© Ty’n y Cornel Hotel,
Tal-y-Llyn and
Croque-en-Bouche
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01654 782282 Ty’n y Cornel Hotel, Tal-y-Llyn, Tywyn, Gwynedd, Wales LL36 9AJ.
Ty'n y Cornel is centrally located for exploring much of the Snowdonia National Park,
the spectacular Cambrian Coast with its wonderful railway and rural Mid Wales, an
area steeped in history, with an abundance of charming villages, sweeping bays and
beaches, majestic mountains and castles, gardens and houses open to the public, museums
and visitor centers.
There are many attractions, some energetic, many less so, in the local area awaiting
your discovery. From the stunning Cambrian Coastline, King Arthur's Labyrinth & Centre
for Alternative Technology to the Llechwedd Slate Caverns, mountain biking and trekking
the Snowdonia paths- either on foot or horseback.
Naturally, fishing has proved to be one of the major attractions whilst the unspoilt
countryside provides excellent opportunities for both serious and casual walking.
The Cader Idris range provides challenging walking in all seasons. Over the ridge
is the Mawddach river and estuary featuring the easy Mawddach Trail, following a
disused railway to traverse the Cader Idris peak. A little further afield are the
Arran and Rhinog ranges for more challenging terrain. A glimpse at Ordinance Survey
map 124 ref. 714094 gives a flavour of the area.
On non walking days the beaches at Tywyn and Aberdyfi are 15 minutes away. The market
towns of Dolgellau and Machynlleth are within 10 miles of the hotel.
The nearby Tal-y-Llyn Railway and Fairbourne Railway offer excursions on the only
narrow gauge line in the world with over a century of unbroken passenger service
The area also offers pony trekking, windsurfing, sailing and water skiing, whilst
for the golfer there is one of the longest courses in Wales, the Royal St David's,
overlooked by the magnificent Harlech Castle, being just 8 yards longer than the
links at Aberdyfi. And very local to us, try the nine-hole Dolgellau golf club.
The vast diversity of habitat that surrounds Ty’n y Cornel offers the birdwatcher
some of the most exciting birding to be found in Britain. The 220 acre lake stretching
eastwards from the front door has become a sanctuary, both summer and winter, for
large flocks of waterfowl. Grebes, both Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe, are
present all year sharing the huge fish bounty with Cormorants and Goosander. The
many rafts of winter ducks are worth closer observation for possible rarities.
The east end of the lake has a large phragmites reed bed that is very attractive
to spring migrants and nesting water birds. The high mountains surrounding the lake
are home to Ravens and Peregrines. In summer Chough and Merlin can be seen.
The River Dysynni flowing from the lake has a healthy population of Dipper, Kingfisher,
Common Sandpiper and Saw-billed ducks breed along its course.
Further west and only ten minutes drive from the hotel, rising from the valley bottom
is Carig-y-Deryn (Bird Rock). This magical rock is home to a huge land-locked Cormorant
rookery. The experience is positively primeval, standing below this massive outcrop
with flights of these magnificent birds returning to feed their broods high up on
its mute, stained ledges. Of course, the glorious Red Kite abound in the area, it
is also one of the best places to see the rare Goshawk.
Following the River Dysynni to its estuary you arrive at one of the finest winter
sites in the area. The tidal estuary boasts vast numbers of waterfowl and waders,
and the flood plain is a favourite site for Kite, Merlin and Peregrine Falcon.
The estuary mouth has some of the best sea watching to be found in Cardigan Bay.
In winter all three Divers, Scoter and Eider can be seen close inshore. Autumn watching
for passaging migrants can be very rewarding at this point. In summer it is a superb
sea-watching point for many Shearwater, Gannets and Terns.
Special bird watching breaks are available, tailored to suit the seasons and client's
requirements. Contact the hotel for more details.
Activities: walking, bird watching, etc.
To see the birds mentioned in the text, click a name.
A YouTube video showing otters on Lake Tal-y-Llyn.
