Things to do

Plunging rivers, lush valleys, award winning beaches.  The magnificence of Snowdon and Cadair Idris.  It's impossible to describe North Wales without taking into account our surroundings.  It's a setting that's tailor made for outdoor life and best of all, it's on a manageable scale, with it's many attractions just a short distance from each other.

Barmouth itself is a beautiful town offering a variety of restaurants, shops and cafés as well as a picturesque harbour area.  A blue flag resort, it boasts beautiful sandy beaches set against the backdrop of the Cadair mountain range.

There are many stunning panorama walks of varying difficulty in and around Barmouth (perfect for dogs), or why not walk across the spectacular Barmouth bridge and pick up the Mawddach trail?  The dramatic surrounding landscape speaks for itself and as this trail runs along a disused railway track beside the beautiful river Mawddach, it's a great route for cyclists, wheelchairs and walkers.  Lawrenny Lodge is ideally situated for those following Lon Las Cymru (the Welsh National Cycle Route).

The RSPB reserves at Penmaenpool, Arthog Bog and Coed Garth Gell are well worth a visit and can offer glimpses of pied flycatchers, wood warblers and redstarts in the spring as well as the year round ravens and buzzards.  Arthog Bog has a selection of breeding passerines including grasshopper warbler and common whitethroat. (Update: Sadly the old signal box at Penmaenpool that was used as an observation tower by the RSPB has closed.  The birds are still there obviously, so we've left the details in!)

The nearby Coed y Brenin Forest Park is renowned for it's world class mountain bike trails offering exhilarating and challenging riding in a woodland setting.  The forest also offers walks, orienteering facilities and waterfalls (breathtaking after heavy rain). Details and directions available from the visitor centre.

Rhaeadr Ddu waterfalls at Coed Y Brenin.  Dolgoch Falls, Arthog Falls and Nantcol Falls are all within easy distance of us and each reveals nature at her most beautiful and untamed.

For a less energetic day out, try the imposing Harlech castle whose battlements spring out of a near vertical cliff face and offer truly panoramic views. With magnificent medieval architecture this site is unmissable.

The Fairbourne steam railway runs for two miles through the old village of Fairbourne, between the long sandy beaches of Cardigan Bay and the Mawddach estuary under the mountains of Snowdonia.  Catch the ferry from Barmouth to Penrhyn point (a five minute crossing).  See http://www.fairbournerailway.com/ for more information.

Check out the great little trains of Wales too.  All are narrow guage steam railways and some have a history spanning well over 100 years, offering a unique experience of a bygone era.  A leisurely way to take in some of the areas splendid scenery.  See www.greatlittletrainsofwales.co.uk for more information. 

The Cambrian Coast Express runs steam hauled loco's along the coast during August.   Catch them again next year!

See www.steamtrain.info for full timetable and fares. 

The Cambrian Coast Express crossing Barmouth Bridge just a few metres from Lawrenny Lodge.  Barmouth Bridge is one of the largest surviving timber viaducts in Britain and stretches 2,292 feet across the estuary (nearly half a mile)!  

There are many other attractions including water sports, golf, fishing and pony trekking on offer nearby. (Check out www.bwlchgwynfarm.co.uk pony trekking centre for 1 hr estuary rides or 2 hr beach rides).  Look out also for local events such as the Barmouth walking festival, country music festival,  kite festival and the Barmouth to Fort William three peaks yacht race.  More detailed information can be obtained from http://www.barmouth.com/ or http://www.barmouth.org.uk/ or http://www.barmouth-wales.co.uk/ .  Just for fun, have a glimpse at the harbour on the Barmouth web cam at http://www.barmouthwebcam.co.uk/ . 

Views down the estuary from the panorama walk.                                                                                 

Barmouth Harbour at Sunset                                                             Enjoy miles of soft golden sands on Barmouth's Blue Flag beach

(Large areas of the beach are open for dogs but there are some restrictions. Check signs on the promenade for full details)

Our resident black labrador at the Panorama viewpoint.                                                      Our (senior) tabby cat enjoying the sun.