Machno Valley
Conwy
Climb from a picturesque village in Snowdonia through lush woodland before dropping into an enchanted valley of gushing falls.
DISTANCE: 7.4 MILES/11.9KM TIME: 5 HOURS LEVEL: MODERATE ASCENT: 382M TERRAIN: The route includes country lanes, forest tracks, riverside trails and field paths. A couple of stiff climbs and one long descent on the first half of the walk.
Penmachno, the main village in the peaceful, green Machno Valley, lies at the southern edge of Gwydyr Forest. This walk is delightful in spring when crossbills and siskins are busy building their nests, and larches and silver birches billow with fresh leaves. Primroses, speedwell and forget-me-nots line the lanes and tracks, while lush ferns and mosses carpet the forest floor.
1 TREK TO THE TREES
The route begins outside the Penmachno’s village church. Walk up the road to The Eagles pub and, instead of following the bend to the left, continue straight on to the right of the pub, turning immediately right down a lane. Cross a bridge over the Afon Glaswyn and follow the track to a left bend, where you climb a stile and head uphill to a path leading to a forest track. Bear right to a 17th-century house, called Benar, then take a left-hand path to another track. Turn left, soon veering right, then keep ahead at a junction.
Further on, ignore lesser tracks and, after a left bend, continue straight on past waymarked paths. Walk down through mixed trees with views of mountains ahead and, when a track appears on your left, take a righthand path downhill to a lane.
2 FAIRY GLEN
Turn right with the rushing River Conwy and Fairy Glen on your left.
Shortly after a viewpoint of the gorge, a path opposite Pandy Mill leads to the little-known cascades and pools of Machno Falls. Continue along the road, passing a medieval packhorse bridge just before the road bridge.
You may spot dippers and grey wagtails in the river. To visit Conwy Falls Café, cross the bridge and turn left to the road junction. After refreshments, take a walk to the falls through deciduous woodland, where great spotted and green woodpeckers can be heard.
3 BACK TO PENMACHNO
Return the same way and, after crossing the bridge, take a signposted path on the left. Walk through trees, looking out for woodland flowers, to a stile. Further on, cross a stile on to a forest track, where you bear left. Take a footpath on the left to the riverbank, continuing through fields below Benar and towards an old farm.
A track and field path takes you back to Penmachno.
