Siutated in the historic market town of Machynlleth, in the heart of the Dyfi Valley, bordering the Snowdonia National Park and Cambrian Mountains. The cottage is minutes from the town where you will find shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants. Situated in just one of 6 UK UNESCO Biospheres, this area has much to explore. Amazing beaches, the Dyfi Osprey Project and Cadair Idris are a short drive away. If you enjoy walking, biking or relaxing then this area is a must!
National hero, Owain Glyndŵr's 1404 parliament – the original Senedd. The Owain Glyndŵr Centre is the local history museum that tells his story.
The Tabernacle, home of MOMA Machynlleth, with its seven art galleries and a concert hall in a converted chapel. We promote Welsh and International arts and cultural events.
Daffodil Pottery is located in Machynlleth. You can find it under 'Daffy Pottery' on Facebook. Paint your own pottery. Call for a reservation 07412 484493.
You can enter the Plas grounds by the large black gates opposite the Owain Glyndŵr Centre on Maengwyn Street. If you follow the path to Y Plas itself (where you can refresh with a coffee/tea and cake) you will find the play-park and pump track situated to the left of the building. There is a path signposted 'Gerddi Community Gardens' which is a lovely little garden maintained by local volunteers. There is a gate located within Gerddi Gardens which leads you on a beautiful woodland walk. Access is restricted during lambing season.
The Dyfi Osprey Project, a love-nest for ospreys, is the work of dedicated conservationists, whose first big success – three healthy chicks – featured on BBC Springwatch. While the migrants are in residence (roughly April to September), you can view them through scopes, binoculars or live on screen. A two-storey observatory with views over bird, mammal and insect habitats is also open for visitors. A new visitor centre is currently being built which will have further information on the visiting Osprey and a cafe. Please contact them to book a slot to visit.
In 1974, long before green principles became mainstream, a small group of eco-enthusiasts created the Centre for Alternative Technology (or CAT, as it's affectionately known) in an old slate quarry, three miles north of Machynlleth. It was unique, and inspired a generation. Today, the centre’s beautiful School of the Environment runs excellent day courses, postgraduate courses and distance learning on practical topics such as earth ovens, composting toilets, raw food, upcycling, traditional crafts and harnessing renewable energy. Vegetarian/vegan cafe on site.
If you’re a fan of BBC Springwatch, you’re sure to enjoy the Welsh woodland and wetland reserve where it was filmed several times. At Ynys-hir you might even make some seasonal discoveries of your own. Spring brings carpets of bluebells and trilling wood warblers, autumn brings ducks and other water birds can be seen from the hides all year round. Follow the trails to explore the lowland wet grasslands, reedbed, and saltmarsh habitats.
There’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained at Corris Mine Explorers, based at Corris Craft Centre. Kit up in a hard hat for a fascinating tour of an abandoned slate mine, take a boat trip through an underground maze while listening to tales from long ago in King Arthur's Labyrinth, or get messy at a hands-on craft session making pottery, candles, chocolate or wooden furniture.
The Corris Railway is a narrow-gauge railway, lovingly restored by local railway enthusiasts. They have one of the prettiest steam locomotives in Wales, specially built in 2005 to a classic Kerr, Stuart and Company design. On a 50-minute round trip, it puffs through the former slate-mining region between Corris and Maespoeth, stopping for a tour of the engine shed and workshops.
The Talyllyn Railway is the first preserved railway in the World, known affectionately as ‘The Railway with a Heart of Gold’. It was over 150 years ago, in 1865, that the line opened and in 1951 the Preservation Society was born to take over the Railway after the death of the owner Sir Haydn Jones. The heritage steam engines transport passengers from Tywyn, the coastal town on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park, to Nant Gwernol buried deep in the mountains above Abergynolwyn.
In the wilds of the Dyfi Valley UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the Falconry Experience Wales is one of several sites in mid Wales where you can learn about birds of prey. Run by experienced falconers, it’s a place to get close – very close – to captive-bred owls, falcons, hawks, eagles and red kites, discovering how to handle them and taking them out to fly over the hills.
Only 30 minutes by car, bus or train. Aberystwyth has lots to offer, including a coarse sandy beach with exposed rockpools (during low tide). Here are just some of the activities in and around Aber: Vale of Rheidol Railway, Aberystwyth Cliff Railway, Castle grounds and play-park Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum, The seafront, National Library of Wales and Magic of Life Butterfly House.
Three stunning miles of golden beach stretching from Borth in the south to the sand dunes in the north. It is a majestic spot for walking and exploring. The dunes are home to a rick population of orchids, mosses, liverworts, fungi, insects and spiders, many of these species are rare and some are unknown elsewhere in Britain. Please visit www.naturalsersources.walesfor more information.
During low tide you can see the exposed petrified forest. The forest has become associated with the 17th century myth of the sunken civilisation known as Cantre'r Gwaelod, or the Sunken Hundred. According to legend, the kingdom was lost at sea when Seithenyn, the guardian of the sea defences, forgot to close the gates.
Aberdyfi is a long unspoilt 3 mile sandy beach. This is the place where the Welsh mountains meet the coastline, within the Snowdonia National Park. The beach is backed by some sand dunes and the Aberdovey Golf Club. A great place to do some crabbing!
A walk along the sand will eventually bring you to Tywyn.
Sandy and shingle beaches with exposted rock pools during low tide. South Beach runs from the Castle to the Harbour and is the quieter of the two and if you're lucky, you might spot a porpoise during the warmer months. Huts selling ice-cream are dotted along the prom.
On the west coast of North Wales and lying between a mountain range and the sea on the mouth of the river Mawddach is arguably one of the most beautiful locations in Wales. Beautiful sandy beach within a 40 minute drive or train journey from Machynlleth.
'King's Wood' is approximiately 35 minutes drive from Machynlleth. A forest set within the Snowdonia National Park. There you will find bike trails (green, blue, red & black), walking and running trails. There is a cafe on site.
A 20 minute drive from Aberystwyth will bring you to Nant y Arian where you will find walks, mountain bike trails and red kite feeding at 2 pm each day. There is a cafe on site.
Idris Stores in Corris do fabulous coffee so well worth a stop. Whilst there, ask about Little Italy - a model village (it is a steep climb uphill). Carry on past Little Italy and you will find a beautiful little walk with old miners cottages and a stunning place to sit and just be....
The little zoo with a big heart located in Borth. It is currently only open for private tours so please get in touch to book yours.
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