, refreshments and toilets.
www.GoBala.org
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.
Tal-y-bont Beach / Benar Beach

Address

Tal-y-bont, Barmouth, Gwynedd, LL44 2HD

Telephone
01341 281617

info@barmouthstation.com

Barmouth

To the north of Barmouth near Tal-y-bont, Bennar's fine, sandy beach is backed by the occasional sand dune.
Pontrhydfendigaid

Address

Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion, SY20 8TG

Telephone
01970 612125

aberystwythTIC@ceredigiong.gov.uk

Pontrhydfendigaid

At the heart of Pontrhydfendigaid - 'the bridge of the blessed ford' (known locally as ‘Bont’) is a narrow hump backed bridge across the river Teifi, whose source is about 5 miles away in the hills, at Teifi Pools.
Harlech Railway Station

Address

Ffordd Morfa, Harlech, Gwynedd, LL46 2UL

Telephone
0800 464 0000

Harlech

Harlech railway station is on the Cambrian Coast Line from Machynlleth to Pwllheli.
Coed y Brenin Forest Park (NRW)

Address

Coed y Brenin Forest Park, Ganllwyd, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, LL402HN

Telephone
01341 440747

coedybrenin@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Dolgellau

Coed y Brenin Forest Park is set in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park near Dolgellau and forms part of the National Forest for Wales. There are many walking trails from various car parks within the Coed y Brenin forest park where you can see…
The Slate Trail | Talyllyn Railway

Address

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

Telephone
01654 710472

enquires@talyllyn.co.uk

Tywyn

Experience the beauty of a World Heritage Site in our original Victorian-Era Carriages
Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway Station

Address

Church St, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, LL41 3HE

Telephone
0800 464 0000

Blaenau Ffestiniog

Blaenau Ffestiniog railway station is the terminus of the Conwy Valley Line from Llandudno Junction; most trains run from/to Llandudno. Trains connect with the North Wales Coast Line. It is also the terminus of the Ffestiniog Railway.
Dyfi Discovery Walk | Ceinws to Llanwrin Walk

Address

Ceinws, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8BL

Telephone
0300 065 3000

Machynlleth

Start: Ceinws village
Grid Reference: SH760 059
Distance: 11.3 km – 7 miles (additional 0.7km - 0.4 miles to Llanwrin)
Grade: Moderate / Strenuous
Terrain: Firm tracks, open fields
Maps: OS Explorer 215
Aberdovey Kite Festival

Address

Station Road, Aberdovey, Gwynedd, LL35 0RT

Telephone
07581 305803

mrkiteflyer@gmail.com

Aberdovey

Professional kite flyers from across the UK will be colouring the skies over Aberdyfi again this summer.Enjoy a colourful and spectacular display of kites and other wonderful flying creations.
Circular Machynlleth via Tal-y-llyn | Scenic Drive

Address

Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8BL

Telephone
01654 702653

info@mwtcymru.co.uk

Machynlleth

This 35 mile circular route takes you on the A487 from Machynlleth via Corris towards Dolgellau and before turning off on the B4405 to Tywyn via the picturesque Talyllyn lake at the foot of Cadair Idris. Return to Machynlleth via Aberdyfi.
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.
Bala Lake Railway | Model Railway Show

Address

Llyn Tegid | Bala Lake Railway, Llanuwchlyn, Bala, Gwynedd, LL23 7DD

Telephone
01678 540666

enquiries@bala-lake-railway.co.uk

Llanuwchlyn, Bala

Join us at Bala Model Railway Show, a popular exhibition of detailed model layouts and exhibits held over 2 days at Ysgol Godre’r Berwyn Secondary School, Bala.
Abercorris Nature Reserve

Address

Nr Corris, Gwynedd, SY20 9SP

Telephone
01248 351541

info@northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk

Nr Corris

Abercorris Nature Reserve in southern Snowdonia is a three acre site of remnant broadleaved woodland on the steep east bank of Afon Deri combining the woodland habitat with that of the mountain stream below.
Wales Coast Path | Eryri (Southern Snowdonia)

Address

Wales Coast Path | Southern Snowdonia, Aberdyfi, Southern Snowdonia, SY24 5HX

wcp@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Aberdyfi

The Eyri (Southern Snowdonia) section of the Wales Coast Path providers the walker with the natural backdrop of the Eyri National Park.
Machynlleth

Address

Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8BL

Machynlleth

Unwind in the heart of the Dyfi Biosphere at Machynlleth. Part of the UNESCO Dyfi Biosphere and offers exciting activities, from mountain biking to exploring the natural beauty of Mid Wales. The Centre for Alternative Technology is an excellent…
Waen-oer Ridge Mountain Walk

Address

Dinas Mawddwy, Gwynedd, LL49 9LP

Telephone
01341 422888

Gwynedd

The Waun-oer Ridge Walk climbs from the village of Dinas Mawddwy over the bare mountains of Maesglase, Craig Portas, Cribin Fawr and Waun-oer and then down the slopes of Mynydd Ceiswyn to Bwlch Llyn Bach pass, Tal-y-llyn.
The Railway Adventurer | Talyllyn Railway

Address

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

Telephone
01654 710472

enquires@talyllyn.co.uk

Tywyn

Discover the Story of the Preservation Pioneers on The Railway Adventurer
Porthmadog Railway Station

Address

High St, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, LL49 9HT

Telephone
0800 464 0000

Porthmadog

Porthmadog railway station is on the Cambrian Coast Line from Machynlleth to Pwllheli. The station is located less than a 5 minute walk from the town centre. Connections to the heritage railways is via a 15 minute walk.