Merioneth, maritime county, N. Wales, bounded N. by Carnarvonshire and Denbighshire, SE. by Denbighshire, Montgomeryshire, and Cardiganshire, and W. by Cardigan Bay; greatest length, NE. to SW., 45 miles; greatest breadth, NW. to SE., 30 miles; area, 384,717 acres, population 52,038. The coast-line is alternately cliffs and stretches of sand, and the co. generally is the most mountainous in Wales, although some of the mountains of Carnarvonshire rise to greater elevations. Merioneth abounds in wild and romantic mountain scenery, beautiful and fertile valleys, and fine views of sea and lake and river. The greatest heights are Aran Mowddwy (2970 ft.) and Cader Idris (2929 ft.). The chief rivers are the Dee, the Mawddach, and the Dovey. Waterfalls and small lakes are numerous, the largest of the latter being Bala Lake (4 miles long and 1 mile broad). Having generally a poor soil, with large stretches of moor quite beyond a profitable cultivation, Merioneth does not appear as a successful agricultural county, except in the valleys, where there are many fertile tracts. Reclamation of land has been successful in some parts of the co. Manufactures are insignificant, excepting woollen and flannel goods, which are made chiefly at Dolgelly. Considerable quantities of slate and limestone are quarried, and there is a fair output of lead and copper. Some years ago gold was found to some extent, but the workings proving unprofitable were stopped. Merioneth contains 5 hundreds, 33 parishes, and parts of 4 others, and the towns or villages of Aberdovey, Bala, Barmouth, Corwen, Dolgelly, Festiniog, and Harlech.
– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)
Harlech Castle
Twtil
Harlech LL46 2YH
01766 780552
www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/default.asp?id=6&PlaceID=78
Spectacularly sited Harlech Castle seems to grow naturally from the rock on which it is perched. Like an all seeing sentinel, it gazes out across land and sea, keeping a watchful eye over Snowdonia.
Meirionnydd Archives
Ffordd y Bala
Dolgellau LL40 2YF
01341 424682
www.gwynedd.gov.uk/archives
Gwynedd Archives Service welcomes the public to visit its Record Offices to use and enjoy the wide range of documents, photographs, maps and newspapers that are kept.
Narrow Gauge Railway Museum
Wharf Station
Tywyn LL36 9EY
0165 471 0472
www.ngrm.org.uk
The Narrow Gauge Railway Museum was started in the 1950s and the first collections were displayed by 1956. A new building was opened as part of the Wharf Station of the Talyllyn Railway in 2006.
Collections: Over seventy railways are represented from over 200 years of narrow gauge railway development in Britain and Ireland. Locomotives, wagons, signals and many items needed to operate railways are on show.
Quaker Heritage Centre
Ty Meirion, Sgwar Eldon Square
Dolgellau LL40 1PU
01341 424442
Discover the story of the Quaker community that once lived here and of the persecution which forced them to emigrate to Pennsylvania. Includes an audio visual presentation.