Plan your visit to events around Dolgellau and Barmouth for 2026
When is the best time to visit Wales? What’s going on near Barmouth and Dolgellau in North Wales?
If you’re planning a North Wales trip you might be wondering when is a good time to visit our holiday accommodation near Dolgellau and Barmouth.
The scenery is spectacular year round and there’s always attractions open and activities to do. But how about tying in your trip with a food or music festival, guided walk or bluebell season?
As well as a calendar of planned events, the natural world puts on a different spectacle throughout the seasons, whether it’s the dawn chorus, dolphin spotting or Autumn colours.
And mad little events happen last minute – like the local musicians who launched their album on a hillside, or the artist’s installation at Castell y Bere – come and chat to us in reception during your stay and we’ll let you know if we’ve heard about something!
We’ve rounded up some highlights of 2026 events near Dolgellau and Barmouth for you including nature’s calendar.
First a couple of weekly events:
Every Saturday – Dolgellau Park Run and Barmouth Promenade Park Run
Every Wednesday – Machynlleth street Market – one of Wales oldest street markets with stalls lining the streets (depending on weather!) selling everything from artisan bread to local crafts, fruit and veg, cheap clothing, DIY goods etc. A great day to visit Machynlleth’s quirky cafes and second hand stores.
January 2026
Sunsets – in winter the sun shines directly down the Mawddach Estuary when it sets – golden hour with a soundtrack of oystercatchers and curlews is magical.
25 January – St. Dywnwen’s Day All over Wales we celebrate love with a special day dedicated to St Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers. Look out for special menus in restaurants.
30 January – Watch Under Saltmarsh – new crime drama filmed in Fairbourne and surrounding area. Available to view on Sky and NOW.
Our Snowdonia holiday cottages are available for short breaks.
February 2026
Starling Murmuration – See this mesmerising spectacle as thousands of starlings spiral through the sky at dusk. Aberystwyth Pier is a perfect place to watch this (an hour’s drive from our holiday cottages at Graig Wen and in Dolgellau). Make a day of it and take the Funicular railway up to the Consti Cafe for one of the best views in mid Wales.
14 February – Valentine’s Day and Half Term starts. Whether you’re looking for a romantic weekend away or February family activities in North Wales, there’s plenty to see and do and our cosy cottages are open.
28 February – Star-gazing – six planets will be in alignment and visible in the night sky on this date. Four can be seen by the naked eye: Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mercury. To see Uranus and Neptune you’ll need a pair of binoculars or a small telescope. The Moon which will be almost at peak brightness, will also be in the sky, appearing very close to Jupiter making for striking viewing.
March 2026
Lambs! Is there anything more joyful than watching lambs chase each other around the fields? Look out for frogspawn – Take a walk at Coed y Brenin forest and you’re sure to spot frogspawn in ditches with tadpoles emerging
1 March – St David’s Day. – Entry is free to many castles and there are special celebrations and parades. Daffodils everywhere!
Touring van pitches and wagons open for camping and glamping at Graig Wen
Will we see the Northern Lights this year? The signs are good…
20 – 22 March – Peak spring tides – seeing the Mawddach Estuary fill with some of the most significant high tides of the year is an epic spectacle. Check Tide Times for details.
April 2026
The dawn chorus builds as we look and listen out for the return of the cuckoos, swallows and house-martins. Wildflowers and blossom! Primroses and wild violets fringe the banks of streams, our cherry and apple trees blossom, lilac and wild garlic scent the air.
3 – 6 April 2026 – Easter weekend activities including egg hunts at castles
Yurts open for glamping at Graig Wen
May 2026
Bluebell season – walk from the door of our Dolgellau cottage into stunning bluebell woods. Bluebells, cuckoo flowers and wood anemones surround Idris yurt and decorate the tent camping fields at Graig Wen. Pink sea thrift springs up one the shores of the Mawddach Estuary. House-martins nest in the eaves of our holiday cottages at Graig Wen – fingers crossed!
1 May – Tent camping fields and Idris super secluded yurt open at Graig Wen
1 May – Snowdon Mountain Railway starts service to to the summit of Yr Wyddfa. Summit cafe re-opens.
3 May – International Dawn Chorus Day – what better place to come and listen to this amazing sound than Griag Wen?
1 – 3 May Machynlleth Comedy Festival – Hipsters and locals converge on the small market town for big laughs in locations from the bowling club to the billiard club. Tickets for big names sell out fast but there’s so many acts, free live music and street food its worth going along just to hang out and see what’s happening.
16 May – Ras y Gader – Cader Idris mountain Race. Hundreds of runners start and finishes in our local market town of Dolgellau, at sea level, and climb almost 3000ft to the summit of Pen y Gader itself. The atmosphere both on the mountain and at the finish line, with cheering crowds means it is a special day in our community’s calendar.
22 – 25 May – Lots of Bank Holiday events include Barmouth Rock free music at RNLI, Barmouth
June 2026
Purple spikes of foxgloves paint our tent camping fields. Forage for wild strawberries along the Mawddach Trail among the wildflowers.
Dolphin spotting – the summer months are best for spotting Cardigan Bay’s resident Bottlenose Dolphin residents. Look out for them at Fairbourne Beach or from the coast road. They have popped up near to some of our lucky guests swimming at Fairbourne.
See the Ospreys hopefully raising their chicks at Dyfi Wildlife Centre or Glasyln Osprey Project.
11 – 14 June – Peregrine Circus returns to Dolgellau. Their first visit last year was a huge hit by this traveling troupe of acrobats, artists, and musicians, united by a love of live performance and a deep connection to the landscapes and legends of North Wales.
Mid June – Barmouth Fest Carnival – 3 days of music and events on the beach and on the water. A fun weekend to visit Barmouth!
20 June – Ultra Wales 50 Mountain race featuring the magnificent Cadair Idris Penygader (893m), Rhinog Fach (712m), Dolgellau, the world renowned Barmouth estuary and the majesty of Wales’ greatest forest, Coed-y-Brenin
July 2026
Butterflies fill our tent camping meadows. It’s the best time to hear Nightjar churr on warm nights in the woodland near the camper van area.
Wednesdays in School Holidays – Pizza Night at Graig Wen
5 July – Barmouth Food Festival
16 – 19 July Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau – The big weekend in Dolgellau’s music calendar! Streets and pub courtyards are filled with musicians playing a variety of music with the emphasis on Welsh musicians. You can buy tickets for the bigger events (weekend tickets sell out in advance) but you can also just go along and enjoy lots of free live music and family friendly activities. It’s fun going along to support young local musicians, enjoy the very convivial community atmosphere and have a dance in the streets!
Yarn bombing Trail – the village streets of Llwyngwril are decorated throughout the summer with wonderful crocheted creations from dragons to giants. Pick up a trail guide from Hendre hall and walk around to see what you can find. Great fun for all ages.
August 2026
Nightlife – Sit round the camp fire and watch tawny owls and bats at dusk. Purple heather covers the hills in August.
Wednesdays – Pizza Night at Graig Wen
Mid August – Race the Train – Hundreds of trail runners race the Talyllyn steam train from Tywyn along a beautiful valley. A big day in Tywyn’s calendar.
Mid August – Aberdyfi Food Festival – get there early for this super popular food festival featuring wonderful local produce and demos
12 – 13 August – The Perseids meter shower
Lots of community events like Llwyngwril village show
28 – 31 August – Bank Holiday events include Fairbourne festival and the Fairbourne steam railway gala
September 2026
10 September – Hurly Burly Swim – Hundreds of registered swimmers leave Barmouth on a strong incoming tide and head up to the George III at Penamenpool for charity.
12 – 21 September – Barmouth Walking Festival – A varied programme of walks exploring the beauty of South Eryri guided by experienced and knowledgeable leaders. Ranging from challenging all day hikes, to walking for wellness and mindfulness, as well as foraging.
October 2026
Autumn colours paint the wooded hillsides around the Mawddach Estuary. Forage for sweet chestnuts as you hike up Arthog waterfalls. If you’re lucky you might catch a Brocken spectre in the mountains.
From Zipworld’s Fear Forest to pumpkin picking there’s unique Halloween thrills to be found.
November 2026
As the trees shed their bronze leaves the woodland waterfalls are often at their most epic. Visit the Torrent Walk or the many falls at Coed y Brenin.
Saturday 7 November – Barmouth Bonfire & Fireworks on the Beach.
Snow on the mountains – we usually see snowfall on the hills from November. If you’re looking for winter moutaineering skills follow Snowdonia Walking and Climbing socials for guided days out
Our camper van pitches and wagons remain open until early January.
December 2026
Dolgellau and Barmouth sparkle with festive lights against a background of snowy mountain tops.
4 – 6 December – Portmeirion Craft Fair
Festive events include illuminated tractor runs and Santa Specials on Fairbourne Steam Railway, Festiniog Railway and Talyllyn Steam Railway
Useful events pages
Eryri National Park Authority stages interesting events ranging from mindfulness walks to star-gazing – keep an eye on their events page here.
Mountain Craft – Highly recommended guided mountain adventures. For expert support whether its climbing Crib Goch or exploring lesser know peaks, check out their guided events.
The Magic Lantern, our local cinema, recently won the the UK’s Best Independent Cinema Award – pretty good going for a tiny place on the Welsh coast! Go for very reasonably priced interesting films, live music and drinks and snacks served at your seat with a warm welcome.
North Wales Wildlife Trust – wide range of events from guided walks and beach cleans to conservation talks.
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