The Afon Dysynni (afon means “river” in Welsh) offers beautiful walking opportunities. There are several starting points, all of which feature family-friendly paths where children can easily join you. The paths extend to the stunning Ynysmaengwyn woodland and the nearby town of Bryncrug. Wildlife also thrives in the area, and you may spot swans, oystercatchers, and sometimes even otters! The walk is very popular with both locals and visitors.
The Afon Dysynni is approximately 16 miles long (26 km). It originates from the glacial ribbon lake, Llyn Mwyngil (known as Tal-y-Llyn Lake in English), and flows into the Irish Sea at Cardigan Bay via the Broad Water lagoon, just north of Tywyn.
In this article, I’ll suggest two main starting points and provide all the information you need to know.
IN A NUTSHELL
Dysynni River Walk
How long is it? The walk can range from 5 to 8 miles, depending on your starting and finishing points, but it shouldn’t take more than two hours, depending on your walking pace, of course.
How easy is it? It’s entirely flat and mostly on grass, except for the return route from Bryncrug to Tywyn, which can be walked along the pavement next to the main road. Some areas can be muddy, but this is the only “challenge” you’ll encounter.
Can I bring my children? Absolutely.
Accessibility: Most of the trail is flat and grassy, but some gates and sections of the trail are narrow, and the muddy areas may pose a challenge.
Where can I park my car? There are parking spaces at the Bailey Bridge, but you can also start from the centre of Tywyn.
Can I get there by public transport? Yes, the main train line has stops near Bailey Bridge and in the centre of Tywyn. The G21 and G24 bus services also stop in the town.
Are there any amenities nearby? Both Tywyn and Bryncrug have public toilets, pubs, and cafés.
Dysynni River Map and Routes
There are various paths you can take in the area, offering different starting points and the option to extend the walk further in either direction. In this article, I’ll highlight two main starting points: Bailey Bridge, which is easily accessible by car, and Tywyn Cinema, ideal if you’re staying in town and prefer not to drive.
Some sections of the walk are also part of the Wales Coast Path, and you will spot the signs along the way.
Map from Bailey Bridge
Map From Tywyn Cinema
How To Get There
Starting from Bailey Bridge
The easiest way to reach Bailey Bridge is by car. The road widens near the bridge, allowing you to park on either side. It’s also a popular spot for camper vans.
See Bailey Bridge on:
Google Maps – Apple Maps – what3words
The railway tracks run alongside the road, but trains do not stop there. The closest station is Tonfanau, a request stop, and the walk back to Bailey Bridge takes around 15 minutes.
There are no bus services directly to Bailey Bridge, so you would need to get off in Tywyn and walk to the bridge, which takes about 35 minutes (almost 2 miles). At that point, it may be more convenient to start from the cinema.
Starting from Tywyn Cinema
Tywyn has three pay-and-display car parks, with the Leisure Centre Car Park and Ffordd Eglwys Bach Car Park being the closest to the cinema.
See Leisure Centre Car Park on:
Google Maps – Apple Maps – what3words
See Ffordd Eglwys Bach Car Park on:
Google Maps – Apple Maps – what3words
If you need to charge your electric car, there are four AC 7 kW charging points behind the Leisure Centre. These can be tricky to find, as Google or Apple Maps may not guide you to the exact location, so I recommend using the what3words link provided below.
See EV Charging Points on:
what3words
By train, you’ll want to get off at Tywyn Train Station and walk up to the cinema via the High Street, which takes about 7 minutes.
The bus stops directly in front of the cinema.
Check train timetable and info on
Traveline Cymru
Check bus timetable and info on
Lloyd Coaches
The Walk From Bailey Bridge
After parking, walk towards the bridge, but don’t cross it. Instead, go through the small gate on the right and onto the field. There may be sheep nearby, but they won’t bother you.
In the first part of the walk, you’ll notice several trails leading back to the road or along small canals. The easiest option is to stick to the path running closest to Broad Water and the river – this is the route you want, offering the best views.
You may encounter a few muddy patches along the way, but wooden planks are in place to help you continue smoothly.
On a clear day, you should be able to see Bird Rock and Cadair Idris in the distance, with Bird Rock’s unique shape being especially hard to miss.
After about 1.3 miles, you’ll come to a gate. A few metres beyond it, there’s a fork: take the left path to continue along Broad Water. The trail on the right leads into Tywyn town centre.
Look out for swans and their cygnets in spring. You may also see other birds, such as ducks and oystercatchers. Canada geese populate the area in autumn and winter. In the past, I’ve heard of people spotting otters early in the morning, although I haven’t been that lucky myself.
Almost a mile further on, you’ll start walking alongside trees on your right, and soon after, you’ll reach a second gate. Right after the gate, you can turn right to enter Ynysmaengwyn Woodland and Caravan Park.
Ynysmaengwyn
- Ynysmaengwyn (“the white stone island” in Welsh) is well worth a detour. It’s a beautifully regenerated woodland that has become a favourite with both locals and tourists. The site once hosted a gentry house dating back to medieval times, which was demolished in the 1950s (you can still see some of the remaining walls). The area now features a brand-new playground for children, a fairy garden, and picnic tables. Wildlife is abundant, with bird feeding stations and the chance to spot rabbits as well.
Continue along the grass trail for a few minutes until you come to a third gate. Shortly after, you’ll reach another fork; stick to the left, as the path on the right leads through a private farm.
Walk for another 700 metres until the path takes a 90˚ turn to the right, leaving the River Dysynni and following the smaller Afon Fathew. Go through the gate and then a series of double gates. Be cautious here, as the fences can be unstable.
A few minutes later, you’ll enter a small woodland and pass through a series of smaller gates, eventually reaching the centre of Bryncrug and the main A493 road.
Public toilets are located about 200 feet across the road. If you turn left and follow the road, you can find food and refreshments at the excellent Peniarth Arms.
From here, you have two options: you can either retrace your steps and walk back the way you came, if you’d like to remain in nature, or continue along the A493 towards Tywyn. There is a footpath along this route, safely detached from the road.
Before reaching the town, you might want to stop for a honey ice cream at Holgates, a very popular spot.
Continue along the main street until you see the imposing red building of the Magic Lantern Cinema, opposite the White Hall pub. Take Gwalia Road on the right, between the cinema and St Cadfan’s Church. A few minutes later, the road leads into a field, leaving the last row of houses behind.
Note: If you decide to start the walk from Tywyn rather than Bailey Bridge, the Magic Lantern Cinema is your starting point.
Walk for about 1 km (0.67 mi), passing through two gates. These can get quite muddy after rain. Just before the second gate, you’ll notice a bridge to your left, which leads to a different trail towards Bailey Bridge, alongside a small canal. You can take this detour, which lasts about 14 minutes, crossing the canal and turning right to rejoin the main trail along the river.
Alternatively, you can go through the second gate and rejoin the original trail. Turn left, go through a third gate, and make your way back to Bailey Bridge.
The walk is enjoyable at any time of day, but it goes without saying that you’ll experience the most inspiring and dramatic light at sunrise or sunset.
Additional Information
If you’re in the Tywyn area, be sure to check out our guide to the 10 things to do in and around Tywyn.
Another walk you might enjoy is the one that takes you up to Bird Rock.
