Merionethshire is located in northwest Wales, bounded on the north by
Carnavonshire, on the northeast and east by
Denbighshire, on the southeast by
Montgomeryshire, on the south by
Cardiganshire, and on the west by Cardigan Bay. Its area is 660 square miles.
It is a triangular-shaped county, with a 40-mile coastline on the west and extending only 29 miles across its widest inland point. The surface of the county is entirely mountainous. The Cambrian Range extends from the south all the way up through the center. The Berwyn Range in the northeast separates the county from Denbighshire. The highest peaks in the county are Aran Fawddwy (2972 feet) and Cader Idris (2292 feet).
The chief rivers are the Dee, which rises near Bala Lake; the Mawddwy, which flows into Cardigan Bay near Barmouth, and the Dovey, which forms part of the southern boundary, flowing into the Bay at Aberdovey.
Dolgelly on the Dovey River is the county seat. Aberdovey, Barmouth, Towyn and Harlech are seaside resorts.
