Aberdyfi (Welsh pronunciation: [abɛrˈdəvi]), also known as Aberdovey (/æbərˈdʌviː/[citation needed] a-bər-DUH-vee), is a village and community in Gwynedd, Wales, located on the northern side of the estuary of the River Dyfi.

[7] Some entities continue to use the anglicisation[8][9][10][11] e.g. some local businesses in their name and/or address[12][13][14] and some use the two spellings interchangeably e.g. the BBC[15][16] or under different circumstances e.g. the Aberdyfi Community Council.

[17][18][19][20][21][22] Local tradition suggests that the Romans established a track into the area as part of the military occupation of Wales around AD78.

[23] The strategic location in mid-Wales was the site of several conferences between north and south Wales princes in 540, 1140, and for the Council of Aberdyfi in 1216.

[23] The site of Aberdyfi Castle however is usually said to be at the motte earthworks further up the opposite side of the river near Glandyfi.

[23] An attempt to burn her was frustrated by winds and when she did leave she ended up being captured by a waiting English fleet off the Cornish coast.

[25] In the 1700s, the village grew with the appearance of several of the inns still in current use (The Dovey Hotel, Britannia and Penhelig Arms).

The SS Dora was one of the last ships trading between Aberdyfi and Liverpool and was scuttled, with no loss of life, by a German submarine in 1917.

After prolonged negotiations, redevelopments from 1968 to 1971, including rebuilding the jetty, led to their present use mainly for recreational purposes.

[29] Popular recreational activities focus on the beach and watersports, such as windsurfing, kitesurfing, fishing, crabbing, sailing, and canoeing on the estuary.

The Aberdovey Golf Club, founded in 1892, is a famous 18 hole links course located near the railway station.

It is world-renowned, having been described frequently and lyrically in the press by Bernard Darwin, the famed golf writer, who was a notable member of the club.

A new chime of bells was installed in September 1936 in the tower of St Peter's Church, which overlooks the harbour.

In reality, the path is known to have existed as early as the 19th century and the nearest known Roman structure on this side of the estuary was the fort Cefn Caer at Pennal.

[citation needed] Bugail Aberdyfi (the Shepherd of Aberdovey) is a poem written by John Ceiriog Hughes[38] which has been set to music and recorded by several singers including Bryn Terfel.

The children's novel, Silver on the Tree, by Susan Cooper, the final book of The Dark is Rising, is largely set around Aberdyfi, with many references to local landmarks.

The novel, Megan's Game by Tony Drury, published in 2012, contains many references to Aberdyfi, surrounding areas and the legend of The Bells of Aberdovey.