Getting There and Away

Written by Hannah McKinsey, Jake Evans, Sarah kelly
26/08/2025
Historic stone houses line a quaint alley in Dolgellau, capturing the essence of Welsh architecture.
Simon Gough, Pexels

Dolgellau does not have its own active train station; however, it is a hub for several local and regional bus services. The nearest major transport hubs are airports in Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham, and train stations in Barmouth and Machynlleth.

By Car:

Driving is often the most direct way to reach Dolgellau. The town is situated on the A470, connecting North and South Wales. The A494 also leads to Dolgellau from the north-east. Car rental services are available locally in Dolgellau through companies like Wales Rentals and SC Vehicle Hire, or from major cities. A drive from London to Dolgellau typically takes around 3 hours 57 minutes and costs approximately £50-£80. From Manchester, the drive is about 2 hours and costs £23-£35. Traveling from Cardiff by car takes approximately 2 hours 50 minutes, with an estimated cost of £28-£45.

By Bus:

Dolgellau is well-served by the TrawsCymru bus network, including routes T2 (Bangor - Aberystwyth), T3 (Barmouth - Wrexham), and local services like FF1, G21, and G24 operated by Lloyds Coaches. Bus tickets for adult singles start from £1.50, and 1bws tickets, valid on these services, can be purchased for £7.00 for adults. Routes T2 and T3 provide connections for onward journeys towards major towns and cities across Wales.

By Train:

There is no operational train station in Dolgellau itself, as the station closed to passengers in 1965. The closest active train stations are Barmouth and Machynlleth, both on the Cambrian Coast line. From these stations, onward travel to Dolgellau is typically by bus. For example, a train journey from Birmingham to a station connecting to Dolgellau can take approximately 2 hours 10 minutes and cost around £21. Travel from London by train and bus can take about 5 hours 42 minutes. From Manchester, a combination of train and bus can take around 4 hours 49 minutes. From Cardiff, the journey by train and bus takes approximately 6 hours 40 minutes.

By Air:

Dolgellau does not have its own airport. The nearest airports are Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL), approximately 59 miles away, Manchester Airport (MAN), about 79.9 miles away, and Birmingham Airport (BHX), around 93.1 miles away. Cardiff Airport (CWL) is further, at about 135 miles. Public transport connections from these airports to Dolgellau are lengthy, often involving multiple bus and train transfers. A taxi or hire car from the airport is generally recommended to significantly reduce travel time.

Check out our other pages on Dolgellau

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