On the Southern edge of Snowdonia National Park is where you will find Aberdyfi (or Aberdovey).  It is a mid-Wales gem where the mountains and the River Dyfi meet the green-blue waters of Cardigan Bay. 

It is a charming unhurried seaside village, a seductive little resort that hits the right spot and visitors return again and again. 

All the ingredients are here, it’s picturesque harbour and jetty, miles of sandy beach backed by sand dunes, the rugged river with yachts bobbing in the bay and views across the estuary to die for.

A row of colourful Victorian houses sits along the seafront overlooking the wild sprawling sand dunes and across the estuary to Ynyslas nature reserve.  It is a creative hub for artists and writers alike, drawing inspiration from the everchanging surroundings.

Quaint old streets rise up to spectacular viewpoints whilst in the heart of the village you can enjoy browsing in specialist boutiques and art galleries, enjoy a cup of Welsh Tea and a Welsh Cake or a Cappuccino and a pastry catered for in one of our lovely eateries. Alternatively, a little snack with a glass of Prosecco or a cold Welsh beer can be had whilst watching the soft blue water glisten and sparkle in one of the exceptional inns and restaurants.

Take a stroll on the beach – which is an epic four miles of sand stretching all the way from the estuary to Tywyn on Cardigan Bay. Or you can simply sit in this idyllic setting and relax.

You don’t need to travel too far from Aberdyfi to find a different world – that of spectacular mountain and valley scenery. The peaks of the Cadair Idris and Aran Fawddwy ranges are within easy reach and are complimented by the charm of the Dovey and Dysynni valleys nearby. An ideal area for walkers, climbers and wildlife watchers. With Aberystwyth to the south and Barmouth to the north this pretty seaside village sits against a backdrop of green – but sometimes snowy – mountains which plunge down to the Dyfi Estuary. There really is so much to see and do.

In the 1800s, Aberdyfi was at its peak as a port. Major exports were slate and oak bark. Ship building was based in seven shipyards in Penhelig where 45 sailing ships were built between 1840 and 1880, one of which was the Mervinia!

The railway came to Aberdyfi in 1863 built by the Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast Railway and completed in 1867. A jetty was built in 1887, with railway lines connecting it with the wharf and the main line. This opened up Aberdyfi to it’s first holidaymakers and the rest, as they say, is history.

Aberdyfi is also the subject of a popular Welsh folk song, Clychau Aberdyfi/The Bells of Aberdyfi. The song refers to the church bells of the legendary city of Cantre’r Gwaelod, a submerged kingdom beneath Cardigan Bay which is said to have been drowned by the sea when the drunken Seithennin neglected the valley’s dykes. The bells in the song are those of that submerged kingdom that can be heard ringing beneath the water and is said that the chimes of the bells can still be heard on calm, windless nights!

Accommodation in Aberdyfi

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Aberdyfi our holiday cottage by the sea Tegfan sleeps 2 and is ideal for holidays and romantic breaks. You can also book your holiday online at Tegfan in Aberdyfi here.