Gwynedd Guide

Imagine a very special land, a place of enchantment, an ancient kingdom. This land has majestic mountains and tranquil valleys, cascading rivers, magical forests and fairytale castles. Imagine too, that this fabled place has glorious sandy beaches, with safe bathing and quaint coastal resorts, and that it has a language, a culture and a heritage of its own, founded more than two millennia ago. Best of all, imagine that this land actually existed and was easily accessible.

Here are some facts about Gwynedd:


In north-west Wales, Gwynedd was one of the kingdoms of Wales in the Middle Ages. It stretched between rivers Dyfi and Dee and included Snowdonia and the Isle of Anglesey. It's hardy terrain proved to be a sound defence against the English.

Aided by south-westerly gales, Porth Neigwl in Gwynedd has claimed over 30 ships over the years, earning the nickname Hell's Mouth. Nowadays, it's massive south-west facing four-mile beach attracts surfers from all over Britain.

In the late 19th century, chairman of McDougall's Flour Company Arthur McDougall both planned and developed the Gwynedd town of 'Fairbourne' as a family holiday resort, including recreation grounds, public buildings and a railway for horse-drawn trams.

Sir Clough Williams-Ellis dismantled Victorian Italianate buildings from around Britain and Europe and rebuilt them into the unique Gwynedd village and seaside resort that is Portmeirion. Painted in pastel colours, they formed the set of the cult 1960s television series 'The Prisoner'.

The 19th century saw it's share of gold rushes with prospectors panning the rivers and hills of Gwynedd. Traditionally, the Royal Family receive gold wedding bands from Gwynedd's Dolgellau. Gold is still there today, but not enough to make it economic to mine.

It was Reverend Wilbert Awdry's time working on Gwynedd's Talyllyn Railway that inspired him to write 'Thomas the Tank Engine'. The narrow-gauge line still operates it's own original locomotives along the coast into the Snowdonia National Park.

At 3,560 feet, Mount Snowdon is the highest mountain in England and Wales. Although there are plenty of peaks for the mountaineers and hill-climbers, The Snowdon Mountain Railway takes visitors from Llanberis to the summit.


Here are just some of the places to visit in and around Gwynedd: