Barmouth Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Barmouth Welsh: Abermaw
Barmouth, from across the Mawddach estuary
Barmouth
Population	2,522
OS grid reference	SH613158
Community	Barmouth
Principal area	Gwynedd
Ceremonial county	Gwynedd
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BARMOUTH
Postcode district	LL42
Dialling code	01341

Police	North Wales
Fire	North Wales
Ambulance	Welsh

EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Welsh Assembly	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
List of places UK Wales Gwynedd 52°43′19″N 4°03′18″W / 52.722°N 4.055°W / 52.722; -4.055

Barmouth (also known as Welsh: Abermaw in Welsh) is a lovely seaside town. It is located in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. The town sits right on the estuary of the Afon Mawddach river. It is also next to Cardigan Bay.

The Welsh name Abermaw means "estuary of the Mawddach". The English name "Barmouth" comes from an older Welsh name. The area also includes small villages like Llanaber and Caerdeon.

History of Barmouth
Getting Around Barmouth
Sports and Activities
Famous People from Barmouth
Gallery
See also

History of Barmouth

Barmouth started as a town known for shipbuilding. Later, it became a popular seaside resort for visitors.

Some important old buildings here include:

The medieval Tŷ Gwyn (White House) tower house.
The 19th-century Tŷ Crwn (Round House) prison.
St John's Church.

A famous poet, William Wordsworth, visited Barmouth in the 1800s. He said it was a wonderful place. He loved its sea views and the mountains behind it. He also liked the beautiful estuary and the nearby Cadair Idris mountain.

Dinas Oleu (Citadel of Light) is a special place near Barmouth. It was the first piece of land ever given to the National Trust. This group helps protect important places.

The Panorama Walk is a scenic path east of town. It was made in the Victorian era for visitors to enjoy. This walk is very important and has a special heritage listing. Along the walk, you can see the Glan-y-Mawddach estate. This old house and its gardens are also historically important.

In January 2014, big winter storms hit the area. The sea wall near Llanaber was damaged. This caused two trains to get stuck in Barmouth.

Getting Around Barmouth

Barmouth station

Barmouth has its own train station. Transport for Wales Rail runs trains north to places like Pwllheli and Porthmadog. Trains also go east to Birmingham International. This route passes through towns like Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton.

You can connect to trains going south at Dovey Junction. These trains go to Borth and Aberystwyth.

The Barmouth Bridge is a famous landmark. It carries the Cambrian Line railway over the River Mawddach. The southern end of the bridge is now the start of the Mawddach Trail. This trail is a great path for cycling and walking. It follows an old railway line.

Local bus services are run by Lloyds Coaches. They connect Barmouth to nearby towns. These include Harlech, Porthmadog, and Dolgellau. There are also longer bus routes to Wrexham. These are part of the Welsh Government's TrawsCymru bus network.

The Barmouth Ferry takes people across the water. It sails from Barmouth to Penrhyn Point. From there, you can ride the Fairbourne Railway. This is a fun small train that goes to Fairbourne village.

Barmouth also has an RNLI lifeboat station. You can visit its centre to learn about their rescue work.

Sports and Activities

If you like rugby, the closest club is in Dolgellau. Barmouth has a main football team called Barmouth & Dyffryn United. They play in the Welsh Alliance League.

Barmouth is famous for its annual Barmouth Beach Race. This is a thrilling motocross event. It usually happens in late October. Riders race on a special track built on the beach. Over 200 riders take part, and it's free for spectators. Champion riders from England and Wales often compete.

The harbour in Barmouth also hosts the yearly Three Peaks yacht race. This is a challenging sailing and mountain climbing event.

Famous People from Barmouth

Many interesting people have connections to Barmouth:

John Griffith (1821–1877) was a journalist who grew up here.
Fanny Talbot (1824–1917) was a kind landowner. She gave the land for Dinas Oleu to the National Trust.
Jim Valentine (1866–1904) was a rugby player.
Herbert Tudor Buckland (1869–1951) was an architect. He designed many beautiful houses.
Commander Harold Lowe (1882–1944) was an officer on the famous RMS Titanic.
John Rippiner Heath (1887–1950) was a doctor and composer.
Major Bill Tilman (1898–1977) was a famous mountaineer and explorer. He lived in Barmouth for many years.
Adrian Dingle (1911–1974) was an artist.
Johnny Williams (1926–2007) was a boxer. He was once the British and Empire heavyweight champion.
Tommy Nutter (1943–1992) was a British tailor. He changed the look of suits in the 1960s.
Russell Davies (born 1946) is a journalist and broadcaster. He hosts Brain of Britain on BBC Radio 4.
Charlie Brooks (born 1981) is an actress. She is known for her role in EastEnders.