Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Both the Conwy Valley Line from Betws-y-Coed (£4.80, 27 minutes) and Llandudno
(£8.10, 1¼ hours), and the steam-powered Ffestiniog Railway (
Click here
)
from Porth-
madog terminate here.
Buses head to/from Porthmadog (route 1B; 30 minutes), Dolgellau (X1; 47 minutes),
Betws-y-Coed (X1; 20 minutes) and Llandudno (X1; 1¼ hours).
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Penmachno
POP 617
Tucked away in the valley of the River Machno, the picturesque village of Penmachno
dates to at least Roman times, but it's a sleepy place these days. It's edged by the Gwydyr
Forest, a leafy paradise for mountain bikers and horse riders.
Sights & Activites
St Tudclud's Church
(
www.churchinwales.org.uk/bangor
)
After 12 years of closure, little St Tudclud's reopened in 2009
after the community rallied around to save it. It isn't particularly old (1859), but inside are
five Latin-inscribed stones dating from the 5th century, a 12th-century font, and a 13th-
century gravestone which may have belonged to the father of Llywelyn the Great. It's usu-
ally open; call in and help yourself to a cup of coffee.
CHURCH
Penmachno Trails
(
www.penmachnobiketrails.org.uk
)
The southern part of the Gwydyr Forest (
Click here
)
has two
red-graded mountain biking loops - the 12-mile Dolen Machno (1½ to three hours) and
the 7-mile Dolen Eryri (one to two hours) - which can be combined into the 19-mile Pen-
machno Trail. They offer a good mix of descents and forest climbs, with some sections of
boardwalk.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
Gwydyr Stables
( 01690-760248;
www.horse-riding-wales.co.uk
; per hr/half-day/day £22/40/70)
Arranges rides through the
forest for novice and regular riders alike. It also offers a pub ride for £50, lasting around
four hours and stopping off for a pint at a couple of local pubs along the way. To find the
stables, turn right at the Eagles Inn and follow the signs towards Tŷ Mawr.
HORSE RIDING
