FOLLOW THE STORY: Discover other sites of interest in this area by visiting the wonderful ruins of Castell y Bere near Abergynolwyn or take a ride on the Talyllyn Railway. Bibles and Monasteries A 40 mile circular drive from the Quaker Town of Dolgellau past churches ancient and modern Duration: 1 day This itinerary circles the wonderful tells the story of Mary Jones, a girl mountain of Cader Idris. If you who was born in a neighbouring spend a night on this mountain it is cottage in 1784. She saved for six said that you will wake up either a years to buy a Bible and walked 25 poet or mad! We start in Dolgellau miles barefoot to purchase it from (1) where a thriving community of Thomas Charles of Bala - a journey Quakers was established following that inspired the formation of the a visit by George Fox in 1657. Many British and Foreign Bible Society. former Quaker homes survive in the area. A valuable woollen industry, Return to the main road and back to specialising in flannel, flourished Dolgellau via the A493. here in the 18th and 19th centuries. Cymer Abbey © Kiran Ridley, Princes of Gwynedd Project Partnership Next visit Cymer Abbey (2), the Cistercian abbey founded in 1198- Betws y Coed A494 9 under the patronage of Maredudd Harlech A470 Cymer Abbey 2 Brithdir ap Cynan, a grandson of Owain St Mark’s 3 Bontddu Gwynedd. Leave Dolgellau by the Church A470 eastwards taking the turning Llanaber 1 A470 to Brithdir where, on the right hand h Dolgellau A496 ac side, you’ll find the hidden gem of dd A493 Cross Foxes aw St Mark’s Church (3), one of the M Barmouth s Arthog r i finest, and most complete, ‘Arts I d r and Crafts’ churches in Wales. Built e A487 d a 893m in the 1890s, the church is now Fairbourne C redundant and in the care of the Snowdonia Friends of Friendless Churches. Friog National Park Returning to the main road follow Llwyngwril Llanfihangel signs for Machynlleth and go past y Pennant 4 B4405 Talyllyn to Abergynolwyn. From Castell y Bere Talyllyn D Corris here it’s only a short drive past y sy Castell y Bere to the lovely church nni Rhoslefain Abergynolwyn at Llanfihangel y Pennant (4). A493 Here there is an exhibition that Llanegryn Dolgoch A487 Talyllyn Bryncrug Railway Church of NORTH St Cadfan A489 A493 Tywyn 0 miles 3 Machynlleth A487 Aberystwyth Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright yand database right 2014 ve River Do “Our Heritage” is part of Cadw’s Heritage Tourism Project, part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government including further support through Gwynedd Council, Conwy County Borough Council, Snowdonia National Park Authority and Partners..