Early Morning at Porthmadog Harbour

Porthmadog

A bustling harbour town, Porthmadog is the ideal base from which to explore Snowdonia and the Lleyn Peninsula.
Situated on the Glaslyn Estuary, most of the town is built upon land reclaimed from the sea by William Madocks, which led to the town's name - Welsh for Madog's Port.

The history of the town revolves around the harbour, the slate trade and the Ffestiniog Railway. For many years the town's prosperity owed much to the slate trade which exported roofing slate all over the world from the town's harbour. The Ffestiniog Railway (originally horse drawn) opened for freight traffic in 1836 and transported the slate from source at Blaenau Ffestiniog via a 21km journey through meadows, woodlands, lakes and waterfalls, and finally across the Cob to Porthmadog. The famous Cob was built to form the deep harbour where great sailing ships carried the slate around the world.

The commercial future of Porthmadog as a harbour began to decline with the arrival of the Cambrian Railway in 1867, offering an alternative means of transport to the growing industrial towns in England. The last of the fleet of ships had disappeared by 1945 ending with it an important chapter in the history of the town.

Things to do...

Now a major tourist attraction, the Ffestiniog Railway is one of the finest and oldest narrow guage railways in Britain providing a great day out for visitors of all ages. Other nearby attractions include the Maritime Museum on the town's waterfront, the Welsh Highland Railway, Portmeirion Italiante Village, Brynkir Woollen Mill in Garndolbenmaen, and for the more adventurous, the Ropeworks.

Two miles away in Morfa Bychan is Black Rock Sands, a popular wide sandy beach with a rocky headland at the western end of the beach and a backdrop of sand dunes that are a site of special scientific interest. When the tide recedes you can explore the rock pools, exposed caverns and multi coloured rock face (the rocks are not black!).

Neighbouring Borth-y-Gest is also well worth a visit - a beautiful village with fantastic views. If you have time, call in at The Moorings Bistro for something to eat - enjoy local seafood on the verandah overlooking the bay. The perfect end to a day!


More info....

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