Bala

By road

Bala lies on the main A494 Mold - Dolgellau road, just a few miles south of its junction with the A5 London - Holyhead trunk road.

By bus

Bala is served by TrawsCymru T3, between Wrexham and Barmouth. Connections with services from South Wales and North-West Wales can be made at Dolgellau.

By train

Bala is not connected to the national rail network. The nearest connections are at Wrexham or Blaenau Ffestiniog. The Bala Lake Railway makes the 9 mile journey to the village of Llanuwchllyn at the southern end of Bala Lake. This follows part of the route of the old Ruabon - Barmouth line, which was closed in the 1960s.

According to the 2001 census, Bala ranked 11th most Welsh-speaking town in the country, with 80.1% of the town's population able to speak the language fluently. As with anywhere in Wales, visitors will encounter no problems conversing in English, though a "Bore da" (Good morning) or "Diolch" (thank-you) will always be appreciated.

• Bala Lake3.7-mile-long glacial valley lake

• The National Whitewater Centre

  phone: +44 1678 521083
  address: Frongoch, Bala
  White-water rafting and canoeing on the River Tryweryn. The flow of water in the river is governed by a dam controlling the flow of water from Llyn Celyn reservoir, meaning that conditions in the water are predictable - though this does not make the experience any less exhilarating once you are actually on the river!

For a more sedate water-borne experience, it is possible to hire rowing boats, canoes and sailing dinghys on Bala Lake.

• HikingAran Fawddwy, at the southern end of Bala Lake, is the highest mountain in the old county of Meirionydd (Merionethshire, the southern part of the modern county of Gwynedd). Bala is the main centre for walking in the Aran and Arenig mountain ranges, which are considerably less frequented by walkers than Cadair Idris to the south or the ranges around Snowdon in the north of Snowdonia, and can therefore offer a peaceful days walk.

• Angling/FishingIt is possible to fish Bala Lake from a boat or from the shore. River Angling is also available in the area.

• Bala Lake Railway

  phone: +44 1678 540666
  address: LL23 7BS
  This train makes the 9-mile journey to the village of Llanuwchllyn at the southern end of Bala Lake. This follows part of the route of the old Ruabon - Barmouth line, which was closed in the 1960s.

Look out for Tegi, Bala's answer to the Loch Ness Monster, which is said to inhabit the deep waters of Bala Lake. Visitors can make up their own minds as to the likelihood of her existence. The lake houses a genuinely (scientifically verified) unique creature - the Gwyniad (Coregonus pennantii), a freshwater fish of the salmon family. The Gwyniad is native only to Bala Lake that existed nowhere else in the world. A project to introduce it to another nearby lake was undertaken from 2003-2007, to mitigate the risk of its extinction should some tragedy (pollution or similar) befall Bala Lake.

Events

• The National Eisteddfod of WalesHeld in Bala on three occasions, including 2009. An Eisteddfod is a traditional festival of literature, music and performance, conducted in the Welsh language.

• A number of canoeing competitions are held in the area
• Wa Bala music festival

• Summer Strawberries

  address: 100 High Street Bala LL23 7AD
  A shop selling gifts for the home and the individual, complimented by a range of greeting cards. Stockists of Gisela Graham and Yankee Candle.

• Awen Meirion

  phone: +44 1678 520658
  address: 25 Hight Street, Bala
  Welsh bookshop selling much more besides Welsh books.

• Eco-Caffé

  phone: +44 1678 521055
  address: 21, Tegid Street, BALA, LL23 7EH
  A delightful, refurbished, more than 200-year-old bake-house deli, has life breathed once more into it. Offering freshly-prepared on the premises; home-made soup and specials of the day, along with carvery baps of butcher-roasted joints. Try the oven-baked meats and farm-house cakes, made from natural local ingredients. Freshly-ground coffee beans.

• Bala Backpackers' Hostel

  address: 32 Tegid Street
• Henstent Holiday Park, Henstent Park, B4391 Llanfyllin To Bala Rd, Llangynog, Powys, SY10 0EP, United Kingdom. Perfect for those looking for tourer caravan accommodation, Henstent Park is a short distance away from Bala.

• Pale Hall

  address: Palé Estate, Llandderfel, nr Bala, Gwynedd, Wales, LL23 7PS. UK
  Palé Hall is a privately owned luxurious Victorian country manor near Bala in North Wales, set amongst 16 acres of gardens on the edge of Snowdonia National Park.

• Pale Wood Holiday Park

  phone: +44 1678 530212
  address: Pale Wood Holiday Park, Llandderfel, Bala, LL23 7RA
  A five-star holiday park with caravans and lodges set in woodland scenery. Has a beautiful collection of holiday homes set in stunning natural surroundings.

• Ty Newydd Bala B&B

  phone: +44 1678 520964
  address: 12a Cae Gadlas, Bala, LL23 7AT
  Offering two double rooms, one with en-suite and one with its own private bathroom. Decorated to a high standard all rooms have a colour TV, wireless internet access with tea and coffee available on request. Off street parking is also available. Ty Newydd has a no-smoking policy throughout.

• Erw Feurig Farm Guesthouse

  phone: +44 1678 530262
  address: Cefn-Ddwysarn

• Llangollen
• Chester - Historic City of Chester on the border with Wales.