Located in the Dyfi Valley, Machynlleth is an atmospheric market town that claims to be the “ancient capital of Wales”. In 1404, it was selected as the seat of Owain ap Gruffydd’s Welsh Parliament, with several beautifully preserved medieval buildings remaining today. Machynlleth’s market has been taking place each week for the last 700 years.
Things to do in Machynlleth
Dominating the skyline of Machynlleth is the town’s 23-metre-high clock tower, which was built in 1873 to commemorate the 21st birthday of Viscount Castlereagh. Designed in a Victorian Gothic style by Henry Kennedy of London, it’s topped by an octagonal spire and features griffins seated on marble colonnettes in each of its corners.
For a cultural fix, head to the Museum of Modern Art, which was established in 1986 as a centre of performing arts. It has since expanded to include light-filled art galleries and a recording studio, as well as an auditorium where the annual Machynlleth Festival takes place. Artists living and working in the region are showcased in the Tabernacle Collection, including Augustus John, Stanley Spencer and Wyndham Lewis.
A short drive north of Machynlleth is the Centre for Alternative Technology, an eco-village that explores sustainable development and living. It was established in 1973 in the disused Llwyngweern slate quarry and encompasses 28,000 square metres of interactive displays. In addition to a low-energy house and an organic garden, the site features a vegetarian restaurant and the United Kingdom’s largest green bookshop.
Getting around Machynlleth
Machynlleth is around 2.5 hours’ drive from Birmingham and Birmingham Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular buses connect to Machynlleth and the town is compact enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the region.