Barmouth

{{quote box|width=25em|bgcolor=#c6dbf7|align=left|quote="Finally, when we left the southern bank and crawled to the opposite side over the bridge, almost a mile long and supported on mighty posts of oak, on our right the river bed, inundated by the sea at high tide and looking like a mountain lake, on our left Barmouth bay stretching to the bright horizon, I felt so joyful that I often scarcely knew where to look first... To the south-west the terrain lay open in a wide semi-circle, so that from the forecourt of the house you had a view of the full length of the estuary from Dolgellau to Barmouth, while these places themselves were excluded from the panorama, which was almost devoid of human habitations, by a rocky outcrop on one side and a laurel-grown hill on the other. Only on the far side of the river could the little village of Arthog be seen - in certain atmospheric conditions, said Austerlitz, you might have thought it an eternity away - infinitesimally small, with the shadow of Cadair Idris rising behind it to a height of almost three thousand feet above the shimmering sea."|source=—Austerlitz , page 113-114}}

The town grew around the shipbuilding industry, and more recently as a seaside resort. Notable buildings include the medieval {{lang|cy|Tŷ Gwyn}} tower house, the 19th century {{lang|cy|Tŷ Crwn}} roundhouse prison and St John's Church.

William Wordsworth, a visitor to Barmouth in the 19th century, described it thus: "With a fine sea view in front, the mountains behind, the glorious estuary running {{convert|8|mi|spell=in|disp=sqbr}} inland, and {{lang|cy|Cadair Idris|italic=no}} within compass of a day's walk, Barmouth can always hold its own against any rival."{{cite web|url=https://www.barmouth-wales.co.uk/heritage-trail|title=Heritage Trail|website=Barmouth, Wales|accessdate=16 May 2023}}

{{lang|cy|Dinas Oleu}} (Citadel of Light), which is located east of the town on the adjoining hillside,{{cite map|title=Porthmadog & Dolgellau |map=124 |year=2016 |scale=1:50,000 |series=Landranger |publisher=Ordnance Survey |language=en, cy |isbn=978-0-319-26222-1}} was the first tract of land to be donated to the National Trust.{{cite web|url=https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/trails/dinas-oleu-walk-barmouth |title=Dinas Oleu Walk, Barmouth |publisher=National Trust |access-date=10 September 2016}} Panorama Walk, to the east of the town, was developed as a coastal footpath in the Victorian era to contribute to the town's attractions for visitors. The walk is designated at Grade II on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales.{{NHAW|uid=156|num=PGW(Gd)26(GWY)|desc=Panorama Walk, Barmouth|class=HPG|access-date=6 February 2023}} On the route of the walk stands the Glan-y-Mawddach estate. Originally a Regency villa, the house, which is listed at Grade II,{{NHAW|num=15492|desc=Glan-y-Mawddach |grade=II|access-date=28 February 2023}} was extended in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and an important garden laid out which is designated at Grade II* on the Cadw/ICOMOS register.{{NHAW|uid=190|num=PGW(Gd)62(GWY)|desc=Glan-y-Mawddach |class=HPG|access-date=6 February 2023}}

Barmouth features prominently in the novel Austerlitz by Max Sebald. The town is featured in an idyllic light, with the narrator visiting several times during his childhood [see box].

In January 2014, two trains were stranded at Barmouth after severe winter storms destroyed the sea wall at nearby {{lang|cy|Llanaber|italic=no}}.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-25743400 |title=Road trip for storm-hit Barmouth marooned trains |work=BBC News |date=2014-01-15 |access-date=2014-11-23| df=dmy-all}}

File:Barmouth railway station, Gwynedd (geograph 4662694).jpg

The town is served by Barmouth railway station. Transport for Wales operate northbound services to {{rws|Pwllheli}} via {{rws|Harlech}}, {{rws|Porthmadog}} and {{rws|Criccieth}}; eastbound services travel to Birmingham International via {{rws|Tywyn}}, {{rws|Machynlleth}}, {{rws|Welshpool}}, {{rws|Shrewsbury}}, {{rws|Telford Central}} and {{rws|Wolverhampton}}.{{Cite web |title=Timetables |work=Transport for Wales |date=May 2023 |access-date=9 October 2023 |url= https://tfw.wales/service-status/timetables |quote=}}

Connections for southbound services to {{rws|Borth}} and {{rws|Aberystwyth}} can be made at Dovey Junction or Machynlleth. Barmouth Bridge, which takes the Cambrian Line over the River Mawddach, was also previously at the end of the Ruabon–Barmouth line; this line passed through Bala and Dolgellau. The southern end of the bridge is now the start of the Mawddach Trail, a cycle path and walkway that uses the old trackbed.

Local bus services are provided by Lloyds Coaches and link the town with nearby destinations such as Harlech, Tan-y-Bwlch, Porthmadog and Dolgellau. Cross-country bus services are available to Wrexham via Bala, Corwen and Llangollen, as part of the Welsh Government funded TrawsCymru network.{{Cite web |title=Stops in Barmouth |work=Bus Times |date=2023 |access-date=9 October 2023 |url= https://bustimes.org/localities/barmouth |quote=}}

The Barmouth Ferry sails from Barmouth to Penrhyn Point, where it connects with the narrow-gauge Fairbourne Railway for the village of Fairbourne. The town has a RNLI lifeboat station, which includes a visitors' centre with shop and viewing gallery.{{cite web|title=RNLI: Barmouth|url=http://rnli.org/findmynearest/station/Pages/Barmouth-Lifeboat-Station.aspx|access-date=16 February 2016}}

The nearest rugby club is in Dolgellau, {{convert|7|mi}} away.[http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/dolgellauoldgrammariansrfc/ Dolgellau Old Grammarians] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105144448/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/dolgellauoldgrammariansrfc/ |date=5 November 2014 }} from Pitchero.com, retrieved 11 March 2015 Barmouth has one major football team: Barmouth & Dyffryn United, which competes in the Welsh Alliance League. Barmouth is the venue for the annual Barmouth Beach Race, a motocross event. Usually taking place on the last weekend in October, the event sees riders take part in beach racing, using a temporary motocross course constructed on the beach. Over 200 riders typically take part in this event, with spectators attending free of charge. The event attracts champion riders from England and Wales.[http://www.walesdirectory.co.uk/events/event.php?id=6330 WalesDirectory.co.uk] retrieved 11 March 2015 The harbour hosts the annual Three Peaks yacht race.{{cite web|title=Three Peaks Yacht Race|url=http://www.threepeaksyachtrace.co.uk/|website=threepeaksyachtrace.co.uk|access-date=10 September 2016}}

• John Griffith (1821–1877), a journalist, brought up in Barmouth
• Fanny Talbot (1824–1917), landowner and philanthropist, donated Cliff of Light (Dinas Olau in Welsh), to the National Trust.
• Jim Valentine (1866–1904), rugby union and Northern Union player for Swinton Lions.
• Herbert Tudor Buckland (1869–1951), architect, known for his seminal Arts and Crafts movement houses.
• Commander Harold Lowe (1882–1944), fifth officer of the RMS Titanic.{{cite news|title=Titanic: Grandson tells of officer Harold Lowe who returned for survivors|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17613398|access-date=10 September 2016|work=BBC News|date=14 April 2012}}
• John Rippiner Heath (1887–1950), physician and composer.
• Major Bill Tilman, (1898–1977), English mountaineer and explorer, known for his Himalayan climbs and sailing voyages, lived in Barmouth for many years.{{cite web|last1=Howell|first1=Denis|title=Barmouth to Fort William Three Peaks Yacht Race Prize Giving|url=http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/149401/Three-Peaks-Yacht-Race|website=yachtsandyachting.com|access-date=10 September 2016|date=5 November 2009}}
• Adrian Dingle (1911–1974), Cornish-Canadian artist.
• Johnny Williams (1926–2007), boxer, once both the British and Empire heavyweight champion.
• Tommy Nutter (1943–1992), British tailor, reinvented the Savile Row suit in the 1960s.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-tommy-nutter-1541027.html|title=Obituary: Tommy Nutter|work=The Independent|date=18 August 1992|access-date=9 October 2009| location=London | first=Meredith | last=Etherington-Smith |author-link1=Meredith Etherington-Smith}}
• Russell Davies (born 1946), journalist and broadcaster, presents Brain of Britain on BBC Radio 4.
• Charlie Brooks (born 1981), actress, known for EastEnders.{{cite news|title=Barmouth actress Charlie Brooks to star in 18-week theatre stage tour|url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/barmouth-actress-charlie-brooks-star-8259369|access-date=10 September 2016|work=Daily Post|date=9 December 2014}}

Barmouth, with Cader Idris.jpeg|Barmouth, with Cader Idris in the background, 1865

From N. W., Barmouth, Wales-LCCN2001703421.jpg|The town in the 1890s

Barmouth Sands by William Collins, 1835, Guildhall Gallery, London.JPG|Barmouth Sands by William Collins, 1835

Aerial view of Barmouth (1489696).jpg|Aerial view of Barmouth, 1965

• St David's Church, Barmouth
• St John's Church, Barmouth
• St Tudwal's Church, Barmouth
• St Mary and St Bodfan Church, Llanaber
• Tyn-y-Coed Farmhouse, Caerdeon

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Barmouth}}

{{wikivoyage|Barmouth}}

• {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Barmouth |volume=3 |short=x}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080116044949/http://barmouth-communities-first.org/ Barmouth community website latest news from Barmouth and historical photo gallery and much more.]
• [https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=3491048 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Barmouth and surrounding area]
• [https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-dyffryn-a-short-film-of-happy-days-during-1935-1935-online 1935 historic film of Barmouth holidaying, carnival and sport]

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Category:Towns in Gwynedd

Category:Registered historic parks and gardens in Gwynedd

Category:Listed buildings in Gwynedd