Travelling to Machynlleth made easy

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Staycations have exploded in popularity over the past year with many of us rediscovering the beauty that lies on our doorstep. When choosing your next destination, Machynlleth or Mach as it’s known to the locals, really should be at the top of your list.

The market town lies in the heart of the UNESCO Dyfi Biosphere recognising the diversity of the area’s natural beauty, heritage and wildlife. Machynlleth is also famous for art, culture and a refreshing amount of independent shops, some exceptional cafés and places to eat. It’s also home to a world-famous annual comedy festival. If you love the outdoors, Machynlleth isn’t short of walking and cycle trails. It’s not surprising given the town has been proclaimed as the gateway to Snowdonia National Park.

Machynlleth really is the perfect escape for a weekend away in Wales and with a number of ways to get here, there’s no reason not to pay us a visit!

By Train

Machynlleth is on the Birmingham-to-Aberystwyth train line, which can be also accessed via Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton.

Travelling from South Wales will take around 3 1/2 to 4 hours with a change at Shrewsbury. Trains from Wrexham will take 2-3 hours with a change at Shrewsbury.

Check out the train times here ➡️ https://www.thetrainline.com/stations/machynlleth

By Bus

From north Wales, the T12 TrawsCymru Connect service runs directly from Wrexham to Machynlleth and takes around three and a half hours. The T2 TrawsCymru Connect runs directly from Bangor to Machynlleth, taking around three hours.

From South Wales, the T4 TrawsCymru service runs from Cardiff to Newton, where you can change for the T12 TrawsCymru Connect service to Machynlleth. This journey takes around five hours.

By Car

Depending on where you live in south Wales, you’ve got a couple of options. You could drive to the end of the M4, take the A48 to Carmarthen, the A484 to Cardigan and the A487 to Aberystwyth and Machynlleth.

However, if travelling from Cardiff the recommended route is the A470 from Cardiff to Llanidloes, then the spectacular mountain road to Machynlleth. Depending on traffic this will take you around two and a half to three hours. Stretches of the A470 have been declared one of the top ten roads to drive, not just in the UK but the entire world (Source: Telegraph).

It’s not hard to see why as the A470 takes you through the Brecon Beacons National Park and its luscious green and mountainous landscapes. The highlight is Pen-Y-Fan, the highest mountain in southern Britain standing at 886m above sea level. A stop off at the Storey arms to appreciate the magnificent views is highly recommended.

Around 25 miles further along the A470, you’ll come across the attractive market town of Builth Wells, which sits on the banks of the River Wye. Builth used to be a kingdom and was frequently at war with the kingdom of Powys. Thankfully all is quiet now and the town is home to the Royal Welsh Agricultural Showground.

From Wrexham, the journey to Machynlleth will take you around 90 minutes via the A495 and A458.

With fuel prices rising, we all want to make sure we’re being as cost-effective as possible so GoCompare has done the hard work for you and created a platform to guide and help drivers plan ahead for any journey and cut down on fuel use. Use their fuel price calculator here to see how much the trip will actually cost you.

By Bike

Thanks to its stunning surroundings, you’re not short of cycle routes in and around Machynlleth.

For the more seasoned long-distance cyclist, route 8 on the National Cycle Route network ( or Lôn Las Cymru) is just over 250 miles and runs from Cardiff Bay to the island of Anglesey, with the Wynnstay Hotel providing a much-needed rest stop around 140 miles along.

For the more leisurely cyclist, jump on route 8 anywhere between Dylife and Aberllefenni, and you won’t be more than an hour away from the Wynnstay where you can reward yourself with a delicious Sunday roast, fueling you up for the journey home.

Choose the Wynnstay as the perfect base for your weekend away finding out what Machynlleth has to offer. When you get back from a day of exploring, enjoy a delicious meal in our award-winning restaurant serving the finest Welsh produce. Call us today to book your visit 01654 702 941