Dolgellau Town, Gwynedd, LL40 1PY Open daily. Free entry

Details

Accessibility:

Parking in the town centre is limited to on-street parking within the few squares and open areas large enough to house parking spaces.  Disability spaces are available in Eldan Sgwar on Stryd Fawr. Otherwise spaces are limited along Arran Road, Smithfield Street, Finsbury Square, Queen's Square, Lion Street and Bridge Street. Slightly further out there is a car park on Marian road which also offers public toilets with disability facilities, operated by RADAR key.

Brief Description:

Dolgellau is a quiet market town that lies within the Snowdonia National Park and was once a centre for the Welsh wool industry. Most of the buildings in the town are built of dark slate which gives it a very distinctive feel.

The current town started life on the site of a Roman military installation in the 12th century and was, in 1404, the site of the last Welsh Parliament under Owain Glyndwr. The 19th century saw the town become famous for Welsh gold, with the Gwynfynydd Gold Mine still working today.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolgellau

"Dolgellau (/dɒlˈɡɛhlaɪ/;[2] Welsh pronunciation: [dɔlˈɡɛɬaɨ]) is a town and community in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, lying on the River Wnion, a tributary of the River Mawddach. It was the traditional county town of the historic county of Merionethshire until the county of Gwynedd was created in 1974. Dolgellau is the main base for climbers of Cadair Idris and Mynydd Moel which are visible from the town. Dolgellau is the second largest settlement in southern Gwynedd after Tywyn and includes the community of Penmaenpool. 

The woollen industry was long of the greatest importance to the town's economy; by the end of the 18th century, output was reckoned to be worth £50,000 to £100,000 annually. The industry declined in the first half of the 19th century, owing to the introduction of mechanical looms. Another important contributor to the local economy was tanning, which continued into the 1980s in Dolgellau, though on a much reduced scale.

The town was the centre of a minor gold rush in the 19th century. At one time the local gold mines employed over 500 workers. Clogau St. David's mine in Bontddu and Gwynfynydd mine in Ganllwyd have supplied gold for many royal weddings.[citation needed]

Today, the economy of Dolgellau relies chiefly on tourism (see below), although agriculture still plays a role; a farmers' market is held in the town centre on the third Sunday of every month.

It is believed that Dolgellau Cricket Club, founded in 1869 by Frederick Temple, is one of the oldest cricket clubs in Wales.[9]

For nearly a century Dolgellau was the home of Dr Williams School, a pioneering girls' secondary school. This was funded from the legacy of Daniel Williams the Welsh nonconformist of the 17th/18th century.[10] Dolgellau is home to a bilingual further education college, Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor.[11] The site it occupies was originally home to Dr Williams' School, a direct grant grammar school for girls aged 7–18 established in 1875 (opened 1878). It was named after its benefactor Daniel Williams, (1643–1716) a Nonconformist minister from Wrexham, who also gave his name to Dr Williams's Library in Euston, London. The school closed in 1975.

Shortly before the closure of the town's railway station it displayed signs reading variously Dolgelly, Dolgelley and Dolgellau."

Further Information:

Address:

The Clerk, Dolgellau Town Council, 12 Tan y Coed, Nant y Gader, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, LL40 1LB

Telephone:

The Clerk, Dolgellau Town Council: 01341 421071

Email:

The Clerk, Dolgellau Town Council: http://www.dolgellautowncouncil.gov.wales/Contact_Us_18646.aspx 

Website:

http://www.dolgellautowncouncil.gov.wales/ 

https://www.visitsnowdonia.info/dolgellau

http://www.visitoruk.com/Dolgellau/

http://dolgellau.wales/ 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolgellau

Opening Hours:

Open daily.

Directions:

The town is situated to the south of the A470 and entered via the Arran Road from the east, Cader Road/A493 from the west or Bala Road / Foss-Y-Felin from the north.

OS SN441281

Transport:

For further travel information in Wales please see: www.traveline.cymru/travel-info

Or call Traveline Cymru on 0800 464 0000

Amenities:

There are plenty of shops, cafes and public houses within the town.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolgellau

"The surrounding area is known for its wild but beautiful countryside and places of historical interest. It is popular with tourists who enjoy activities such as walking, hiking, horse riding, white-water rafting and climbing. Dolgellau is the main base for climbers of Cadair Idris. Aircraft enthusiasts also use the town as the base for the Mach Loop.[citation needed] To the north lies the Dolmelynllyn estate, which includes walking routes that include Rhaeadr Ddu waterfall and the former gold mines on Cefn Coch.[17][18]Dolgellau is a good centre for visiting a number of nearby narrow-gauge heritage railways, including the Corris Railway, the Fairbourne Railway and the Talyllyn Railway."