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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.

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Dyfi Discovery Walk | Cae Adda Walk

Address

Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8BL

Telephone
0300 065 3000

Machynlleth

Start: Near Dovey Valley Shooting Centre
Limited car parking
Grid Reference: SH 806 051
Distance: 10 km – 6.2 miles
Grade: Moderate with some steep sections
Terrain: Fields, rough tracks
Maps: OS Explorer - 215
Dinas Oleu Walk

Address

Abermaw | Barmouth, Barmouth, Southern Snowdonia, LL42 1LS

Telephone
01341 440238

eryri@nationaltrust.org.uk

Barmouth

The Dinas Oleu Walk takes you from Barmouth town centre through the steep narrow winding streets of the Old Town and up to the top of the gorse-covered hill, known as Dinas Oleu (Citadel of Light).
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.
Lôn Mawddach | Mawddach Trail

Address

Mawddach Estuary, Southern Snowdonia, LL40 2TA

Southern Snowdonia

The walk along the estuary from Barmouth to Dolgellau is 9.6 miles (15km). This easy leisure walk is suitable for all the family and involves no climbing. A section of the trail has been adapted for people with disabilities.
Aberdyfi Tourist Information Centre

Address

Aberdyfi Tourist Information Centre, The Wharf, Seaview Terrace, Aberdyfi, Gwynedd, LL35 0ED

Telephone
01654 767321

TIC.Aberdyfi@snowdonia.gov.wales

Seaview Terrace, Aberdyfi

Aberdyfi Tourist Information Centre is conveniently situated in the centre of the village on the Wharf where you can get information on local events, attractions, recreational activities and public transport.
August Steam Gala | Bala Lake Railway

Address

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

Telephone
01678 540666

enquiries@bala-lake-railway.co.uk

Llanuwchlyn, Bala

August Steam Gala at Bala Lake Railway will feature all available steam locomotives in action with frequent passenger services, demonstration freight trains and the miniature railway running at Llanuwchllyn.
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.
Mary Jones | Heritage Trail

Address

Llanfihangel Y Pennant, Near Abergynolwyn, Gwynedd, LL36 9TS

Near Abergynolwyn

The Mary Jones Walk retraces the route the 15-year-old Mary Jones walked 25 miles from Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, across the Welsh mountains, to Bala to get a Bible from Revd. Thomas Charles.
Llanbedr

Address

Llanbedr, Gwynedd, LL45 2LD

Telephone
01341 280787

Llanbedr

Llanbedr is an attractive village situated between Barmouth and Harlech. It's an ideal location for walking and Shell Island is famous for it's abundance of sea shells.
Dyfi Discovery Walk | Cwrt Walk

Address

Cwrt, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8BL

Telephone
0300 065 3000

Machynlleth

Start: Village car park, Cwrt
Grid Reference:SH 688 000
Distance: 4.8 km – 3 miles (with extension 6.6 km - 4 miles)
Grade: Moderate (extension energetic)
Terrain: Tarmac road, firm tracks, fields and woodland
Maps: OS Explorer - OL 23
Bala & Penllyn | Walking Trails

Address

Bala & Penllyn, Bala, Gwynedd, LL23 7AD

Bala

The Bala & Penllyn area has a wide range of Walking Trails for everyone – including: all ability, children, heritage, scenic and mountain walks - and all through stunning mountain and lake scenery of southern Snowdonia.
Dyffryn Ardudwy Burial Chamber (Cadw)

Address

Dyffryn Ardudwy, Gwynedd, LL44 2EW

Telephone
0300 025 6000

cadw@gov.wales

Gwynedd

Neolithic tomb comprising two chambers of different phases, originally covered by a stone cairn.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fairbourne Beach

Address

Fairbourne, Gwynedd, LL38 2DX

Telephone
01654 767321

TIC.Aberdyfi@snowdonia.gov.wales

Fairbourne

A two mile stretch of sand backed by steep pebble banks and surrounded by the Snowdonia National Park.
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.
75th Annual Founders Day | Talyllyn Railway

Address

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

Telephone
01654 710472

enquires@talyllyn.co.uk

Tywyn

Celebrating 75 Years of The World’s First Preserved Railway
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.