Our third drive
Our third drive took us to Dolgellau
We headed out from Machynlleth, across the new Dyfi Bridge and into the countryside.
Though to begin with, our view was somewhat restricted.
Seeing a sign for the Corris Craft Centre we turned off, glad to escape from our spot behind that caravan. However, our hopes for the many and varied crafts we might find here were somewhat dashed, because this is the school holidays and the place was very much geared up to the needs of families with children. Never mind. We stretched our legs and when we got back on the road, we had a clear outlook.
I was glad about that - this was spectacular countryside and I didn’t want to miss any of it.
Dolgellau is a small town and we were keen to look around, hopefully finding some local information. For it was here that my father in law was born, in 1922. His parents were already living in Gloucestershire, but his mother was keen for him to be born in Wales and spent the last days of her confinement with her parents here in Dolgellau. On his birth certificate, the address is given as Moelfryn, but quite where to find a place of that name, we had no idea.
We pottered about for a while, looking in some of the independent shops here and whilst I tried on a dress, my Hero chatted to the shopkeeper. She said the tourist information had closed last year, sadly, and didn’t recognise the name herself. She did recommend a woollen mill a little further up the valley when I asked about Welsh tapestry weaving, however!
Before we set off, we stopped for a drink in the town, where my Hero googled Moelfryn, which seemed to be the name of a house. An estate agent’s website listed it as recently sold and included another line of the address. Arran Road. Hmm.
Guess the name of the road we’d be taking on our way towards the Mill? Sure enough, as we turned the corner in the town centre, we saw the road sign and with no traffic behind us, drove more slowly than usual in the hope of reading a housename. It was a bit crazy really…there were many houses on both sides of the road and each one had a name. But then, there it was!
Silly really, but immensely satisfying! Definitely one for the family album.
The drive to our next stop near Dinas Mawddwy was beautiful and it was good to have an interesting destination in mind. It sounded promising.
But sadly, in common with many such places, it was simply a shop selling tourist souvenirs and my thought of finding a lovely Welsh tapestry throw was soon dismissed. Never mind. Next time we’re in Pembrokeshire…
So we headed back, thinking that we’d spend the afternoon by the sea. The only route was back through Dolgellau, though.
Still feeling rather pleased with ourselves, we continued with our plan to drive to the coast, heading for Fairbourne. The car park was down by the seafront and we smiled as we drove past a couple carrying an inflatable boat between them, with “Mother” trailing behind carrying the oars. Alongside the road was a narrow railway line - maybe we’d see a train?
As we parked the car, who should walk past us again?
We were ready for some fresh air, so climbed over the grassy sea defences and took a look at the beach. There’s a steep shingle bank here though and a series of concrete coastal defence structures - against the tide or against invaders? A quick google search confirmed them to be described as Dragon’s Teeth.
As we stood admiring the view, we heard the toot of a railway engine and the little Fairbourne Railway train appeared. Shall we take a ride? Or is the afternoon long enough to continue along the coast?
Our decision to keep going was rewarded in Tywyn where honey ice creams (delicious!) kept us both quiet for quite some time.
Yes, we spotted the Honey Bear too - I think he thought he was hiding behind that pillar 🤣
The sea front at Tywyn was altogether more peaceful than Fairbourne and we sat for a while with our books, enjoying the late afternoon sunshine and feeling rather full after those enormous ice creams.
It was just a short drive back to Machynlleth, where we parked the car on the main street, Heol Maengwyn, near the Victorian Clock Tower. We’d planned to have fish and chips from the award-winning chippy along the road here, but were far from ready to eat anything just yet!
So we took a look around. We knew Laura Ashley started her company somewhere in this area, but hadn’t realised it was right here in Machynlleth. The sign on this shop front reveals that Bernard and Laura Ashley lived in the house and opened their first shop right here. Sadly, it’s now closed. When we were first married, her designs were incredibly popular and our first house was decorated with many of her products. I made our everyday napkins, used most days on the kitchen table, from her cotton fabric maybe thirty five years ago? Yes, they’re still going strong!
The other site of interest along this street is the Owain Glyndŵr Centre and the site of his original Senedd - parliament - in 1404.
It was quite some time before we were ready to head over to Hennigans for our supper, but when we did, our table was ready right there on the street. The fish and chips were excellent, as always they tasted even better in the fresh air.
We staggered back to our bed for the night - more about that later - feeling totally stuffed but happy. Surprisingly, neither of us really wanted to sit on the chair 😉
here’s the map
