Our Ultimate Guide to Tywyn
Tywyn is a short drive from the Trefeddian Hotel along the coast road, or for the more energetic a lovely four mile walk along the beach to the promenade with an extra mile if you wanted to walk into the town centre. Tywyn is the next stop along the mainline if travelling by train or a few stops away on the bus.
Tywyn was built around the church of Saint Cadfan and dates back to 516 AD with the promenade built in the late 19th century as a sea defence and to encourage visitors. Tywyn is a huge expanse of sandy beach which stretches from north of the seaside town of Tywyn down to the Dovey Estuary and harbour of Aberdyfi several miles to the south. The Wales Coastal Path passes through Tywyn and there are some good walks taking in the views of Cardigan Bay along with Snowdonia and the Cambrian Mountains to the south. If you keep your eyes peeled, you may even be lucky enough to spot some dolphins. The foundation stone for the Promenade, was laid in 1889 by John Corbett. Ynysmaengwyn Estate was once owned by the Corbett family and you can see the ruins of where the mansion once stood and explore the grounds. Now home to a caravan park, Ynysmaengwyn is also a beautiful woodland setting is perfect for a walk and wander. There is also the Dovecote that stands in the grounds, a walled garden and also a Fairy Glen hidden in the woods alongside a fantastic park for little ones to play on.
Tywyn has a good selection of shops, mainly lining the High Street with everything from supermarkets, petrol station, florist, butchers, chemist, Post Office, bakery, craft shops selling beautiful handmade products, charity shops and a general hardware store. There are also a handful of really lovely cafes serving wonderful meals, snacks and cakes alongside teas and coffees.
One of Tywyns most treasured tourist attraction is The Talyllyn railway. It was the world’s first preserved railway that was opened over 150 years ago in 1865. The train trundles up the Fathew valley, transporting passengers over seven miles from the seaside town of Tywyn to Nant Gwernol in the wooded mountains of Abergynolwyn. On arrival in Abergynolwyn there is a wonderful café with hot drinks and tasty treats or you can continue to the end of the line to discover the woodland and walk back to rejoin the train at Abergynolwyn. There is also the option to hop off at Dolgoch falls and take in the stunning set of waterfalls.
Tywyn is also very lucky to have its own cinema! The Magic Lantern is definitely worth a visit. It was first opened in 1893 as the Assembly Rooms and it has been showing films since the early 1900’s. It is steeped in history but is beautifully modern inside offering table service with a range of snacks and popcorn, a fully stocked bar and two stages where live events are regularly held. Their packed programme includes cinema listings with matinee showings during school holidays, subtitled films and relaxed screenings in addition to comedy events, live streaming from the RSC & National Theatre, live music events and open mic nights.
Tywyn Leisure Park is also a great place to go for families of all ages to spend time together doing various fun activities. They have an 18-hole putting course, crown green bowls, crazy golf, tennis, outdoor pool table, table tennis, quoits, shuffleboard, and skittles. You will find the leisure park set back from the Promenade, just behind the park.
Finally, no trip to Tywyn would be complete without a honey Ice Cream! Holgates Honey Ice Cream Shop is the only place where you can buy their famous Honey Ice Cream. Freshly made each day, this delicious ice cream is made to a secret recipe using real honey. As well as being famous for being the home of Honey Ice cream, you might also bump into and the Honey bear! Great for entertaining the kids. Once you’ve tasted the Honey Ice cream, there are a number of other exquisite flavours to try including honey and hazelnut, honey and apple pie, honey and passion fruit and they all come with a choice of delicious toppings. The grass outside the Honey Ice Cream shop is the perfect place to sit and look out across the hills over towards Cadair Idris, one of the highest mountains in Wales – and enjoy a Honey Ice Cream. And remember to keep an eye out for the Honey Bear!
