This beautiful linear walk highlights a veritable chocolate box of iconic Welsh scenery. With views of Cadair Idris, the Rhinogydd, Barmouth Bridge, the Mawddach Estuary and Cardigan Bay – it’s a real feast for the senses. The route meanders through Fairbourne, then alongside the Fairbourne Steam Railway and old Great Western Railway's Ruabon-to-Barmouth branch line (now part of the Mawddach Trail). It continues around Fegla Fach and Fegla Fawr, before crossing the Barmouth Bridge, following the Cambrian Coast line. On a fine day the panoramic views are superb, so don’t forget your camera!
[1] Alight the train at Fairbourne station (SH612135), cross the road and turn right. After passing Fairbourne miniature railway, take the path to your left to reach the sea wall. Turn right and continue walking alongside the wall, past the golf club on the other side of the road, and over the miniature railway line. Cross the road and take a right turn at the footpath sign across the embankment.
[2] Go through the kissing gate, with the golf club on your right, and follow the path in a zig-zag pattern, over a ladder stile and then another. Continue a short distance then go through a kissing gate close to Morfa Mawddach station (SH628143).
[3] Turn right onto the path alongside the railway, through a gate, then carefully cross the railway line (beware of trains!). Go through a gate and turn right along the road. Walk for 5 minutes to a picnic area with toilets. Take the left-hand fork past picnic benches, then through wooden bollards. Continue past a Mawddach Trail sign, over the road, then through a metal gate onto a stone path following the Mawddach Trail. Follow the straight path, go through a gate, then turn left along a lane.
[4] Pass through Fegla Fach Farm gate and turn left by footpath sign off the road onto a grassy path. Follow the path through the gorse and a small gate. Keeping to the path over marshy ground, do not go through the second gate but continue past following waymarked path up a short incline. Keep following the track past a footpath signpost and join a lane, proceeding towards a gate.
[5] Turn left before a gate and along a grassy path. Pass through a gate and turn immediately right through a second gate. Walk along the tarmac road and turn left at footpath sign before a row of houses. Take the right-hand turn onto a lane behind the houses (Mawddach Crescent) and continue around the houses past a red gypsy caravan in the last garden. Turn left along grassy path, taking a right turn onto a stony embankment.
Alternatively, if the tide is very high, keep on the footpath along the hillside and follow on to the embankment, turning right onto the path alongside the railway.
Cross the large wet stones, go up the embankment and over a stile. Continue along the path to Barmouth Bridge (SH625148).
[6] Once over the bridge, pay the toll at the gatehouse and follow the footpath up the hill and across the main road. Turn immediately left and follow the road into Barmouth, past the garage and then cross the road opposite the gardens. Turn left to the Promenade under the railway bridge and follow the pavement around the corner to the right, past the yacht club and Cardigan Bay dolphin fountain, to the sandy beach. Pass by the car park and leisure centre on your right, then turn right by Las Vegas Amusements. Continue along the road to the railway station (cross over the level-crossing for trains towards Shrewsbury).