Aberdovey, like most places that depend on tourism, cycles between a winter and a summer personality. The full-time residents, a medley of different accents and backgrounds, are here come rain or shine, braving it through the quiet winter months when the beach is empty and the shops and restaurants thin on bodies. The transformation in the summer months is staggering, when tourists overflow from hotels, b&bs and hired houses and swarm onto the beach and into the water, filling the sea front shops, and creating a happily dynamic and chaotic tornado of sound and motion. There are lots of events in the summer, aimed at tourists but benefiting local people too.
The character of the place is determined not just by the mad summer months but by the infrastructure of people, jobs and activities that make up the community on a year-round basis. Although many facilities close in the winter, many stay open, and it is a great place to come and mellow whatever time of year you happen to be here.
The whole experience of living in Aberdovey is of course a tale of two villages, because living on local resources is only feasible if you include Tywyn in the mix. This applies to shopping, trades and services and local events. It has also been surprising to me how far people will come. When I needed roof work done, it was a company in Newtown that did the work (thanks to Yellow Pages, because I struggled to find anything on the Internet). But when I needed to source an electrician (John Starbuck), a joiner (Paul Tacey, a decorator (Paul Edwards) and someone to fix my dishwasher (Liam Smith) I was lucky enough to find super people based in and near to Aberdovey, all of whom were involved in many other aspects of village life.
In the blog I talk about everyday aspects of living in Aberdovey, special events, and some of the places I have visited whilst living here. Some of the posts on my blog in this category are as follows.
Events
- Aberdyfi Food Festival, 18th August 2018
- A splendid Bank Holiday fireworks display in Aberdovey
- The Devil’s Violin performing Stolen at the Neuadd Dyfi
Walks (See also a series of walks focusing on Iron Age hillforts on the Heritage page)
- The Panorama Walk on a sunny day
- A splendid afternoon beachcombing at Aberdovey
- A walk along the Roman Road to and beyond Picnic Island
- A proper seaside walk – the beach, the sea, the waves, sun and even a sandcastle
- Autumn scenery around Castell-y-Bere on a perfect day
- Short walk along the Welsh Coast Path from Tywyn to the Tonfanau footbridge
- The woodland walks at Ynysymaengwyn, near Bryncrug and Tywyn
- A high tide walk along the beach at Aberdovey following the gales in January
- Walking in lovely February light from Aberdovey towards Tywyn along the beach
- Walking in Ynyslas and Borth, February 2020
- An idyllic circular walk in March 2020, from Aberdovey via Happy Valley
- Walking above Aberdovey and back along the beach, March 2020
- A very quiet walk on the beach, April 2020
- Sand dunes and sand in mid April, 2020
- Walking above the hill behind Aberdovey to check out the bluebells, May 2020
- Another visit to the bluebells, May 2020
- Walking in the hills above the Aberdovey coastline, May 2020
- Aberdovey beach with clouds gathering, wild orchids and good company June 2020
- A short wildflower walk from the Dysynni (Tonfanau) bridge July 2020
- Watersports, the golf course, wild mushrooms, and a superbly moody sky July 2020
- Oystercatchers on the beach near Tonfanau station August 2020
- A walk up to Craig yr Aderyn (Bird Rock), with its fabulous views, September 2020
- A relaxing stroll on the beach after a short wildflower walk, September 2020
- Walking the Dolgoch Falls – lush green, dappled sun and the lovely sound of bubbling water, September 2020
Day Trips
- Day Trip: The Royal silver mint and Dyfi charcoal furnace in the village of Furnace
- Walking in Ynyslas and Borth, February 2020
- Day Trip: The Grade II listed Pont Abermaw (Barmouth Bridge)
My garden
- Explaining the absence of birds in my garden in August 2018
- Video: the robin in my garden
- Speed eating: a close-up video of a blue tit eating at a feeder
- Pheasants, doves and all the usual suspects in my garden: feasting after Storm Bronagh
- A squirrel visitor in my garden – and a short history of squirrels in the UK
- Videos: A round-up of the birds on my feeders in September 2018
- Videos: Challenges to finding a bite to eat in an Aberdovey garden in winter
- Video: Goldfinches for the New Year
- Walking the Dolgoch Falls – lush green, dappled sun and the lovely sound of bubbling water
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Other
- Giving it a whirl and going with the flow: Zumba and Tai Chi at the Neuadd Dyfi
- The RNLI station in Aberdovey 2018