Barmouth's location on the west coast of North Wales and lying between a mountain range and the sea on the mouth of the river Mawddach is arguably one of the most beautiful locations in Wales. It rests just within the south west corner of Snowdonia National Park and is steeped in a history rich with connections to the shipping and slate industries.
The old town is well worth a visit with its steep steps and slate-roofed cottages on the side of a mountain. The harbour is beautiful and you can walk across the spectacular Barmouth Bridge spanning the river which can be an ideal activity for an evening stroll.
We have visited 3 times over the last couple of years as it ticks so many boxes of what we like from a seaside town. If you are after a classic seaside holiday with lovely restaurants, a sandy beach, fun arcades and rides for the kids while all set in a beautiful an scenic location then Barmouth is definitely worth a visit.
There are some breathtaking views of Cardigan Bay and the picturesque harbour. The mountains behind the town are filled with walks with stunning views of Barmouth and its Bridge below.
The Beach
Barmouth is a beautiful town and Southern Snowdonia's most popular seaside resort. The town's beach, Abermaw, is west facing with amazing soft sand at the harbour end which eventually turns into a stoney beach further along the beach once you head out of town along the promanade. This mixture makes it perfect for everyone's taste. Our girls love making sand sculptures in the soft sand but then equally enjoy the stoney beach for throwing stones into the waves.
🏖️The beach is vast. The tide goes out a long way in Barmouth. So even though it can get busy there is plenty of room on the sand so you can easily have your own space. On the beach there are donkey rides, trampolines and inflatables and you can hire deck chairs. You can easily nip off the beach to get a cone of chips or an ice cream
Barmouth Bridge
Barmouth Bridge is Grade II* listed and is around 700 metres long and contains wooden trestles supported by cast iron piers. It is one of the longest wooden viaducts in the UK. It is an icon image of the town which has recently been restored due to its timber frame starting to deteriorate. You can walk or cycle along the bridge which is a lovely activity to do while staying in the town. If your lucky to time it well you can be on the bridge when a train travels down.
The Harbour
Once a thriving fishing and slate-trade port, the harbour still maintains a small fishing industry. There are a few watersports advertised such as rowing and paddleboarding but these need to pre booked. There is a cute little boat which takes you across the estuary to the Fairbourne Railway where you can ride on a small steam train to Fairbourne.
It is a great place for crabbing, all along the harbour you can drop your line or basket in the hope for catching some crabs.
Barmouth oozes of Vintage English seaside traditions.
It's got the arcades with 2p machines where we probably spent hundreds trying to get a toy worth 10p but our kids loved it. There are fairground rides, some small for toddlers and then a few good scarier rides for the older children. Cafes selling fish and chips, ice creams, donuts and all the yummy food you would want to eat while on holiday.
Shops
Shops line the main street through the town, interspersed with the pubs and cafes. The shops are selling gorgeous trinkets and keepsakes of your holiday along with a gorgeous gallery where I purchased an aerial photograph of the town to display in my home. There are of course the beach shops selling buckets and spades, body boards, and everything you could possibly need on a seaside holiday.
The amenities
🍦The amenities in the town are great, toilets are just off the beach in two locations. One in the harbour and one by the train station. All the cafes I've mentioned means you can hop on and off the beach all day to grab an ice cream or lunch.
We spent 4 days doing just that. Spending our days playing on the beach and in the water. Walking around the town and up the hills behind. And eating far too much gorgeous food. One of our favourite new things was watching the sunset. We found a pub down at the west end where the stony beach was. The Min Y Mor Hotel has a large beer garden with a children's climbing frame. This was where everyone came to have the best view of the sun setting. You could just walk out the pub and cross the road to watch. Our girls playing on the beach while watching it and was such a nice thing to do plus I got some amazing photos.
Walks in Barmouth
The hills behind the town in Barmouth are filled with walks and history. There is a first ever National Trust site up one route and a Welsh flag to walk to up another. The views are breathtaking once up in the hills so well worth the climb. There is a heritage trail around the town with qr codes to find which then gives you information about the history of that building which is a really interesting. I found quite a few just as a wondered around.
For my Guide to Walks in Barmouth click here :
link coming soon
Where to Eat in Barmouth
There are plenty of fabulous places to eat in the town. Anything from a cute cafe for breakfast or a sandwich to traditions pubs and interesting bars for an evening meal or a drink.
🍰🥪☕🍦🍔Here are some of our favourites:
But to find out more about where to eat in Barmouth click here to find my "Eating in Barmouth Guide"
• Lobster Pot
A cute cafe on the harbour serving breakfast and lunch. You can sit inside or outside with views of the boats and Barmouth Bridge. The menu is large with plenty of choice between the classics sandwiches and jacket potatoes or more adventurous dishes such as fish chowder, mussels, seafood linguine or dressed crab.
• Barmouth Bar & Grill
The Barmouth Bar & Grill is a traditional pub sat on the main high street running through Barmouth. The menu isnt massive but i think there is a good selection, with steaks, chilli, pastas, burgers, and plenty of fish dishes.
• Isis Pizzeria
A Pizzeria, making pizzas from scratch with loads of choices for your toppings and amazing views of Barmouth's Harbour.
Their pizzas are amazing, but they also have a children's menu, salads, burgers and fish dishes.
• Ted's
This is a really cool and tasty place to try. On the harbour front it serves amazing burgers, loaded fries, tacos, salt & pepper boxes and generally naughty American diner type food. The prices are very reasonable and the portions are good.
• Davey Jones Locker
Davy Jones Locker café is located in one of the oldest buildings in Barmouth, dating back to the 15th Century. It is situated on Barmouth's beautiful harbour, with the most fantastic view of Cader Idris across the estuary. Is is a cafe rather than a pub so only open till 4.30pm but has a wide range of light lunches and main meals as well as opening for breakfast at 9am.
• Tal Y Don Hotel
This place impressed us with fantastic customer service. All the staff were super friendly and attentive. The food is a bit more basic pub grub but portions are really good and its a nice place to relax after a day on the beach.
• The Last Inn
The Last Inn is one of Wales’ most famous and atmospheric pubs, dating back to the 15th century when it began life as a shoemaker’s home. Now, the retained original features add to the overall and unique appeal of The Last Inn. A firm favourite with local residents and returning tourists so i would really recommend pre booking
I will keep adding to this Guide on every visit so please do check back.
Our visits were in May 2022, 2023 and 2024
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