Porthmadog

Porthmadog, known locally as "Port", and since 1974, rendered into Welsh from its former Anglicised form, Portmadoc, is a small coastal town and community in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd, in Wales. Prior to the Local Government Act 1972 it was in the administrative county of Caernarfonshire. The town lies 5mi east of Criccieth, 11mi south west of Blaenau Ffestiniog, 25mi north of Dolgellau and 20mi south of Caernarfon. The community had a population of 4,185 (2011 census).The town developed in the 19th century as a port exporting slate to England and around the world. Since the decline of the slate industry it has become an important shopping centre for the surrounding area and a popular tourist destination. It has easy access to the Snowdonia National Park and is the terminus of the Ffestiniog Railway. In 1987 the National Eisteddfod was held in Porthmadog.The community includes the nearby villages of Borth-y-Gest, Morfa Bychan and Tremadog.