Cymer Abbey — Attraction in Wales

Peaceful and quiet location. The approach road adjacent to the small car park serves as access to a private dwelling, Cymer Abbey and a Caravan Park. The main road on approach to the car park does have a couple of lay-by's with space for campervans and longer vehicles. The small carpark has a height restriction of 6'6". There is a small amount of parking at the Abbey also without a height restriction. Roads are dead ends so campervans are best parked facing the way you came to make egressing easier, just in case, as the parking is limited for larger vehicles. Parking is free. As you enter the Abbey grounds, the steel pedestrian gate is held upright by the hedge. The gate opens outwards only because it can no longer open inwards. Cadw maintained. Free entry. No toilet. Nearest toilets Dolgellau or Penmaenpool adjacent Toll Bridge. Try not to use the ruins as a toilet as it damages the stonework. The nearby 'old llanelltyd bridge' once had parking adjacent the small car park large enough for a camper to fit but sadly this area has now been closed off by new bollards. This was organised by Delyth Lloyd Griffiths - Plaid Cymru to deter overnight parking and camping. So sadly our car parking spot has been lost directly at the bridge. Perhaps Plaid Cymru should have done something about the burnt public information notice at the bridge that was set on fire several years ago. Instead a no overnight camping sign has been stuck on the height barrier but people still stay overnight still in smaller vans that fit under the barrier; so that has been highly successful then. Magnet fishing is not allowed either. There is also a no camping sign in the field near the bridge. Cymer is pronounced Kumer. The council car park itself has picnic tables and does allow access down to the river. People do swim here. In theory you could park here and walk all the way up to New Precipice Walk should you fancy the extra hike. There is a public refuse bin adjacent the bridge near...

Who doesn't love to visit a good ruin? This bit of history is nearly a THOUSAND years old. Let that sink in a moment... a THOUSAND years old.

The great majority of the abbey is gone, lost to history, but there is a handy sign that shows how it would have looked in its glory years.

Nestled near the beautiful little town of Dolgellau, the abbey is well signposted and easy to find just off the dual carriageway. Located immediately across from some old-school holiday cottages on one side and a holiday caravan park on the other, I imagine this place gets its fair amount of visitors.

Me and my family had the abbey to ourselves. I went a separate time with my Dad too in which we also had the place to ourselves. Absolutely superb for photo taking. Now, we did visit in mid-March, out of season - so that helped keep it quiet! No guests at any of the holiday houses or caravans until a few weeks later.

So if you're looking to go and have a real quiet time, I imagine out of season is the way to go, but don't let that discourage you from going any other time. Entry is free and dogs are welcome on the grounds. Just be respectful and don't climb on the ruins.

Stand back and bask in a...

A rather small ruin located just before the last roundabout on your right as you come towards Barmouth from the Midlands. We initially parked at the bottom by the old bridge but soon realised that there is a track leading up to the unpaved carpark a small iron gate is but metres away. Once through the gate the Abbey looms in all its glory. It does have open and closing times but is free. An information board gives a bit of information plus an artists impression of how it may have looked. There is a single bench and plenty of photo opportunities albeit they may be all quite similar depending on the weather and season. Luckily we had a sunny October weekday and it was perfect to perch on the bench with no-one else around barring a single motorcyclist who literally...