Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
POWYS
Small villages, quiet market towns and an abundance of sheep litter the undulating hills and
moorland of rural Powys, by far Wales' biggest county. Named after an ancient Welsh
kingdom, this modern entity was formed in 1974 from the historic counties of Mont-
gomeryshire, Radnorshire and Brecknockshire. It's an overwhelmingly rural place ideal for
walking and cycling but this county isn't just green in a literal sense - Machynlleth has be-
come a focal point for the nation's environmentally friendly aspirations and all over the
county, efforts to restore the threatened red kite have been met with outstanding success.
The bird is now the very symbol of Powys, the county at Wales' green heart.
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Machynlleth
POP 2200
Little Machynlleth (ma-
hun
-khleth) punches well above its weight. The town is saturated
in historical significance, as it was here that nationalist hero Owain Glyndŵr established
the country's first parliament in 1404. But even that legacy is close to being trumped by
Machynlleth's reinvention as the green capital of Wales - thanks primarily to the Centre for
Alternative Technology (CAT), 3 miles north of town.
The centre has given Machynlleth an eco-magneticism that attracts alternative lifestylers
from far and wide. If you want to get your runes read, take up yoga or explore holistic dan-
cing, Machynlleth is the ideal place for you. Unfortunately, it hasn't been enough to protect
the town from failing fortunes though with some much-loved shops and cafes succumbing
to economic pressures in recent years. Despite this, Machynlleth is still the most cosmopol-
itan of local towns and is surrounded by serene countryside, particularly suited to mountain
biking.
