Dolgellau Tourist Information

Dolgellau Tourist Information

Dolgellau is a small market town at the foot of Cadair Idris dating from the 12th century. It acts as the main centre for the south of Snowdonia National Park. Its central place makes it a good point from which to explore the Snowdonia coast and estuaries, Cadair Idris and the Rhinog and Arenig mountain ranges that lie all around the town. Bala and the Berwyn mountains aren't that far away and can also easily be reached.

Although many of the grey slate-faced buildings give the town a look of the English 19th century, it has a much longer history as it lies at the junction of three Roman roads. Owain Glyndwr assembled the last Welsh parliament in 1404 in Dolgellau (well, the last before the Welsh Assembly came into existence). In the 1860s Dolgellau became the focus of gold rushes (yee hah!) where prospectors flocked to the estuaries nearby to pan for gold (the sands really are golden then!).

There are several pubs, cafes and places to eat (the majority open seasonally) and a few bijoux shops are starting to make an appearance. It also has a cyber cafe.

A lot of holiday accommodation tends to be based either in or around Dolgellau. There is a big pay and display car park alongside the river Wnion - free in the winter. There is a tourist office in the town centre (check opening times as they're not open every day) above which is the Quaker Interpretive Centre that chronicles the persecution local Quakers suffered for their non-conformist views in the 17th century.

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Walks Around Dolgellau

There are some good walks along the river at Dolgellau. The most popular are Torrent Falls and Precipice Walk that can be completed singly or as a pair.

The Torrent Walk takes you along the River Clywedog and is about two miles long and takes around an hour. This walk was actually laid out by Thomas Payne, a surveyor and engineer, during a ten year period from 1799. Originally the walk's return route was on the river's right bank, but this path has long since been swallowed up by farmland. The start of the walk is signed off the B4416, Brithdir road, which is just off the A470. This is a picturesque wooded walk alongside the tumbling falls over the rocky Clywedog riverbed.

The Precipice Walk is longer at around 3-4 miles and takes about two hours. This walk is believed to have been started by sheep trundling around the twin peaks of Foel Cynwch and Foel Faner. This is not a public right of way but a permissive path. The precipice is on the western section of the walk where it opens out to excellent views to Snowdon, the Moelwyns, the Rhinogs, Arans and Arenigs, over Coed y Brenin and the Mawddach estuary - obviously on a clear day! Start at the National Park car park to the left of the road to Llanfachreth reached from the A494 Dolgellau-Bala road. It s not as precipitous as the name might suggest and is fairly easy going.

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