With its long, sandy beach and a picturesque harbour sitting between the mountains and the sea, Barmouth is the perfect destination for a traditional seaside holiday, with walks and outdoor activities in the surrounding area and plenty of excellent holiday cottage options to choose from.

The landscape of Barmouth

Walking will play a large part in your Barmouth vacation, with glorious countryside to explore nearby and of course a mandatory wander along the town’s lovely beach. Many walks concentrate around the nearby Afon Mawddach river and its many tributaries.

Walks of particular interest include the seven mile hike from Barmouth to Penmaenpool, from Barmouth bridge to Morfa Mawddach station, the walk follows the former railway track all the way along the river bank to the RSPB Bird Observation Post at Penmaenpool, and is of particular interest to anyone wanting to see the wide variety of bird life on the edge of the Afon Mawddach.

Heading inland to Snowdonia, you will find nearby the mountainous area around the town of Dolgellau, and on towards the Ganllwyd Valley. Here you will find the meeting point of many of the streams and small rivulets that go on to form the Afon Mawddach. All around are established woodlands and forestry, whilst the streams themselves are swift, tumultuous torrents with many waterfalls and rocky gorges.

Things to do and see around Barmouth

The residents of Barmouth are certainly keen on a festival. Every year a number of unique festivals take place in the town, including the Barmouth Kite Festival and the Barmouth Country & Western Festival, both in July, and Barmouth Arts Festival, usually held in September.

Ty Gwyn is generally regarded as the oldest building in Barmouth, dating back to the 15th century. It was listed as one of four houses recorded in a survey of Creeks and Ports commissioned by Queen Elizabeth I in 1565, and today is home to the Bronze Bell Shipwreck Museum, telling the story of a nearby wreck of 1709 and the resulting salvage operation, including relics from the incident itself.

The Dragon Theatre in Barmouth offers a year-round programme of performances and events. Touring productions, film screenings, musical concerts and community theatre are all on the bill at this bustling venue.

When exploring Barmouth finally takes its toll, you can settle down for an evening in the Last Inn, one of Wales’ most famous and atmospheric pubs, dating back to the 15th century, complete with original ship’s timber beams, inglenook fireplaces, home-cooked traditional meals and a fine range of wines and real ales.