Wonderful Town to Visit Unspoilt by Time

Machynlleth, Powys, Wales Mid

Recommendation added: 27/03/2006 20:38
By: katygriff (YSUK rating +351)

katygriff has been thanked 2 times for this contribution

"I have had a holiday home in Machynlleth now for seventeen years and I can honestly say it is a wonderful town. Machynlleth is set right in the heart of Wales and is known for its fabulous history as the Romans once settled in Machynlleth and it also has a Parliament house where Prince of Wales Owain Glyndwr was crowned.

Today though as you walk through Machynlleth you will see an array of medieval style houses and the Parliament house along the main street. Also as you look down the main street you will see the fantastic clock tower which was built way back in 1874 and is a fantastic site at all time of the year. After seventeen years I still walk around Machynlleth and am amazed at how it still seems like a town that hasn't been touched by time and that is one of the reasons why I love it so much.

Shopping wise there are some great shops to have a look in. My favourite is Ian Snow which sells candles, jewellery and very unique clothes. I find so many birthday presents in here. There is a bikes / sports shop, kitchen shop, textiles shop, book shop and also many charity shops and opposite the clock tower there is a charming little traditional Welsh shop. As well as these shops Machynlleth is quite upmarket and has a few arty shops which are quite expensive but wonderful to have a look at.

The Celtica museum is a must see in Machynlleth and you can go on a tour and learn about the history of Celtica which is very enjoyable indeed. There is a park with some swings and a few other things for children if they are bored with you looking at the museum and there is also a leisure centre which offers a range of activities from swimming to squash to rock climbing.

One thing that many people flock to the town for is on a Wednesday for market day and this is truly a great market to wonder around. They sell the normal things such as sweets, toys and clothes but the bustling atmosphere attracts people from all over Wales.

There is so much going on in Machynlleth during the year and one of my favourites is the sheep dog trials which takes place every year and many come to view it because it is amazing to watch and in such beautiful surroundings. There are also many festivals that run through the year including the Celtica shows and classical music festivals and many of them take place by the leisure centre with great views. If you can get there for the Halloween festival it is great as the residents take to the streets with lantern creations and it looks amazing.

One of the best things about Machynlleth though is that it is central to a lot of places in Wales so you have easy access to Aberystwyth, amazing sites of Snowdonia, the golden beach at Aberdyfi and the fantastic centre for alternative technology centre. You are also only an hour away from Shrewsbury, Welshpool and Newtown which are all great for shopping and have their own fantastic sites.

To get to Machynlleth get on the Motorway and head to Shrewsbury and then Welshpool and then Machynlleth is signposted so wherever you are in the country you should be able to find it. There is quite a big main car park in the town where you can always find a space apart from on market day.

If you are planning to come to Machynlleth then there are plenty of places to stay including hotels, bed and breakfasts but what I recommend is staying at the Tipi garden which is great as you stay the night in an actual Tipi. Also eating out is no problem as there are hotels and restaurants and also some take-aways that stay open late. I will recommend eating at the white lion hotel though as the food is always at a high standard and the staff are extremely friendly."