Borth-Y-Gest

Latitude: 52° 54'N
Longitude: 04° 09'W
Country: Wales

Type: Unknown
Usage: Leisure, Fishing

About Borth-Y-Gest

Borth-y-Gest lies a mile west of Porthmadog on the estuary of the River Glaslyn. In the small harbour, around which the village is built in a semi-circle, a number of boats are moored in the summer, and a former slate storage shed now houses the Maritime Museum.

Borth-y-Gest was, by the latter 19th century, already a minor centre for shipbuilding. A small number of sailing vessels, mostly schooners, were built there for the local slate trade.

Ships were built in Borth-Y-Gest before Porthmadog was established and there were four busy yards here. Houses were built in the mouth of the harbour for the 'pilots' so that they could keep a lookout for ships that needed their attention. The houses are still known as "pilot houses".

The small harbour only fills with water at high tide.

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