Tywyn

By train

By bus

By car

By plane

By boat

The town

Mark Sheffield

Bro Dysynni

OpenStreetMap.org / Mark Sheffield / (WT-shared) Tarr3n at wts wikivoyage

Hefin Richards

• Aberdyfi, 4 miles to the south, is another seaside resort, but with a very different feel to Tywyn. A good choice of accommodation and places to eat. Renowned golf course. Yacht Harbour with charter boats available for sea fishing or wildlife-spotting. Donkey rides on the beach and "crabbing" from the pier for the youngsters, kite-surfing and other adventure sports for big kids of all ages.
• Abergynolwyn. The terminus of the Talyllyn Railway, 7 miles to the north-east of Tywyn. Former Slate Mining village. In its heyday, Abergynolwyn slate was much in demand, and many illustrious buildings, including the Palace of Westminster are roofed with it. The village pub is the Railway Inn, which serves good, locally sourced food. Traditional Welsh sing-a-longs have been known to break out in the bar at weekends. Good value homecooked food is also available at Caffi'r Ceunant in the village hall (booking essential for Sunday Lunch). Lovely waymarked walks in the forestry to the south of the village pass waterfalls and the old slate workings (look out for the innovative wind-up interpretive displays, which you power yourself), while the "Postman's Pass" to the north follows the Afon Dysynni river through to the adjacent valley, giving access to Castell-y-Bere and Craig-yr-Aderyn.
• Bryncrug. 2 miles inland from Tywyn, where the Dysynni and Fathew valleys meet. Small village store, Siop y Bont and a pub, The Peniarth.
• Dolgoch. 5 miles from Tywyn in the Fathew Valley. A small private hotel and a number of holiday apartments, some of which are available as self-catering accommodation. A brick-built Victorian viaduct carries the Talyllyn Railway across a steep, wooded ravine, down which the Afon Fathew flows over some spectacular waterfalls, accessed by waymarked woodland walks. A great place for a walk when the weather is not so good, as the ravine and woodlands will shelter you from any wind, and the waterfalls are at their best after rain! Wear hiking boots or wellies if it's been raining unless you only plan to go to the bottom of the first set of falls.
• Fairbourne and Friog. 2 villages either side of the mainline railway, about 10 miles to the north of Tywyn. Fairbourne a small holiday resort with its best days behind it. Does have its own narrow-gauge steam railway which links to a passenger ferry across the Mawddach Estuary to Barmouth.
• Happy Valley (Cwm Maethlon). About a mile out of town on the Aberdyfi Road, take a (signed) left turn, to enter the peaceful green place that is Happy Valley. No village here, but cottages, farms and a church spread right along the valley of the Afon Dyffryn Gwyn river. The road continues over a pass to drop down to the village of Cwrt in the Dyfi valley. About a mile before the top of the pass, a car park on the right is the starting point for the short (but quite steep) walk up to Bearded Lake (Llyn Barfog) and a nearby echo. Also nearby is Carn March Arthur, a stone which legend states, bears the hoofprint of King Arthur's horse, left during a battle with a monster called the Afanc, which lived in the lake.
• Llanegryn. Lovely little village across the Dysynni Valley from Bryncrug. Perhaps a little too quiet - due to the lack of any shop or pub. Visit Cil y Sarn farm on the road to Rhoslefain for delicious local wildflower honey (they display a board next to the road when it's in stock)
• Llanfihangel-y-Pennant. Founded to support the nearby castle of Castell-y-Bere. Picturesque church and the cottage of Mari Jones.

Hefin Richards

• Llangelynin. A few houses and an ancient church clinging to the cliff edge a couple of miles south of Llwyngwril. One of the graves in the churchyard is that of Abram Wood "The King of the Gypsies". On the wall inside the church is a horse bier which is a rare example of its type. Look out for the bowl-shaped stone at the right of the main door inside the porch - it's said to fill with water when rain is on the way.
• Llwyngwril. Pretty seaside village (though with a disappointingly stoney beach), about 7 miles north of Tywyn. Has an atmospheric village pub, the Garthangharad. On the hillside above the village the remains of an old Iron Age hill fort, Castell y Gaer, can still be seen.
• Rhoslefain. A scattering of houses and farms just before the main road north gets back to the coast between Llanegryn and Llwyngwril.
• Talyllyn and Minffordd. 2 hamlets, at either end of the famous picture-postcard Talyllyn Lake (Llyn Mwyngil). About 10 miles north-east of Tywyn. In Talyllyn, is the Tynycornel hotel. The village church is notable for having 2 gates - 1 at the bottom of the hill for Talyllyn residents, the other at the top for worshippers coming over the hill from Corris. Minffordd is one of the main starting points for the ascent of Cadair Idris.

Bike hire

• Dysynni Valley Cycles

  phone: +44 1654 710055
  address: Dolffanog, High Street

Taxis

• A1 Cars

  phone: +44 1654 711788

• Tywyn Cabs

  phone: +44 1654 712305, +44 7919 400781, +44 7929 291021

Buses

Tywyn

Bro Dysynni

Trains

History

Eleri James

• St Cadfan's Church

  address: Church Street, Tywyn
  Though some of the church is more recent (14th century onwards), the nave dates from the 12th century. There are records of a church on the site dating to the 9th century, though the earliest structures were wooden and were burnt down by Viking raiders. St Cadfan's is home to the Cadfan Stone on which is carved the oldest known writing in the Welsh language. As can be seen, from some angles it looks a bit like a Doner Kebab. Also of interest is the 14th-century effigy of knight Gruffudd ap Adda, which is locally reputed to shed tears when rain is on the way.

• The Narrow Gauge Railway Museum

  address: Wharf Station, Tywyn, LL36 9EY
  Now re-housed in a purpose-built building at the Talyllyn Railway's main station, the museum aims to tell the story of the narrow gauge railways across the British Isles. An interesting place to spend an hour even if you are not a trainspotter!

• Castell-y-BereBuilt in the 13th century by the Welsh Prince Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, Castell y Bere is not one of the best known of North Wales' many castles. However it is well worth heading off the beaten path to pay it a visit. Though the castle lies in ruins, this only adds to the atmosphere of the site, standing proudly on a rocky outcrop, but towered over in almost every direction by steep mountainsides.

• Llanfihangel-y-PennantThe hamlet has a lovely church and the ruins of Tyn-y-ddol, home of Mari Jones, who in 1800, at the age of 16, famously walked barefoot the 25 miles to Bala to purchase a Welsh-language copy of the bible. This is said to have been the inspiration for the formation of the British and Foreign Bible Society. There's a small exhibition telling Mari Jones' story in the vestry of the church, along with a beautiful 3D map of the Dysynni Valley, rendered in patchwork by local needle workers.

• Craig-yr-AderynThe remains of Iron-Age Celtic Hill Forts can be found at the summit of Craig-yr-Aderyn in the Dysynni Valley, and above the nearby coastal village of Llwyngwril.

Wildlife

Bernard Gagnon

John Lucas

• The Beach

  address: Marine Parade, Tywyn, LL36 0DE
  In fine summer weather, Tywyn's more than 4 miles (6.4 km) of sandy beach are a magnet for sun-seekers. In 2007, The Daily Telegraphs Alf Anderson wrote "I think this is about as good as a British beach gets" in the paper's "Beach of the Week" feature. The area around the main promenade can become very busy, but a short walk to the south will bring peace and quiet if desired. It's possible to continue walking all the way to Aberdyfi. If there have been recent storms, look out for the petrified forest, which is normally buried under the sand but is sometimes exposed as the sands shift, especially in winter time. The existence of this forest is sometimes held up as evidence for the existence of Cantre'r Gwaelod, a mythical lost land beneath the waters of Cardigan Bay. The beach shelves quite slowly out to sea and is regarded as safe for swimming, though as always, sensible precautions should be taken.

• Talyllyn Railway

  phone: +44 1654 710472
  address: Wharf Station, Neptune Road, Tywyn, LL36 9EY
  This narrow gauge railway was the world's first to be saved from closure and run by volunteers. It follows the Fathew valley 7 miles inland to the village of Abergynolwyn. Most trains are hauled by steam locomotives, and some of the locomotives and rolling stock date back to the original opening of the railway in the 1860s. Readers of the "Railway Series" of books by Rev W Awdry may recognise it as the Skarloey Railway, which Awdry based on the Talyllyn Railway after working as a volunteer in the 1950s. An enjoyable excursion from the railway is to alight at Dolgoch, where a woodland walk gives access to some spectacular waterfalls.

Outdoor pursuits

• Hillwalking

• Rock ClimbingCraig yr Aderyn in the Dysynni valley is a popular site for climbers with 35 routes of varying difficulty levels. Parts of the rock are out of bounds from 1st April to 31st July to protect nesting birds. There is an information sign at the foot of the cliff detailing which parts of the rock this applies to. The Cyfrwy Arete and Craig Cau on the flanks of Cadair Idris have been popular with climbers since the mid-19th century and have over 60 routes betweeen them. There are also some routes at the old quarry workings above the villages of Abergynolwyn and Friog, while the sea cliffs at Cae Du, near Rhoslefain, and Allens Sun Beach, near Llwyngwril, offer some entertaining Bouldering opportunities.

• CyclingAn excellent way to see more of the area. The narrow, quiet lanes of the Dysynni Valley and Happy Valley are particularly suited to a day out on 2 wheels. There are plans for a dedicated cycle path southwards to Aberdyfi.

• Mountain BikingTywyn is an ideal base for a mountain biking holiday, with a number of trails in the area. The ascent of Cadair Idris from Llanfihangel y Pennant is classified as a bridleway, and therefore can be used by mountain bikes. It's a tough slog up (you'll be carrying in places), but the descent (from 892m at the summit to only a few metres above sea level in the valley) must rank as one of the finest in the country. Bear in mind that the right of way does not follow the farmer's gravel track for the whole length - be sure to look out for signs and/or use a map in order to stick to the legal route. Not recommended for summer weekends due to the number of hikers. There are other ancient roads in the area which can be used by mountain bikes. The pass of Nant Braich y Rhiw from Rhyd-yr-onnen, south of the village of Bryncrug, through the Tarren hills to Happy Valley is a popular route, though it can be very muddy after rain as it also used by 4x4 vehicles. The Ffordd Ddu (Black Road) leads from the village of Llanegryn, across the western flanks of Cadair Idris and down to Dolgellau via the Cregennan Lakes. Ordnance Survey Explorer Map sheet OL23 Cadair Idris and Bala Lake is essential to follow these routes. There are a number of marked trails in the Dyfi Valley, centred around Machynlleth, 15 miles to the south-east, including the purpose-built CliMachx route. Coed y Brenin, near Dolgellau, 20 miles to the north, has 6 waymarked trails.

• Angling/fishingVery popular in the area. Sea, river, coarse, and lake fishing are all available.

• AC Adventures

  phone: +44 1654 711389
  Run by experienced adventurer Ross Ashe-Cregan. Offers tailored activity breaks, activities include climbing, gorge walking, mountain biking, navigation skills training and more.
• Surfing. In the right conditions, Tywyn beach can offer fine surfing. Surfers tend to gather around the concrete slipway at the south end of the main promenade. The best surf is often to be found just north of this point but as wind, swell and tide change it can be worth checking out other parts of the beach, particularly The Pipe, an outlet pipe (nothing nasty, it carries the Afon Dyffryn Gwyn river for the final few yards on its journey to the sea) covered by rocks, a short distance further south. Speak to local surfers or watch the waves yourself from the sea wall before picking your spot). In a large swell, there is also a break at the nearby village of Llwyngwril, however, this is rocky and for experienced surfers only.

• Pony trekking

  phone: +44 1341 250107
  Available at Bwlchgwyn Farm, 10 miles to the north in Fairbourne.

Culture

• Tywyn Cinema

  phone: +44 1654 710260
  address: Corbett Square, Tywyn, LL36 9DF
  Very friendly independent cinema open every evening throughout the year. Shows a wide range of films, from commercial to arthouse, world cinema and occasional old classics. Recently refurbished with a new bar and stage, the cinema also has a live schedule with music, comedy and spoken word performance and even a regular quiz night!

• The Tywyn Wurlitzer

  phone: +44 1654 710994
  address: Neuadd Pendre, Brook Street, Tywyn, LL36 9DP
  Concerts and dances take place regularly, especially in summer. The Tywyn Wurlitzer was originally known as "The Mighty Wurlitzer" and was installed in the Granada Cinema in Woolwich, London in the 1930s. As cinema attendances declined in the 1960s, the cinema became a bingo hall, and the organ was eventually removed. Over the years many of the parts lay in storage and deteriorated, until in the 1990s it was brought to Tywyn, restored, and installed in this hall. The famous old organ attracts nationally and internationally well-known organists.

Sport

• Race The TrainEvery year on the 3rd weekend of August since 1983. Hundreds of runners attempt to beat the Talyllyn Railway on a 14-mile cross-country course following the tracks up to Abergynolwyn and back again. Some (but by no means a majority) succeed! There are activities associated with the race all weekend on the Sports field adjacent to the Wharf Station. Seats are available on the "Race" train, which gives a great view of the event - early booking advised.

• Bro Dysynni Leisure Centre

  phone: +44 1654 711763, +44 1654 710167
  address: High Street. Tywyn, LL36 9AD
  Excellent council-run facility. 25-m swimming pool, sauna, 4 badminton courts, 2 squash courts, full-size outdoor floodlit synthetic football/hockey pitch, floodlit tennis courts.

• Tywyn Leisure Park

  address: Pier Road, Tywyn
  Putting green, tennis courts (hard and grass), bowling green.

• Tywyn Skate Park

  address: Cambrian Road, Tywyn
  Outdoor skate-park, open day and night. Features a Quarter-Pipe side by side to a Flat-Bank Roll-In (with a Grind-Rail), Funbox, Raked-Tombstone Half-Pipe with a Quarter-Pipe leading on 1 side. Popular with both boarders and BMXers.

• Tonfanau Road Races

  phone: +44 1270 583593
  4 motorbike race meetings a year (Easter, Spring Bank Holiday, July, August Bank Holiday) are held by Crewe and South Cheshire MCRR at the Tonfanau cicuit, . Tonfanau is a 1-mile, clockwise circuit, built on part of a former military base.

Specialist

• Barry's Tackle Shop

  phone: +44 1654 710357
  address: 6 College Green, Tywyn, LL36 9BS
  Fishing/angling equipment, tackle, bait etc.

• Dysynni Valley Cycles

  phone: +44 1654 710055
  address: Dolffanog, High Street, Tywyn, LL36 9AD
  Mountain and road bikes, clothing, spares and accessories. Repair service and hire service.

• Rivington

  phone: +44 1654 710691
  address: High Street, Tywyn, LL36 9AD
  Sells a range of gifts and greetings cards, outdoor clothing, and a large range of camping and caravanning accessories.

• J B Owen

  phone: +44 1654 710352
  address: Pretoria Buildings, High Street, Tywyn
  Excellent, well-stocked ironmongery. Also stocks some camping equipment and other hardware and offers shoe repairs and key-cutting. If they don't have it they can usually get it for you.

• The Rise

  phone: +44 1654 710888
  address: High St, Tywyn
  Stockists of surfing gear, swimwear, skating accessories, clothing, OS maps.

Supermarkets

• J. R. Baldwin - Spar High Street. Allegedly the biggest Spar shop in Europe. Was the town's only real supermarket until the arrival of newcomer.
• Co-op Station Road. Right next to the station.
• Tywyn Central Stores Neptune Road. +44 1654 710495. Right where Neptune Road meets the High Street. Much smaller than the 2 above, but handy if you're at the eastern end of town.

Food

• Thomas Butchers

  phone: +44 1654 710772
  address: Market Hall, College Green, Tywyn, LL36 9BY
  A butcher who is also a farmer, so expect to find good quality local meat on sale here.

• Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe

  address: 3 High Street, Tywyn
  Lovely shop(pe) with dozens upon dozens of large jars containing all those old style sweets you used to buy by the quarter. The only difference now is that of course they are sold in multiples of 100 g. Also a nice range of boxed sweets, chocolates, fudge, etc. Refer to the Outdoor Pursuits section after a visit to Mr Simms - you'll need the exercise!

• The Whitehall Hotel

  phone: +44 1654 710212
  address: 1 Corbett Square
  The only one of the town's 3 pubs worth eating at.

• Happy Garden

  phone: +44 1654 711301
  address: 13 College Green
  Very well established Chinese takeaway (since 1981), serving the usual range of British-Chinese favourites.

• Turkish Delight Kebab House

  phone: +44 1654 712500
  address: 5 High St
  The post-pub favourite the length and breadth of these islands

• Skippy's Fish & Chips

  phone: +44 1654 710872
  address: 35 High St
  Traditional fish & chip shop with a takeaway and a cafe.

• Walkers Fish and Chips

  phone: +44 1654 713999
  address: High Street
  Has a good reputation with local diners. Restaurant and take-away though it is geared more towards sit-down dining rather than the bulk take-away business.

• Dine India

  phone: +44 1654 711909
  address: 12 College Green

• Halo Foods

  phone: +44 1654 711171
  address: Pendre Industrial Estate
  Visit the factory shop for their famous honey ice cream. Halo is the town's major employer. Their primary business is manufacturing healthy snack bars which are marketed under their own name and also by major brands and retailers - you can normally expect to find a selection of these available at heavily discounted factory outlet prices.

• Salt Marsh Kitchen

  phone: +44 1654 711949
  address: 9 College Green, Tywyn, LL36 9BS
  A Michelin-listed restaurant, serving locally sourced produce. Booking advised at busy periods.

Town centre

• The Corbett Arms Hotel

  phone: +44 1654 710264
  address: Corbett Square, Tywyn, LL36 9DG

• The Tredegar Arms

  phone: +44 1654 710368
  address: 10 College Green, Tywyn, LL36 9BS

• The Whitehall Hotel

  phone: +44 1654 710212
  address: 1 Corbett Square, Tywyn, LL36 9DF
  Sometimes holds discos and karaoke nights in the back room

Local area

• There are 3 pubs in Aberdyfi, four miles to the south on the main coast road or one stop to the south on the mainline railway.

• Peniarth Arms

  phone: +44 1654 711505
  address: Bryncrug, Tywyn, LL36 9PH
  Refurbishments were controversial with locals who feel that the pub lost some of its "traditional" feel. Large dining area, but still worth reserving in peak season if you want a table for dinner. Wifi connection via BT Openzone.

• The Garthangharad

  phone: +44 1341 250484
  address: Greystones, Llwyngwril, LL37 2UZ
  Traditional village pub in a lovely old stone building.

• The Railway Inn

  phone: +44 1654 782279
  address: Abergynolwyn, LL36 9YW
  Popular, traditional pub. Real ales, good food, occasional singalongs around the piano in the lounge bar.

• Riverside Hotel

  phone: +44 1654 791285
  address: Pennal, SY20 9DW
  A 16th-century coaching inn, in the centre of the pretty village of Pennal.

Hotels

• The Corbett Arms Hotel

  phone: +44 1654 710264
  address: Corbett Square, Tywyn, LL36 9DG
  The only real hotel in the town, it occupies a lovely building at the east end of town. 40 rooms, internet access, car park, bar, restaurant. Could be great in the right hands. Unfortunately it isn't.

• The Dolgoch

  phone: +44 1654 782258
  address: Bryncrug, Tywyn, LL36 9UW
  As the name suggests, the hotel is just below the waterfalls, 200 metres from Dolgoch Station on the Talyllyn Railway. Single and twin rooms available. Ample car parking

• Ty' n y Cornel Hotel

  phone: +44 1654 782282
  address: Tal-y-llyn, Tywyn, LL36 9AJ
  About 10 miles inland, a lovely old building in a stunning location on the shores of Talyllyn Lake. New management (2016) still working out the hotel business.

Bed & Breakfast and self-catering cottages

• Cynfal Farm

  phone: +44 1654 711703
  address: Bryncrug, Tywyn, Gwynedd, LL36 9RB
  Mixed working farm, magnificently situated with fine views of mountains and sea. Talyllyn narrow gauge railway runs 150 metres below the house, quoted by the Talyllyn Railway guide book as being the smallest railway platform in the country!

• Dolffanog Fach

  phone: +44 1654 761235
  address: Talyllyn, Tywyn, Ll36 9AJ
  Boutique B&B at the eastern end of Talyllyn Lake. Has a 6-person Finnish Sauna. Excellent reputation for both the accommodation and the food. Superior rooms have mountain view balconies. Full-board only on weekends in peak season

• Hendy Farm

  phone: +44 1654 710457
  address: Tywyn, LL36 9RU
  Working sheep and cattle farm offering WTB 3-star B&B with double and twin rooms available. Four WTB 5-star self catering cottages in recently converted stone farm buildings and another in a renovated traditional farmhouse. Hendy has its own halt on the Talyllyn Railway.

• Monfa

  phone: +44 1654 710858
  address: Pier Road, Tywyn, LL36 0AU
  Double, twin and family rooms available. Very handy location, close to the beach, High St., and both mainline and Talyllyn stations. WTB 3-star

• Merton Villa

  phone: +44 1654 712753
  address: High Street, Tywyn, LL36 9AD
  Double and twin rooms. At the western end of the High Street, handy for the station and the beach. WTB 4-star.

• Tywyn Holidays

  phone: +44 7969 700 819
  address: 18 Trem Enlli Apartments, Marine Parade, Tywyn, LL36 0DE
  Tywyn two-bedroom self-catering seafront apartment offering breath-taking views of Cardigan Bay and the mountains of Snowdonia. Sleeps 4 plus guest bed.

Hostels and bunkhouses

• Llechfan

  phone: +44 1654 711625
  Wharf Station. Owned by the Talyllyn Railway and available to members of the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society and volunteer workers on the railway.

Camping

• Ynysymaengwyn Camping and Caravan site

  phone: +44 1654 710684
  address: Ynysymaengwyn, Tywyn, LL36 9RY
  Popular site on a former country house estate. Large children's playground, woodland and riverside walks

• Faenol (Vaynol) Farm

  phone: +44 1654 711473
  address: Aberdyfi Road, Tywyn, LL36 9HS
  Public footpaths across the fields lead to the beach

• Cae Du Farm

  phone: +44 1654 711234
  address: Rhoslefain, LL36 9ND
  Tiny, basic site, worthy of a mention due to its stunning clifftop location. The view on a clear day takes in the whole sweep of Cardigan Bay from Strumble Head in Pembrokeshire to Bardsey Island (Ynys Enlli) off the end of the Lleyn Peninsula. Fabulous sunsets. Not for the faint-hearted in bad weather but spectacular at any time.

• Pall Mall Farm Camp Site

  phone: +44 1654 711473
  address: Pall Mall, Tywyn, LL36 9RU

Beaches and coast

• A red flag means danger. Do not enter the water if the red flag is flying
• Consider bathing at a beach that's under lifeguard protection
• Don't swim alone at a deserted beach
• Don't use inflatables. They are easily swept away by strong currents
• If you see someone in trouble, call 999 and ask for Coastguard
• Inquire about swimming conditions at local tourist offices prior to venturing to a beach without lifeguard cover
• Read warning notices posted near beach access sites

Mountains

• Learn the use of map and compass
• Know the weather signs and local forecast
• Plan within your capabilities
• Know simple first aid and the symptoms of exposure
• Know the mountain distress signals
• Know the country code

• Never go alone
• Leave written word of your route and report your return
• Take windproofs, woollens and survival bag
• Take map and compass, torch and food
• Wear climbing boots
• Keep alert all day
• Avoid disturbance to farming, forestry and field sports

• Always have an ice axe for each person
• Carry a climbing rope and know the correct use of rope and ice axe
• Learn to recognise dangerous snow slope

• Bronglais District General Hospital, Aberystwyth. +44 1970 623131. The nearest Accident & Emergency unit. Open 24 hours.
• Tywyn Memorial Hospital, Aberdyfi Road, Tywyn. +44 1654 710411/+44 845 8501362 (out of hours). Local cottage hospital. Medical cover is provided by the local GP surgery from 8:30AM to 6:30PM. The care is then taken over by the out of hours service. The Minor Injuries Unit is open from 9AM to midnight and is staffed by a clinical practitioner.
• The Health Centre, Pier Road, Tywyn. +44 1654 710238/+44 845 8501362 (out of hours). Local GP practice. Reception open M Tu Th F 8AM-6:30PM, W 8AM-12:30PM.
• Central Pharmacy, 11 High Street, Tywyn. +44 1654 710246. Open M-Sa 9AM-1PM and 2-5:30PM.
• Neptune Dental Surgery Neptune Road, Tywyn. +44 1654 710607. NHS and private dentist. Has an attached dental laboratory for any denture repair work.

Banks

Post Office

Internet

• Tywyn Library

  phone: +44 1654 710104
  address: Neptune Road, Tywyn, LL36 9HA
  4 PCs with free broadband internet access.
• Peniarth Arms, Bryncrug. Village pub with a Wifi Hotspot operated by BT Openzone

Laundry

• Westinghouse Lauderette

  address: London House, 1 Maengwyn Street, Tywyn

Tourist information

• Tourist Information Centre

  phone: +44 1654 710070
  address: High Street, Tywyn, LL36 9AD

Area code

Media

• Cambrian News. Local English-language newspaper, published weekly. Covers Ceredigion, North Powys, South Gwynedd. Renowned for its occasionally bizarre headlines.
• Dail Dysynni. Welsh-language monthly newspaper, dedicated to the Bro Dysynni area.
• Radio Ceredigion 96.6-97.4 FM. Bilingual community radio station, broadcasting from Aberystwyth to the Cardigan Bay area.
• BBC Radio Wales 882 and 657 AM.

• Aberystwyth. The "capital" of mid-Wales, and once touted as national capital. Home to the National Library of Wales and one of the colleges of the University of Wales. A vibrant place during term time, quieter when the students have gone home, especially outside the summer months. Stand on Tywyn seafront and you can clearly make out the seafront of "Aber" a few miles to the south, where the coast of Cardigan Bay starts to sweep out to the west. Unless you've brought your speedboat, though, it's a 35-mile journey by road, as the first bridge across the River Dyfi is at Machynlleth. Better (though, if anything, slower) to travel by train (change at Machynlleth) which gives fantastic views of both sides of the Dyfi estuary and allows the opportunity to visit Machynlleth on the way back.
• Dolgellau, 20 miles to the north on the other side of the Cadair Idris massif, was once the centre of a gold rush. The British royal family have traditionally worn wedding rings of Dolgellau gold. It also plays host to the Sesiwn Fawr world music festival every July.
• Machynlleth is a pleasant market town with an "alternative" feel, 15 miles to the south-east. It hosts a regular street market every Wednesday, as well as being home to the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). The Centre for Alternative Technology, a few miles north of the town, is well worth a visit. Just a short distance further north lies the village of Corris, with a number of craft shops.
• The Cambrian Coast. The mainline railway station makes Tywyn an ideal base for exploring the west coast of Gwynedd, to the north of the town. The line generally sticks closely to the coast, with some spectacular views. Take advantage of the "North Wales Day Ranger" 2-zone ticket for just £7 for adults or £3.50 for kids (2009). This allows all day rail travel on the entire Cambrian Coast line from Machynlleth to Pwllheli, as well as bus travel in neighbouring areas and 50% off tickets for the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. You can buy the ticket from the guard on the train.

David Bowen