Mawddach Mach Pizza Loop

A figure of eight around the notorious Mach Loop and Cadair Idris mountain in southern Eryri with a stop for pizza with a view or fine dining MICHELIN Star style for that special occasion at Ynyshir.

Drive Overview

A mixture of flowing A and B scenic and coastal roads with some great views on route. A comfortable 2 hour drive but plenty to see and do to make an afternoon or a full day out.

Points of Interest

• Mach Loop
• Machynlleth
• Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms
• Cadair Idris
• Llyn Mwyngil
• Ceredigion Bay & Eryri View
• Penmaenpool Toll Bridge
• Mawddach Pizza

Extended Drive Highlights & Info

Whether you are a fan of Top Gun, pizza or fine dining this drive has something for you and if you don’t like any of those, we still have one of the tallest mountains in Wales and a scenic driving treat in store for you.

You can hop on to this route at any point around the figure of eight, we were based in Bryncrug just outside Tywyn on a family holiday. For illustration purposes, I have selected a layby on the A487 to start as it’s central to the loop and a view you’ll want to take in more than once but you could also start at the nearby Dôl Idris car park, a potential base for anybody wishing to summit Cadair Idris whilst on route.

Once you have soaked in the magical view down the valley towards Llyn Mwyngil (more on that later), it’s time to start our journey around the famous Mach Loop, a set of valleys often used for low level flight training. Flown counter-clockwise, we will follow the same route, first heading towards the market town of Machynlleth. This route pulls off along the B4404 just before we hit the town to take in the scenic valley views, but if you need a break or wish to avoid the B4404 which is largely single file with passing points, Machynlleth makes a lovely stop. It is nearby we also find the renowned two MICHELIN Star restaurant, Ynyshir. We haven’t had the pleasure of dining here but are sure it would be the icing on the cake for a special occasion, two stars don’t come easily and they also have rooms if you wish to spend the night.

Back to driving and after a blast around the A470 we re-enter the A487 for part 2 of our loop, a stretch of road that deserves to be driven more than once. This time we are going to continue south towards the picturesque Llyn Mwyngil passing via Dôl Idris car park. There are loos and a tea room here if you wish to have a break and as mentioned earlier, for those that fancy taking on the challenge that is Cadair Idris, this also makes a potential starting point for the climb. There are a few routes towards the 893m summit, all of which are classified as hard/strenuous and you will need 5-6 hours to get to the summit and back so plan ahead if you wish to take this on. The view when you get to Llyn Mwyngil is just as good as it was further up the valley. There is a layby opposite Ty'n y Cornel Hotel & Restaurant which also doubles as a great place to stop for some refreshments or even a night away. Aside from the view, the lake also makes a great spot for the wild swimmers amongst us.

Next we will make our way towards Bryncrug along the B4405 before heading back north towards the coast where we meet the A493, a road with far reaching views across Ceredigion Bay towards the distant peaks of the Eryri / Snowdonia mountain range, one of the most beautiful coastal stretches in Wales, if not the UK. Marked on route is a layby which makes a great spot to stop for a photo and to soak in the view.

Continuing along the A493 we will reach Penmaenpool, the home of a Grade II listed Victorian wooden toll bridge built in 1879 that will take us across the River Mawddach to that pizza we have all been waiting for. Be sure to check online for the current opening times and if closed, you can carry on along the A493 to reach our next stop. For those who fancy a walk, you can embark on the 15km Mawddach Trail from here and you can also stay in the Toll Bridge House or the nearby George III dog-friendly pub, restaurant and hotel which has great views over the Mawddach estuary.

It’s not long now until we reach the wonderful Mawddach Pizza. With amazing views across to Cadair Idris, this makes a fabulous place to stop for some food on your drive. Opening hours are usually Thursday to Saturday, 4pm-10pm offering dine in and takeaway. Be sure to check online ahead of arriving if you plan to eat here and booking in advance is highly recommended. If you are travelling with a four legged friend, dogs are welcome on the outdoor terrace, weather permitting.

Where the drive takes you next is entirely up to you. You can either finish the loop by heading back towards the starting position or head north towards Ceredigion Bay via the seaside town of Barmouth which is another adventure on its own.

North Wales, a drivers paradise.

Enjoy =)