Porthmadog is the only town on Llŷn to rival the size of Pwllheli. Porthmadog is very much the "gateway to Llŷn" with the A487 bringing traffic in from the Midlands and South Wales.

Situated on the north side of the Glaslyn Estuary, the town grew as an important port for shipping slate quarried high in the mountains of Snowdonia all over the world. The Ffestiniog Railway would have brought down the coal from Blaenau Ffestiniog and it's surrounding quarries.

The town's long high street is ideal for a wander and there are plenty of different and interesting shops to browse as well as small cafes and restaurants for when you need to recharge! The quayside is very picturesque and has joined in with Pwllheli and Abersoch with a number of boat yards and chandlery shops located along the side of the channel out towards Borth-y-Gest.

Moel-y-Gest, the hill which rises sharply behind the town is well worth a climb, offering fantastic views over the reclaimed land around Porthmadog and Tremadog - reclaimed from the sea by the Cob, built by William Madocks mainly to improve transport links.