Must do in and around Machynlleth

If you're looking for laughs, you might not immediately think of heading to a comedy festival in the ancient capital of Wales - but you absolutely should. Every May bank holiday the Machynlleth Comedy Festival brings together the cream of rising and established comedy talent for a weekend of experimentation, fresh material, and good times.

Over the past decade 'Mach Fest' has grown from a well-kept secret into what’s widely regarded as the best alternative comedy festival in the UK. With a strong focus on giving performers a platform to try out new ideas and formats, it stands apart from other comedy events. Expect shows in delightfully unexpected venues - like the Corris Steam Railway - and a buzzing atmosphere that draws thousands of attendees, with more than half travelling from outside Wales.

Stay updated visiting the Mach comedy fest website, or following the festival on social media -

• Mach Comedy Festival's Facebook page
• @machcomedyfest on Instagram

Framed by a striking Victorian clock tower and featuring a mixture of independent retailers, Heol Maengwyn is Machynlleth's bustling high street. The town has done an incredible job of staying independent over the years, giving it an energy and vibrancy. There's local produce from the Dyfi Wholefoods cooperative, an abundance of antique shops packed with curios and wonderful bookshops, such as Penrallt Books. For home décor there's Wheeler’s Fabrics, and Elin Angharad makes and sells beautifully hand-crafted leather accessories - especially fitting in the very place where Laura Ashley opened her first shop.

Don't miss the market held every Wednesday. The street comes alive with a great community feeling with the stalls featuring local produce, crafts and vintage items.

Mach has some great attractions to visit. Explore modern art, discover Welsh history, take part in craft workshops, or enjoy a ride on a heritage steam journey.

In the centre of town you’ll find MOMA Machynlleth, an intimate modern art museum filled with painting, sculpture, prints and photography, together with the Tabernacle Collection of 20th century works. Browse the gift shop and treat yourself to locally crafted souvenirs, art books, and handmade jewellery. MOMA hosts a range of events including Gŵyl Machynlleth Festival, a week-long summer celebration of Welsh and international music, culture, and heritage held each August.

The Owain Glyndŵr Centre is a local history museum telling the story of national hero Owain Glyndŵr. The Grade 1 listed building stands on the site of the famous parliament held in 1404 where Owain was crowned Prince of Wales, and is a rare example of a late medieval townhouse in Wales.

At Corris Craft Centre, take a boat trip through an underground maze while listening to tales from long ago in King Arthur's Labyrinth, or a fascinating tour of an abandoned slate mine with Corris Mine Explorers. Or get messy at a hands-on craft session making pottery, candles, chocolate or wooden furniture.

The award winning Dyfi Distillery (three medals at the 2020 World Gin Awards) is also based at the craft centre. Visitors can meet and chat to the team to learn about the distilling process, and most importantly, sample some of the gin.

At Corris Railway Museum take a 50-minute round trip on the narrow-gauge Corris Railway, lovingly restored by local railway enthusiasts. It puffs through the former slate-mining region between Corris and Maespoeth, stopping for a tour of the engine shed and workshops.

Close to the estuary, RSPB Ynys-hir Nature Reserve provides a superb place to watch wildlife, with its contrasting mosaic of oak woodland, reedbeds, freshwater pools and saltmarsh with hides, trails and accessible features such as level access to the visitor centre and hides.

Adding to the valley’s wild character is Glaslyn Nature Reserve, with great views and vigorous walks - look for red kites, skylarks and stonechats among the moorland and scrub.

The Dyfi Valley is a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and Machynlleth is surrounded by mountains, so there are lots of opportunities to explore the nearby countryside and experience nature and wildlife.
To get a fantastic view over the town and the estuary it's well worth climbing Pen’rallt, the small hill to the north of the town, or the Roman Steps at the rear of Y Plas.

The Dyfi Osprey Project, founded by dedicated conservationists, welcomes visitors from April to September to see these remarkable birds. Based at the award-winning Dyfi Wildlife Centre, the two-storey observatory overlooks a mosaic of habitats teeming with birds, mammals, and insects. The immersive experience is a great for wildlife enthusiasts and families, allowing you to watch ospreys through scopes, binoculars, or on live screens.

Glyndŵr’s Way is a 135-mile National Trail named after Owain Glyndŵr. It runs through Machynlleth, with short circular walks from the Owain Glyndŵr Centre (3.6 miles/5.75 km or 6.5 miles/10.4 km). Alternatively, take a longer walk on the trail from Machynlleth to Llanbrynmair (18.2 miles).

The Wales Coast Path skirts the mouth of the Dyfi estuary passing right in front of Machynlleth train station. Simply head out of the station to reach the A487 trunk road and the Wales Coast Path. Turn right to head towards Aberdyfi and left towards Ynyslas (Borth) and Aberystwyth.

Guided by expert falconers, Falconry Experience Wales offers a rare chance to get close to birds of prey. Visitors can handle captive-bred owls, falcons, hawks, eagles and red kites, and watch them wheel and soar above the Mid Wales hills.

Mach is a great location for mountain biking enthusiasts, thanks to the dedicated volunteers of Dyfi Mountain Biking and the vision of the Atherton siblings - Dan, Gee, and Rachel. Internationally renowned for their downhill racing careers, they brought their expertise home to the Dyfi Valley. They waymarked three routes called Mach 1, 2 and 3 along roads, lanes and bridleways, and created CliMachX, an exhilarating off-road forest trail with rocky jumps and a massive final descent.

Machynlleth offers a great range of food and drink, whether you're looking for fine dining or something more casual.

The most famous restaurant in the area is undoubtedly the two Michelin star restaurant, Ynyshir. The 30-course feast combines produce from the shores of Dyfi with the intense flavours of the Far East.

Ynyshir's sister restaurant Gwen, is located on the high street of Machynlleth. The ten course menu of meat, fish, and local produce is cooked over a fire in an open kitchen in front of just eight diners. The cosy bar serves smaller meals and a good selection of wine.

Mach also has a range of independent cafes, great pubs with inviting beer gardens, and no trip to Machynlleth is complete without visiting Hennighan's Top Shop Chip Shop, the town’s very own award-winning chippie.

If you are travelling from Mach in the direction of Talybont it is worth popping into the community hub and cafe, Cletwr, where the shop sells a good range of Welsh produce.

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