Tywyn

BBC

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/wale...) tywyn microsite

Cambrian News

Local english-language newspaper, published weekly. covers ceredigion, north powys, south gwynedd. renowned for its occasionally bizarre headlines.

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.

Tywyn Library

4 PC's with free broadband internet access.

Peniarth Arms

Bryncrug. village pub with a wifi hotspot operated by bt openzone (http://www.btopenzone.com/)

talk

You will hear both English and Welsh Cymraeg spoken around the town. According to the 2001 census, 40.5% of the town's population were Welsh speakers. This is almost twice the national average 20.5%, but considerably less than the average for Gwynedd 68.7%. By local standards then, Tywyn is a relatively "English" town. 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. Check out the Welsh phrasebook for more phrases and a pronunciation guide.

In an emergency, dial 999 or 112 ideally from a landline and request ambulance, police, fire service or coastguard.

Bronglais District General Hospital

Aberystwyth. +44-1970-623-131. The nearest Accident & Emergency unit. Open 24 hours.

Tywyn Memorial Hospital

Aberdyfi Road, Tywyn. +44-1654-710411/0845-8501362Out of Hours. Local Cottage Hospital. Medical cover is provided by the local GP surgery during the hours of 08:30 to 18:30 hours. The care is then taken over by the Out of Hours Service. The Minor Injuries Unit is open from 09:00 to 24:00 hours and is manned by a Clinical Practitioner.

The Health Centre

Pier Road, Tywyn. +44-1654-710238/0845 8501362Out of Hours. Local GP Practice. Reception open 0800-1830 Mo/Tu/Th/Fr, 0800-1230 We.

Central Pharmacy

11 High Street, Tywyn. +44-1654-710-246. Open 0900-1300 and 1400-1730 Mo-Sa.

Neptune Dental Surgery

Neptune Road, Tywyn. +44-1654-710-607. NHS and Private dentist. Has an attached dental laboratory for any denture repair work.

post office

The town's Post Office can be found around half way along the High Street, opposite the Tourist Information Centre.

bro dysynni

Bro Dysynni is the name for the fertile agricultural hinterland to the east and north of Tywyn. Essentially, it covers the 2, parallel Valleys of the Dysynni and Fathew rivers. The area is easily explored on foot, bicycle, by car or by the Talyllyn Railway, or by a combination of these. There are a number of villages spread throughout the 2 valleys and along the coast.

Aberdyfi

just 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 it's 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

Only 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 (http://www.fairbournerail...) 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.

Llangelynin

A few houses and an ancient church clinging to the cliff edge just 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 it's 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 a small arts and crafts gallery (http://www.llwyngwril-gal...) and 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, the 3-star Tynycornel (http://www.tynycornel.co.uk/) hotel specialises in fishing/angling breaks, and has boats available for hire. 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.

Tourist Information Centre

area code

Tywyn's area dialling code is 01654. To call from overseas, dial +44 1654 XXXXXX

banks

There are 3 banks in the town, Barclays, HSBC and Natwest, all close to the eastern end of the High Street. All 3 have cash machines ATMs.

the town

Tywyn is not a large town and is easy to get around on foot. Tywyn's main hub is the High Street, which runs west to east. The eastward extension of the High Street is College Green, which passes the Market Hall and St Cadfan's Church and runs into Corbett Square the oldest part of the town. From here the main road leads out of town to the east and north. The westward extension of the High Street is Pier Road, which runs under a railway bridge down to the beach. The mainline station is found at the western end of the High Street, this is also where the buses stop. Running south-east from the mainline train station is Station Road, which leads past the High School to the Talyllyn Railway Wharf Station, at which point it becomes Brynhyfryd Road, leading east to the hospital, where it becomes Aberdyfi Road, the main road out of town to the south. Leading south-westwards from the junction of the High Street and College Green, Neptune Road crosses Station Road at Wharf Station, and continues to the beach at Neptune Hall. Marine Parade runs along the seafront, joining Neptune Road and Pier Road. The east end of town is known as Pendre, while the area between Station Road and the sea is known as Bron-y-Mor. From the west end of the High Street, Idris Villas leads north-west to the low-lying area of town known as Sandilands.

beaches and coast

Tywyn Beach has a safe reputation due to its gently-shelving nature, but sensible precautions should still be taken. The promenade is covered by a Beach Patrol during summer months, but outside of this area there is no safety coverage. At the far southern end of the beach, near the mouth of the River Dyfi, tidal currents can be strong and unpredictable.

General advice for safe swimming:

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

Snowdonia's mountains claim lives every year. The weather can change very quickly in this part of the World, and this is especially true in the mountains. Make sure you are wearing suitable clothing and footwear, and always carry a suitable map. Ordnance Survey 1:25000 scale Explorer Map OL23 Cadair Idris and Bala Lake is ideal, alternatively the 1:50000 scale Landranger series sheets 124 Dolgellau and Porthmadog and 135 Aberystwyth and Machynlleth.

Follow the Mountain Safety Code:

Before You Go

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

When You Go

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

If There is Snow On The Hills

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