Top Five Drives
As well as many walking routes around the Trefeddian, there are some wonderful drives in the area if you want to view scenic mountain ranges, lakes and towns. Here are our five top drives starting from the hotel.
1. Meirion Mill and Dolgellau
Our first drive covers 56 miles and is a circular route from the hotel, through Machynlleth to Dolgellau, and back along the coast road. Take a left out of the hotel and follow the A493 into Machynlleth where you will need to turn left at the clock towards Mallwyd. Follow the A470 towards Dolgellau. At Dinas Mawddwy, you will find Meirion Mill. Alternatively, stop off at Dolgellau and have a look around or enjoy one of the many walks in the area - take a look at our local walks page for inspiration. Take the A493 along the coast road towards Aberdyfi and the Trefeddian. Fairbourne is where you will find the narrow gauge railway or stop at Tywyn’s Holgates Ice Cream Shop for a famous honey ice cream.
2. Corris and Talyllyn Lake
From the hotel, head towards Machynlleth. On reaching the Dyfi Bridge, take a left towards Corris. Just before Corris, you will find the Centre for Alternative Technology, and a bit further along, Corris Caverns. The centre offers many unusual craft shops to stroll around, King Arthur's Labyrinth (an underground boat ride into spectacular caverns) and Corris Mine Explorers. There are lots of things to explore here - Corris is also home to the Corris Railway and Museum. From here, head towards Dolgellau and take a left onto the B4405 to go over the Talyllyn Pass. Take in the dramatic scenery as you drive down towards Talyllyn Lake, before re-joining the A493 along the coast back to the hotel. A beautiful drive covering 34 miles.
3. Llanidloes and Aberystwyth
This is a longer route covering around 85 miles. Take the A493 towards Machynlleth and turn left at the clock. Take the turning on the left signposted Dylife. This drive through the Plynlimon hills shows wild Wales with gorges, lakes, waterfalls and steep valleys. At Staylittle, you can either stay on this road or bear right to drive around Llyn Clywedog - the tallest concrete dam in Britain standing at 235ft and holding 11,000 million gallons of water. There are a number of viewing points along this route. You will then find the town of Llanidloes with its rich silver mining past. From Llanidloes, take the A470 towards Llangurig then follow the A44 towards Aberystwyth. Lots of options on this road including Llywernog Silver and Lead Mine, turning left towards the Valley of Rheidol Railway or the Magic of Life Butterfly House. The next town on the drive is Aberystwyth, where you will find many attractions. Alternatively, follow the one-way system through the town, past the university on the A487 signposted Machynlleth and back to Aberdyfi.
4. Three Lakes
This scenic drive covers a total of 100 miles and takes in three beautiful lakes along the way, so it’s well worth taking a packed lunch. As you leave the hotel, turn left through Tywyn. Just after you enter Bryncrug, turn right onto the B4405 towards Tal-y-Llyn. This is the first lake on your drive. Tal-y-Llyn is 220 acres in size and sits underneath Cader Idris, which is 2927ft high. Once passed this lake, head towards Dolgellau, and on the bypass, turn right signposted Bala. Bala lake is situated beneath the Aran and Berwyn mountains, and at 4 miles long, it's the largest natural body of water in Wales. There is the Bala Lake Railway - a narrow gauge steam train that runs the length of the southern shore. Drive to the end of Bala Lake then turn right onto the B4391 towards Lake Vyrnwy. This is minor road so care is needed on the 8 miles to the lake. You can drive around the whole lake which has many nature trails on the way, along with wooden sculptures. This lake holds 13 thousand million gallons of water and is 12 miles around. It has a masonry dam that was built in the 1880’s, and at the time, was the largest dam in Britain. There is a visitors centre, RSPB shop, 3D centre and craft shops. At the other side of the lake, turn off on the B4303 signposted back to Bala, before taking the A494 and back to the hotel on the same road as you took earlier.
5. Porthmadog, Harlech and Barmouth
The last drive of around 95 miles takes you to the harbour town of Porthmadog, Harlech with its famous castle and returning through Barmouth. From the hotel, turn right towards Bryncrug, through Tywyn and right again onto the B4405 towards Tal-y-Llyn. Drive passed the lake and turn onto the A470 and bypass Dolgellau. At the roundabout, take the exit signposted Porthmadog A487, and at the following roundabout, take the A497. Continue until you reach Porthmadog. You then cross the toll bridge and turn right into Harlech, a small, picturesque town with a famous castle which, when it was built in the late 13th century, was situated at the edge of the sea. From Harlech, follow the A496 to Barmouth, a town on the mouth of the river Mawddach. From here, continue on the road until the signpost for the Penmaenpool toll bridge. Cross the bridge, turn right and follow the A493 coast road back to the hotel.
