Machynlleth Walks
This market town in Powys has some lovely trails to try through the Dovey and Lllyfnant Valleys. This walk takes you through the latter valley with riverside paths, woodland trails and a visit to the Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve near Derwenlas. Machynlleth is significant as the ancient capital and parliamentary seat of wales, home to Laura Ashley and lying within the UNESCO Dyfi Biosphere reserve.
The walk starts just to the west of the town at the visitor centre. From here you can pick up country lanes heading south to Wylfa. Woodland trails then continue south taking you into the Lllyfnant Valley where you can enjoy riverside footpaths. The trails then bend round to the Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve in Derwenlas. The site includes habitats such as open water, swamp, bog, wet woodland, scrub and gorse. Boardwalks will take you to viewing platforms where you can look out for wildlife including Ospreys, otters, red kites, peregrines and hen harriers.
Part of this route makes use of the Dyfi Valley Way. This waymarked, long distance trail is a great way of further exploring the area around the town. You could continue south west along it to Furnace and visit the Ynys Hir Nature Reserve where there are more good wildlife spotting opportunites.
The epic Glyndwr's Way also passes through the town. You could follow the trail east to Abercegir.
Machynlleth is located on the southern edge of the Snowdonia National Park where there's hundreds of great walks to try. Head north from the train station and you can cross the River Dovey and explore the forest around Foel Goch in the park. The wonderful Cambrian Mountains spread out to the south as well.
Machynlleth Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Machynlleth Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Machynlleth OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Machynlleth Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Walks near Machynlleth
- Dyfi Valley Way - A walk through the beautiful Dyfi Valley taking you from Aberdovey (Aberdyfi) on the coast to Llanuwchllyn before returning along the river to Borth
- Glyndwr's Way - Starting at Knighton on the English/Welsh border follow this wonderful 135 mile long trail through some of the most stunning landscape in Wales
- Dinas Mawddwy - This attractive town in Snowdonia sits at the confluence of three rivers in the lovely Dyfi Valley
- Corris - This pretty riverside village is located near Machynlleth in the county of Gwynedd.
- Cadair Idris - The epic circular walk to the 893 m (2,930 ft) summit of Cadair Idris is one of the most popular climbs in the Snowdonia National Park
- Llyn Cau - This walk climbs to the beautiful Llyn Cau on the slopes of Cadir Idris in the Snowdonia National Park
- Tal-y-llyn Lake - Enjoy a waterside walk around this stunning glacial lake in the Snowdonia National Park
- Cregennan Lakes - This circular walk takes you around these two beautiful lakes in Snowdonia
- Bala Lake - Bala Lake (or Llyn Tegid) is the largest natural lake in Wales
- Abergynolwyn - This South Gwynedd village is located in the southern section of the Snowdonia National Park.
- Dyfi Forest - This expansive forest is located in the Dyfi Valley area of the Snowdonia National Park.
- Castell Y Bere - This circular walk visits Castell Y Bere, near Abergynolwyn in the Snowdonia National Park.
Pubs/Cafes
The Red Lion in the town is a nice place to go for some refreshments after your walk. The cosy pub has a good menu and is also dog friendly. Outside you can relax in the beer garden on warmer days. Inside there's interesting heavy rock memorabilia on the walls and a cosy atmosphere. You can find the pub at 11 Heol Maengwyn with a postcode of SY20 8AA for your sat navs.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
If you head north along the Dyfi Valley Way you could visit the interesting town of Dinas Mawddwy. The town sits in a nice spot at the confluence of three rivers in the lovely Dyfi Valley. There's some nice river trails, an interesting old mill and a large local forest for walkers to explore. The expansive Dyfi Forest is also located near here and has miles of walking and cycling trails to try.
In this area you'll also pass the neighbouring village of Corris. The pleasant riverside village includes the heritage Corris Railway and pleasant walks through the River Dulas Valley.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Snowdonia Walks and the Cambrian Mountains Walks pages.
Photos
Millennium Bridge, Machynlleth. This spectacular new bridge spans the River Dovey about 600 m east of the road bridge, and is constructed on the site of an old railway bridge (long since dismantled). The bridge and associated new path enables cyclists and walkers to avoid a particularly hazardous section of the A487 on the north bank of the Dovey.
Pont ar Ddyfi. As seen with a telephoto shot from Wylfa, about one and a quarter miles to the south. As a matter of interest, this is a 'cross-myriad' picture, from the north of SN to the south of SH.
Machynlleth, as viewed from Wylfa, about a mile to the south-west.
Entrance to Bryntudur, near to Machynlleth. Viewed from the lane to Wylfa.
Forestry Walk, near to Pennal. This gate beside the A487 provides access to an unsigned, well maintained and partly boarded forestry walk.
360 view hide, Cors Dyfi nature reserve