The town of Dolgelley lies slightly outside the main tract of gold-bearing country of Merionethshire, but it forms a convenient headquarters from which to visit the various gold-mines and auriferous lodes. The Dolgelley Gold-belt lies within the area covered by the quarter-sheets 27 N.E., 27 S.E., 32 S.E., 33 N.W., 33 N.E., 33 S.W., 36 N.W., 36 N.E. of the 6 inch Ordnance Survey maps of Merionethshire. It is on the north side of the estuary of the Mawddach, extending from the sea at Barmouth to the locality of Gwynfynydd on the north-east. The belt forms the south-eastern flank of a range of high ground sloping down to the south and south-east from the mountains of Rhinog, Diphwys, and Garn. It is drained by several tributaries of the Mawddach, of which the principal are the Afons Hirgwm, Cwm-llechen, Cwm-mynach, Wnion, Las, Gamlan, Eden, and Gain.