Former winter 'ghost town' that's reinvented itself as a must-visit spot

IN summer, Barmouth positively brims with visitors attracted by its beautiful sandy beach and blend of traditional seaside town activities.

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE

But even the biggest resort in south Gwynedd wasn’t immune to winter downturns: as the nights drew in, the shutters came down and the lights went off.

"It was like a ghost town in winter," sighed accommodation provider Liz Davies. “The school holidays were always a mad rush but come the end of October, everything began shutting down. For decades, it was eight weeks of chaos and 44 weeks of quiet.”

In recent years, things have begun to change. Astute marketing allied to collective will has begun to push Barmouth towards a goal craved by all the world’s holiday destinations. It hasn't quite reached full year-round tourism, but there’s growing optimism it will.

Known for its picturesque location where Cardigan Bay is framed by Eryri's mountains, Barmouth's stunning surroundings have drawn holidaymakers since the railway arrived in 1867. In summer, the town’s 2,500 residents are joined by up to 10,000 visitors keen to taste the area's natural beauty for themselves.

When they disappeared over winter, an eerie stillness used to settle over the town. The quieter months were usually survivable for local businesses if they'd banked enough during the summer - but after a bad season it was a close call.

Walkers have long checked into Barmouth hotels in late autumn as the mountains brown and woodlands ignite nature’s fireworks. For the resort's getup-and-go business community, the trick was to offer other reasons to visit beyond the shoulder seasons.

"We're now seeing lots of different types of visitors coming later in the year, like food lovers attracted to Barmouth’s restaurants and golfers lured by the area’s wonderful courses," said Liz. “Another big trend is the occasion holiday, where families and large groups get together to celebrate birthdays and other life landmarks.”