Aberdyfi, a magical place by the coast

Aberdyfi is a quaint little village situated by the coast in mid Wales, which attracts an abundance of people seeking that perfect place for relaxation or pursue their adrenalin activities. The excellent golden beaches that stretch for miles are a great excuse to visit and most of the facilities are close by if you wish to do something different. This old fishing port is located in the south of the Snowdonia National Park and is about a 40min drive from Snowdon itself if your in search of a good hike. If you want to stay a little more local, on the doorstep is the Cader Idris, a good 5 hour hike offering some stunning views back out towards Barmouth in the west and the Dulas valley to the east, Legend says that if you sleep on the summit over night, you will wake a poet or a madman. Aberdyfi is at the mouth of the Dyfi estuary, close to some of the most beautiful nature reserves you will ever see, an absolute must for bird watching, and spotting the rare Red Kite.

The Talylln Railway runs from Tywyn to Abergynolwyn and Nant Gwernol, the line itself passes the delightful Dolgoch Falls where there is a great walk. This is a must, with the winding routes, beautiful moss coated floors and stunning streams the atmosphere is quite magical. There's a small café located at the bottom of the walk for light refreshment, where you can just take in the stunning view and relax.

If you want to participate in something adventurous why not try mountain biking, climbing, quad biking, pony trekking, shooting, golfing, or even kite surfing. There are several reputable local companies who will provide this service for you. There's a local outward bound centre that organises kayaking and other children's activities or you can just watch the local yacht club rigging their boats up for a day out on the water. If your lucky enough to own your own jet ski or boat then you can launch with permission from the harbour master

For such a small village you won't be short of places to go and eat. The Dovey Arms is the local pub providing the usual but tasty pub food for at a reasonable price in a lively atmosphere. I would recommend the homemade pizza for lunch, it's delicious and there's enough slices for two people to share just one. The Penhallig Arms is just up the road from the Dovey and somewhere you would go for that extra special kind of meal. It has its own separate restaurant but you can eat in the bar area, which has its own open fire lit in the wintertime, creating a special ambience. There's a Bistro in the square, which is supposed to be superb, to be honest I've not tried it but then it's always booked, so it must be good. If you just fancy fish and chips there's a local chip shop within easy walk of the beach or try the local butcher and fishmonger for local fresh produce to chuck on the BBQ.

Aberdyfi is not just a place by the coast, it's a place to get away from it all and really unwind. On your doorstep, is some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, you really don't need to go very far to find a magical place.

About the Author

After 17 years in retail ownership I'm quiting my job and relocating to Wales, with maybe a spell in New Zealand before I go completely mad. I dont know what I'm going to do there yet, but its going to be fun, exciting and scary all at the same time, but hey at least I'm doing it and you never know whats going to turn up.

You can also follow the story at my blog http://www.whyyoushouldquityourjob.blogspot.com/