Dolgellau sits on the south bank of the
Wnion River at the foot of Cader Idris, (Cadair Idris) in the south of
the Snowdonia National Park in North Wales. The area has long been known
for it's walks, with rocky crags and clear streams crashing over waterfalls.
The rich wildlife includes red squirrels, pine-marten, otters and deer,
as well as goshawks and goosander.
The Forest Park in nearby Coed y Brenin is
world renowned for it's fantastic network of Mountain Bike Trails. There
is a restaurant and cycle shop (sales, repair, and hire) on the site
and information on the many forest trails is to be found at the Visitor
Centre.
It has been said that there is "no better walk than from
Barmouth through to Dolgellau other than from Dolgellau to Barmouth" and
I have to agree, the views of the Snowdonia mountains sweeping down to
the Mawddach estuary are phenomenal.
Although Roman coins have been found
nearby the town was probably established in the late 11th or early 12th
Century, with a church being built in the 12th Century. The original
church was unfortunately demolished in the 18th century and replaced
by the present church of St Mary's in 1716.
Many residents of Dolgellau
forsook the established church however and converted to the more austere
Quakerism. But with the persecution that followed a large number emigrated
to Pennsylvania in 1686. There is a Quaker exhibition at the Tourist
Information centre and a Quaker graveyard in the town.
By the end of the 18th century the economy of Dolgellau had grown with
the woollen industry, and the town became famous for the cottage industries
of cloth making and tanning. The town grew in importance and became the
county town of the old county of Meirionethshire. But the wool trade
and the tanning industry have declined over the years and today Dolgellau
is known as a small market town that depends on tourism.
When I visited in the 1970's with a young family I thought Dolgellau
was an ugly depressing grey stoned old town. Today the centre of Dolgellau
has little changed, but my opinion has changed, I now recognise
it as a beautiful strongly built old town that has fortunately been missed
by the "developers" that are destroying the character of many
of the old Welsh and indeed English towns.
The old market hall stood empty for many years but it now has a new
lease of life as Ty Siamas, a cultural, arts and music centre that promotes
traditional and modern Welsh music. Bands from all over the world descend
on Dolgellau every July for the annual music festival known as Sesiwn
Fawr. Past performers have included Super Furry Animals, Cerys
Matthews and Goldie Lookin Chain.
All in all Dolgellau has a great future as both a cultural centre
and as a tourist centre especially with the ever growing popularity of
activity holidays. Climbers and walkers take advantage of the town's
proximity to Cadair Idris, mountain bike riders visit the town for the
world class mountain bike trails available in the Coed y Brenin Forest,
and bird watchers and nature lovers can't help but appreciate the beauty
of the Mawddach estuary and the wild but beautiful countryside. Horse
riding, angling and white water rafting are other popular sports for
visitors to Dolgellau.
For those with an interest in Welsh history Dolgellau was the location,
in 1404, of Owain
Glyndwr's last Welsh
Parliament. And Dolgellau has another connection with Welsh Princes.
Welsh gold has always been valued from Roman times to the present day
and Dolgellau was the focus of the Welsh gold rush of the 19th Century.
At it's peak the gold and copper mines employed over 500 miners, and
to this day, although the mines are now moth balled, the Royal family
wear wedding rings of pure Welsh gold. The wedding ring of Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II is made from gold from the Dolgellau area.
Another item of historical interest has come to my attention. Recent
aerial photographic surveys have indicated ancient remains on
the outskirts of Dolgellau. On further examination the archaeologists
are on the way to confirming the site of a Roman Fort located in fields
in the shadow of Cadair Idris.
Places to visit in Dolgellau and vicinity :
Precipice Walk.
The Precipice walk is some three miles north east from Dolgellau. Although
this is an upland walk it is on fairly level ground. Starting in woodland
the walk soon opens up to splendid panoramas of Snowdonia, the Coed
y Brenin Forest, the Rhinog mountains, the beautiful valley of the
Afon Mawddach and finally Cadair Idris itself.
Torrent Walk.
The Torrent Walk is some three miles east of Dolgellau running
close to the River Clywedog. The ubiquitous ferns and mosses
carpet the valley
in a rich emerald green, massive boulders and tumbling waterfalls suggest
the name of this walk.
Coed y Brenin Forest Park.
Nine miles north of Dolgellau. Coed y Brenin has long been known for
it's walks , with rocky crags and clear streams crashing over waterfalls.
The rich wildlife includes red squirrels, pine-marten, otters and deer,
as well as goshawks and goosander.
Today the Forest Park is world renowned for it's fantastic network of
Mountain Bike Trails. There is a restaurant and cycle shop (sales, repair,
and hire) on the site and information on the many forest trails is to
be found at the Visitor Centre.
Penmaenpool and the Mawddach Estuary.
Penmaenpool is some two miles from Dolgellau. The Mawddach estuary is
a beautiful place for a walk or indeed a bike ride. The trail is some
eight miles long leading to the railway bridge at Barmouth. For
nature lovers and bird spotters there are two RSPB reserves in the
Mawddach Valley, the Arthog and the Coed Garth Gell. Coed Garth Gell
offers superb scenery and beautiful walks through oak woodland. In
the spring, pied flycatchers, wood warblers and redstarts can be seen
and heard. Different types of warblers, reed buntings
and water rails can be seen at Arthog. Ravens and buzzards occur all
year.
