Morfa Bychan is a coastal village located in Gwynedd, North Wales, United Kingdom. It is situated on the Llŷn Peninsula, just west of Borth-y-Gest and Porthmadog, and can be reached from Porthmadog via the Borth-y-Gest/Morfa Bychan road or a country lane off the A497. The village has a population of approximately 524, with an almost equal number of residents born in England or Wales.
Administrative context
Morfa Bychan falls within the community of Porthmadog, in the principal area of Gwynedd. Its post town is Porthmadog, with the postcode district LL49. The village is represented in the UK Parliament and the Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament) by the Dwyfor Meirionnydd constituency.
Local amenities and facilities
The village contains a small supermarket, a fish-and-chips shop, a gift shop, and a children's playground. It is also home to Porthmadog Golf Club and is located near the Glan Morfa trout fishery.
Traeth Morfa Bychan (beach)
Morfa Bychan is known for its beach, Traeth Morfa Bychan, which stretches for approximately two miles from the eastern end of the National Trust's Ynys Cyngar on the Afon Glaslyn (River Glaslyn) estuary along Tremadog Bay to Criccieth beach, which is accessible at low tide. The beach is notable for permitting vehicles to drive onto the sand, although this has been associated with issues involving irresponsible drivers. The sea along the beach is shallow with a gentle gradient, making it suitable for swimming and paddling. Dogs are permitted on the eastern and western sections of the beach but are banned from the central section. The beach also has designated bathing and boat-launching areas.
The sand dunes of Traeth Morfa Bychan are designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Cultural references
Part of the 1971 film Macbeth was filmed at Traeth Morfa Bychan. The cover photograph for the Manic Street Preachers album This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours was also taken at the beach.
Ynys Cyngar
There is a small beach below the National Trust's Ynys Cyngar, which was the original point where Madocks intended to site a port before relocating it to Porthmadog.
Caravan parks
Several caravan parks are located at Morfa Bychan, including Greenacres, Garreg Goch, Cardigan View, and Glan Morfa Mawr, with Greenacres being the largest. There is also a touring and camping site just outside the village by Black Rock Sands.
Notable people
Notable individuals associated with Morfa Bychan include Barri Griffiths, a professional wrestler who performed in World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Mason Ryan, and David Owen, a harpist and composer known for the piece "Dafydd y Garreg Wen."
