Dolgellau - It's hard to imagine that this bucolic town with charming gray stone shops and houses was gripped in a gold frenzy in the 19th century. The Welsh Gold Visitor Centre is a good place to start, or visit the Gwynfynydd Gold Mine, once one of the richest gold mines in Britain, and today is still a working gold mine where you can see how a gold mine works and pan for gold yourself.

Walks - Get out and take a walk through some of the gorgeous natural scenery in this area, Coed-y-Brenin Forest Park, the Torrent Walk along Clywedog River to the Clywedog Tea Garden, or around the Creggennan Lakes. Alternatively, there is pony trekking on the foothills of Cader Idris available from Abergwynant Farm outside Dolgellau.

Castell y Bere (Abergynolwyn) - At the base of Cader Idris stands a Welsh (not English) castle, Castell y Bere, a 13th century castle built by the Great Llewelyn. This one is very very crumbly and there's not a whole lot to it, but the setting and views of the mountains are impressive.

Beaches - The "sublime" Mawddach Estuary affords miles of beaches, including the famous golden sands (there really are flecks of gold in the sands). Between Arthog and Penmaenpool there is a four mile nature walk along the estuary.