Day 46: Aberdyfi to Machynlleth

Our good luck with the weather has finally run out as it was a rather wet and windy day similar to yesterday. So, we donned our wet weather gear and continued on with our wanderings which took us from Aberdyfi to Machynlleth, a distance of 19 km and a gain in height of 620m.

After leaving the train station at Aberdyfi we walked through the town before making our way up some rather steep steps onto an old quarry track and over some gorse covered fields. 

The promenade at Aberdyfi

Further along we detoured off the route to visit nearby Llyn Barfog. The reedy mountain tarn is known as the Bearded Lake and is the mythic home of a hairy monster that King Arthur’s horse is said to have dragged from the lake. The slate at Carn March Arthur marks a spot where Llamrai’s hoof scarred the rock.  

Carn March Arthur

Tarn at Llyn Barfog

Two drenched Kiwis at Llyn Barfog

From here the track descended steadily through the edge of a forestry plantation and a wooded knoll. Outside the small village at Pennal we cam across the tree-covered thirteenth century castle motte of Tomen Las. The motte and the faint remains of a ditch, date to the medieval period (c. 1066-1540 AD). A motte is a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil and/or stone, usually surrounded by either a wet or dry ditch, and surmounted by a tower constructed of timber or stone. 

Track through forestry plantation

Old stone wall and bracken

Thirteenth century castle motte at Tomen Las

After a quick stop at a pub in Pennal we carried on along the route which steadily climbed uphill along a forestry track with supposedly great views of the Tarens across the valley. Unfortunately, due to the rainy weather we did not get much views all day.

View across the valley

Bucolic landscape

We eventually descended through bracken covered fields to the town of Machynlleth. Our arrival at this town signified the end of stage four of our journey – The Meirionnydd Coast. During this section of our walk we covered a total distance of 108km with a total height gained of 1960m. 

Descending through the bracken covered fields

Bridge over the Afon Dyfi near Machynlleth