From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coordinates: 52°43′19″N 4°03′18″W / 52.722°N 4.055°W / 52.722; -4.055

Barmouth
Welsh: Abermaw
Barmouth across the Mawddach estuary
Barmouth  Barmouth shown within Wales
Population	2,230
OS grid reference	SH613158
Principal area	Gwynedd
Ceremonial county	Gwynedd
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BARMOUTH
Postcode district	LL42
Dialling code	01341
Police	North Wales
Fire	North Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Meirionnydd Nant Conwy
Welsh Assembly	Meirionnydd Nant Conwy
List of places: UK • Wales • Gwynedd

Barmouth (Welsh: Abermaw (formal); Y Bermo (colloquial)) is a town in the county of Gwynedd, north-western Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Mawddach and Cardigan Bay.

The town is served by Barmouth railway station.

History

The town grew around the shipbuilding industry, and more recently as a seaside resort. Notable buildings include the mediaeval Tŷ Gwyn tower house, the 19th century Tŷ Crwn roundhouse prison and St John's Church. There is also a new Lifeboat Visitors' Centre, where visitors can purchase souvenirs, and take a look at the RNLI lifeboat from the viewing gallery. The busy harbour plays host to the annual Three Peaks yacht race. The famous mountaineer and sailor Bill Tilman lived in Barmouth for many years.

Barmouth Bridge, which takes the Cambrian Line over the River Mawddach, was also formerly at the end of the GWR Ruabon Barmouth line, which passed through Bala and Dolgellau. The southern end of the bridge is now the start of the Mawddach Trail, a cycle path and walk way that utilises the old trackbed.

Ferries sail from Barmouth to Penrhyn Point, where they connect with the narrow gauge Fairbourne Railway for the village of Fairbourne.

William Wordsworth, a visitor to Barmouth in the 19th century, described it thus: "With a fine sea view in front, the mountains behind, the glorious estuary running eight miles inland, and Cadair Idris within compass of a day's walk, Barmouth can always hold its own against any rival."

The Arousal Cafe

Barmouth is (geographically) the closest seaside resort to the English West Midlands and a large proportion of its tourist visitors, as well as its permanent residents, are from Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Dudley and other parts of the Black Country.

One of Barmouth's star attractions in recent years has been the Arousal Cafe. Originally the 'Carousal Cafe', the letter C was stolen soon after the sign was put up. The owner replaced the C numerous times, only to find it stolen again. He has since ceased his attempts to fix the sign.

Sport

Barmouth has one major association football team: Barmouth & Dyffryn United, the team competes in the Welsh Alliance league and is generally well supported by residents.

Famous sons and daughters

• Herbert Tudor Buckland, Architect b.1869, d.1951
• Charlie (Charlene) Brooks, Actress (East Enders) b. 1981
• Tommy Nutter, fashion designer^[1]
• Johnny Williams, Boxer b.1926, d.2007

References

External links

• Barmouth community website latest news from Barmouth and historical photo gallery and much more.
• Barmouth.org
• Illustrated Guide to Barmouth
• Sunset at Barmouth and Barmouth Evening by Christopher Williams, painted in 1910s and exhibited at National Library of Wales.
• Aerial photograph of Barmouth
• www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Barmouth and surrounding area

County of Gwynedd Principal Settlements Bala • Bangor • Barmouth • Bethesda • Blaenau Ffestiniog • Caernarfon • Criccieth • Dolgellau • Ffestiniog • Porthmadog • Pwllheli • Tywyn Towns and Villages Aberangell • Aberdaron • Aberdesach • Aberdyfi • Abererch • Abergeirw • Abergwyngregyn • Abergynolwyn • Aberllefenni • Abersoch • Abertrinant • Afon Wen • Anelog • Arthog • Beddgelert • Bethania • Bethel • Bethesda • Betws Garmon • Bodferin • Boduan • Bontddu • Bontnewydd • Botwnnog • Bryncroes • Bryn-crug • Brynrefail • Buan • Bwlch-derwin • Caeathro • Capel Celyn • Carmel • Carnguwch • Ceidio • Chwilog • Clwt-y-bont • Clynnog Fawr • Corris Uchaf • Corris • Croesor • Cwm y Glo • Deiniolen • Dinas • Dinas Dinlle • Dinas Mawddwy • Dinorwig • Dolbenmaen • Dolmelinllyn • Edern • Efailnewydd • Fairbourne • Friog • Frongoch • Ganllwyd • Garndolbenmaen • Garneddwen • Gellilydan • Glasinfryn • Groeslon • Harlech • Llan Ffestiniog • Llanaber • Llanaelhaearn • Llanarmon • Llanbedr • Llanbedrog • Llanberis • Llandanwg • Llandegwning • Llandeiniolen • Llandudwen • Llandwrog • Llandygai • Llanegryn • Llanelltyd • Llanengan • Llanfaelrhys • Llanfaglan • Llanfair • Llanfihangel Bachellaeth • Llanfihangel-y-Pennant • Llanfihangel-y-pennant, Dolbenmaen • Llanfrothen • Llangelynnin • Llangian • Llangwnnadl • Llangybi • Llaniestyn • Llanigian • Llanllechid • Llanllyfni • Llannor • Llanrug • Llanuwchllyn • Llanwnda • Llanymawddwy • Llanystumdwy • Llithfaen • Llwyndyrys • Llwyngwril • Maentwrog • Mallwyd • Mellteyrn • Minffordd • Morfa Bychan • Morfa Nefyn • Mynydd Llandygai • Mynydd Nefyn • Mynytho • Nantlle Valley • Rhostryfan • Nantmor • Nasareth • Nebo • Nefyn • Pant Glas • Penffridd • Penisa'r Waun • Penllech • Penllyn • Penmaenpool • Pennal • Penrhos • Penrhyndeudraeth • Pentre Gwynfryn • Penygroes • Pen-y-meinl • Pistyll • Pontrug • Porthdinllaen • Portmeirion • Prenteg • Rachub • Rhiwddolion • Rhosgadfan • Rhoshirwaun • Rhoslefair • Rhos-y-gwaliau • Rhyd Ddu • Rhyd • Rhydyclafdy • Sarn Mellteyrn • Soar • Tal-y-bont (near Bangor) • Tal-y-bont (near Barmouth) • Talysarn • Tanygrisiau • Trawsfynydd • Trefor • Tregarth • Tremadog • Tudweiliog • Tywyn • Waunfawr • Y Felinheli • Y Ffor • Y Fron • Y Rhiw Universities Bangor University Castles Caernarfon Castle • Castell y Bere • Criccieth Castle • Dolbadarn Castle • Harlech Castle Rivers Afon Artro • Afon Cwmnantcol • Afon Dwyryd • Afon Dysynni • Afon Fathew • Afon Glaslyn • Afon Llyfni • Afon Mawddach • Afon Rhythallt • Afon Seiont • Afon Tryweryn Islands Bardsey Island

From Wikitravel

Barmouth Bridge at Daybreak, with Cadair Idris in the background

Barmouth (Abermaw or Y Bermo in Welsh) is a town and seaside resort in Gwynedd.

Get in

By Rail

Barmouth is on the Cambrian Coast Machynlleth to Pwllheli Rail Line

By Bus

Barmouth is served by the Traws-Cambria[1] x94 service from Wrexham, where connections can be made with the UK-wide National Express network. From North-west Wales and south Wales change at Dolgellau.

By Sea

Yacht moorings are available at Barmouth harbour. Harbourmaster: 01341 280671

• Bronze Bell Shipwreck Museum, Ty Gwyn, Harbour Quay, Barmouth (above Davy Jones Locker), [2]. Tells the story of a local shipwreck of 1709, and the subsequent salvage operation. Includes some surprisingly well-preserved relics.  edit

• Barmouth Lifeboat Station, The Promenade, Barmouth, ☎ 01341 280274, [3]. 10am - 4pm daily. See the lifeboat and the specialist tractor that pulls it across the beach to the sea. Displays about past rescues and the different equipment used by the crew. Gift shop open in summer months and on weekends all year. Free, but do make a donation as the lifeboats are entirely volunteer-run..  edit

• The Arousal Cafe. After several replacement initial letter "C"s had been bought for the sign, the owner finally gave up and reverted to the current name.

• The Three Peaks Yacht Race[4], which starts in Barmouth each June. This test of endurance involves boats carrying teams of sailors and runners, and ascents of the 3 highest mountains in each of Wales, England and Scotland. They sail to Caernarfon, run to the summit of Snowdon and back to the boat, sail on to Whitehaven in Cumbria and run up and down Scafell Pike, and finally sail to Fort William in Scotland and run up and down Ben Nevis. The first running team to get back to Fort William from the summit of the Ben are declared the winners.

Do

Walk across the Barmouth Bridge to Morfa Mawddach. This is a railway bridge and has no access to road vehicles, but pedestrians and cyclists can use it. The walkway offers stunning views up the Mawddach Estuary, the subject of a million picture postcards. The walk can be extended along the Mawddach Trail [5] to Penmaenpool and Dolgellau.

Catch the ferry across the river to Penrhyn Point, where you can catch the Fairbourne Railway[6] to the village of Fairbourne.

• Weigh Out, Regent Buildings, Church Street, Barmouth, ☎ 01341 281177. Internationally well-known due to having been featured in numerous Sunday Supplement articles and TV travel or food show items. Large bins are lined up throughout the shop floor, containing goods such as sweets, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, flour, powdered soup and so on. You simply scoop as much or as little as you want into bags and "weigh out" the required amount. Great value.And very pleasant staff a rare thing these days  edit
• Regatta Great Outdoors, High Street, Barmouth, ☎ 01341 280 591 (sales@regattashop.co.uk), [7]. Factory outlet store for Regatta outdoor clothing. Typically 30-40% cheaper than the full retail price.  edit
• Summer Strawberries (Mefus yr Haf), London House, High Street, Barmouth, ☎ 01341 281555 (shop@summerstrawberries.com), [8]. Stocks a wide range of gifts, cards and homewares.  edit

• Davy Jones Locker, Harbour Quay, Barmouth, ☎ 01341 280166. Located in one of Barmouth's oldest buildings, dating from the 15th Century. Atmospheric maritime-themed decor inside, but if the weather allows you will want one of the tables at the outside terrace, offering great views across the harbour, the river, and the mountains beyond. Good range of soups, sandwiches, salads and some more substantial dishes.  edit

• The Last Inn, Church Street, Barmouth, ☎ 01341 280530. Friendly pub with a fascinating historic interior. Live music nights every Tuesday. Good quality and value food too.  edit
• Sandancer, Pavillion Buildings, Barmouth, ☎ 01341 280198. Open Friday and Saturday until 2am, other nights as advertised. Barmouths only nightclub, attracts clientele from many other towns in the area. A range of entertainment including 70s and 80's, motown, soul and reggae nights, also teenage discos.  edit

From LoveToKnow 1911