Friday, September 20, 2013

Barmouth on a Sunny Sunday



Barmouth is on the west coast of North Wales and lying between a mountain range and the sea on the mouth of the river Mawddach it is a beautiful location. Resting just within the south west corner of Snowdonia National Park it is seeped in a history rich with connections to the shipping and slate industries.

View across the Estuary from Toll Bridge.

On a sunny Sunday back in July, the 14th, to be exact I went to Barmouth with my sister and brother-in-law. It was the weekend of the Barmouth Paddle and Kite Festival so knowing in advance that it was going to be extremely busy and therefore very difficult to park, we decided to walk across the Toll Bridge that spans Barmouth Estuary and has spectacular views.


Views of Barmouth from the Toll Bridge.

There was a great deal of activity going on in Barmouth that day as the following photos will show. The Paddle Sports and Kite Festivals seemed to be very popular. I have included a link to the Rotary Club web page at the end of the post if you are interested in finding out more about this event.







Barmouth has many quaint and delightful corners to explore and this visit we mainly spent our time in the area around the harbour, then a walk along the promenade to see the kites, before cutting back through the town to return across the bridge. A town steeped in history I will certainly be back to explore further another time.

Harbour-side Sculpture by local sculptor Frank Cocksey
Ty Gwyn Museum
The first record of Barmouth as a small port on the Welsh Coast was in 1565 in a survey commissioned by Queen Elizabeth I. During the 18C and 19C it was a major shipbuilding centre within Wales.  The Ty Gwyn  now a museum was built in 1460 and contains many interesting artefacts, including those found in The Bronze Bell Wreck which was discovered by local sub-aqua club members just off the coast in the summer of 1978. It is thought the ship sunk whilst carrying a cargo of Carrara marble from Genoa. The sculpture shown above is carved from marble found in the wreckage and depicts three generations of fishermen hauling in their catch. Situated just behind the Ty Gwyn is Ty Crwn, The Round House which was built as a jail, one half for women, the other for men.



    Ty Crwn, The Round House Jail
The next group of photos were taken in the Harbour area, which was busy with people enjoying the sunshine.









Our stroll around Barmouth then took us along the promenade where Barmouth Kite Festival was taking place.

Video courtesy of YouTubedsr150


Heading away from the beach we cut back through the town where I took a few random shots as we headed back to the Toll Bridge.





I hope you have enjoyed sharing our stroll around Barmouth, a town well worth a visit if you ever visit Wales.

Please note that as I have included rather a lot of photos in this post, I have not posted the largest size. To view in a larger format, just click on any photo for a slide show to enjoy a better view.  The full album of photos I took that day can be viewed on my Flickr Account in the Album entitled  Barmouth on a Sunny Sunday

With thanks to the following links for information contained in this post.

Barmouth Wales    Welcome to Barmouth   Paddle Wales  The Bronze Bell Wreck  Barmouth Kite Festival


All photos are my own taken in July 2013. 
 Copyright All rights reserved by LindyLouMac Photo Collection 
The full set of photos may also be viewed individually in my album entitled  

12 comments:

  1. I like the first beach shot, would love to wander on that beach, and I love the number 4 harbor shot. so beautiful and the pink bike is my favorite. i haven't seen any kites like these, had to be an amazing sight

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  2. Don't believe I have ever been to Barmouth, but it looks well worth a visit. The circular jail is intriguing... I always think that the furniture wouldn't fit well, but perhaps there wasn't any! Kite festivals are always colourful and fun. It was such lovely weather then - brings back a feeling of summertime now we are definitely headed for autumn.

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  3. Lovely to see Barmouth, looking almost tropical in July, it is many many years since I have been there.

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  4. This was a fantastic stroll through Barmouth for me! Thank you. It really looks like a fun and beautiful place to visit. Even though I live at the beach, I never get tired of seeing pictures like these. Every place is just so different than the next. My favorite picture here believe it or not is the bicycle. What a great idea.

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  5. Hi Linda. Sorry I'm so late :( Gosh, what a lovely selection of photos for us today. Loved the little cafe with the pink umbrella and pink flower container! It really does look like a delightful little place, and lots going on during that day. I love it when places are buzzing like that. I'm just going to turn off the computer now and settle down to watch Downton Abbey! I've never been to Wales. I really must go there one day. Thank you for sharing these delightful photos with us. Hugs to you.

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  6. Never heard of Barmouth, thanks for the tour and information. Looks a very interesting place. x

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  7. Did I ever tell you that my Mum's side of the family comes from Wales? Roberts is the last name. :-) It is my dream to explore Wales one day and track down our family history. :-) I love seeing Wales through your eyes until then. :-)

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  8. Hi LindyLou, so sorry for your loss. I too am from Cardiff, Wales originally, born Rees, married a Roberts and am now Carter (late husband's name). I have a brother in Cardiff and another in Stockport. I'm just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris

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  9. I have been a little absent from blogging for much of this year and whilst I knew you were visiting Wales I have only just read up on what's been happening. I'm so sorry to read of David's passing. That must have been a very tough time. Take care x

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  10. I just love coastal villages the atmosphere,the friendliness of the people and the cute places to eat. Love the bike

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  11. Hey Lindy Lou! Yep, you can follow me at constantchatter. My Italy blog was a recap of the time I spent there last yr for a book I worked on.
    Looks like you are continuing to keep your travel fun flowing! Love reading about your adventures!

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  12. Wonderful! I loved this. Barmouth is one of my favourite places. I spent much of my childhood on its beaches and I still live just over an hour away so visit when I can. Thank you for capturing the atmosphere of a hidden gem and a very special place!

    Juliet

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