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Tywyn

Tywyn (formerly Towyn) is a town of 3,300 people (2011) and seaside resort in Gwynedd, Wales. Tywyn sits on the Cardigan Bay shoreline of Mid Wales and is surrounded by the green valleys and hills of Bro Dysynni, which form the south-western corner of the Snowdonia National Park. It is most famous as the home of the Talyllyn Railway, and also as the location for an early Marconi radio transmitting/receiving station. Tywyn has attracted travellers for at least a thousand years, as the church of St Cadfan and its adjacent well have long been a site of pilgrimage. Modern pilgrims are more likely to "take the waters" somewhere along the 4 miles of sandy beach. In Welsh the name is pronounced [ˈt

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5 places match

  1. See

    Castell-y-Bere

    Built 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.

    Open AccessFree Entry

  2. See

    Craig-yr-Aderyn

    The 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.

  3. See

    Llanfihangel-y-Pennant

    The 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.

  4. See

    St Cadfan's Church

    Eglwys Sant Cadfan

    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.

    Generally open to visitors during daylight hoursFree. Donations welcomed

  5. See

    The Narrow Gauge Railway Museum

    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!

    Free