Cwm Penmachno is a village in the picturesque Penmachno Valley between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Penmachno in Conwy County, North Wales.

The village, which for many years attracted workers to the slate quarries, now attracts those with a taste for adventure, being popular with mountain bikers, kayakers, canoeists and walkers – and those who appreciate the beauty of the surrounding hills and forest trails.

Walks, Cycle Trails and Other Activities

There are many walks criss-crossing the valley and the nearby hills, including trails to the adjacent Wybrnant and Lledr Valleys.

The Penmachno Mountain Bike Trail is located between Cwm Penmachno and Penmachno. It is a challenging trail with some steady climbs taking in some spectacular scenery. The trail uses plenty of forest roads but also includes some decent singletrack incorporating bridge crossings, elevated wooden sections and stream crossings. The track starts on the lower slopes of Moel Pen y Bryn on the edge of the Gwydyr Forest.

The River Machno, a tributary of the River Conwy, runs through Cwm Penmachno from its source at the head of the Cwm close to Craig Blaen y Cwm and Twll y Cwm. The river first reaches the village near Glan-yr-Afon Bridge and runs underneath Selar Bridge and then Swch Bridge. Eventually the river runs through Cwm Penmachno reaching Rhyd-y-Gro and then on to Penmachno before joining the River Conwy.

History

No one is sure when Rhiw Machno Quarry was opened, but according to "Llyfr Gethin", the first Quarry in the area was opened in 1819 (Rhiwbach Quarry). Today no Quarry in Cwm is operational, the last one closing in 1962. Cwm Penmachno was formerly linked to Blaenau Ffestiniog by a narrow gauge railway, which linked to the Ffestiniog Railway.