Arthog

Arthog (Welsh pronunciation^ⓘ) is a village, post town and community in the Meirionnydd area in Gwynedd, north Wales including the villages of Fairbourne and Friog. It is located on the A493, approximately 8 miles (13 km) west of Dolgellau, and had a population of 1,010 in 2001,^[1] increasing slightly to 1,031 at the 2011 census.^[2]

Arthog
Mawddach Crescent was the first and only phase of an Edwardian holiday resort built by Cardiff entrepreneur, Solomon Andrews, in the early 20th century.
Arthog Location within Gwynedd
Population	1,031 (2011)
OS grid reference	SH642145
Community	Arthog
Principal area	Gwynedd
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	FAIRBOURNE
Postcode district	LL38
Post town	ARTHOG
Postcode district	LL39
Post town	DOLGELLAU
Postcode district	LL40
Dialling code	01341
Police	North Wales
Fire	North Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
UK Parliament	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
List of places UK Wales Gwynedd 52.711°N 4.009°W / 52.711; -4.009 Map of the community

Etymology

The village was named after the Welsh ruler Arthog ap Ceredig ^[3]

History

In 1894, Solomon Andrews, a Cardiff entrepreneur, bought land overlooking the Mawddach estuary. On the site he completed Mawddach Crescent in 1902. The row of terraced properties was the start of a purpose-built holiday resort he intended for the area. However the planned development went no further because the surrounding land proved unsuitable for urban planning. During the Second World War, the Royal Marines commandeered Mawddach Crescent. It became known as Iceland Camp. The marines also built huts on nearby Fegla Fawr; the foundation bases can still be seen between the trees above the estuary.

It is well known for its outdoor activity centres and the nearby Llynnau Cregennen. The Arthog Outdoor Education Centre is owned by Telford and Wrekin Council and is primarily used in term-time by schools from the Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Local Education Authorities.

Population

According to the 2011 census, 28.3% of the community's residents were able to speak Welsh. Consequently, Arthog had the lowest percentage of Welsh speakers of any community in Gwynedd.^[4] 70.6% of the community's residents were born outside Wales.^[5]

Transport

The village was served by Arthog railway station (on the Barmouth - Ruabon line) until the complete closure of the line in 1964. The line is now a footpath known as the Mawddach Trail (Welsh: Llwybr Mawddach), and is popular with both walkers and cyclists. Morfa Mawddach railway station is on the western outskirts of the village. The station is situated on the Cambrian Line with direct trains northbound to Pwllheli via Barmouth and Porthmadog and southbound to Birmingham International via Machynlleth and Shrewsbury.^[6]