Pennal – History, River Landscape and Walking Trails

Pennal combines a layered local history with a landscape that stretches from heather-covered hilltops to the River Dyfi. Visitors with different interests can combine historic sites, an audio walking trail, woodland areas and paths through the river landscape. When looking for a holiday apartment in Pennal, trip planning can therefore be tailored to your own priorities.

Between the River Dyfi, woodland and protected landscapes

One prominent historic site is the Cefn-Caer Roman Site. It is protected as a Scheduled Monument and lies on a low spur of land above the floodplain of the River Dyfi. From there, it overlooks the first good crossing point of the river. The landscape around Pennal also includes the Dyfi Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The woodland landscape also adds to the character of the area: the Pennal section of Machynlleth Forest lies within Snowdonia National Park. The Machynlleth Forest Resource Plan includes Pennal as one of its woodland areas; these forests lie within the Dyfi Biosphere Reserve, an internationally recognised UNESCO designation. For walkers, Pennal’s walking trails connect to the long-distance Tarren Hendre trail, which runs from Corris to Tywyn.

Local history as a personal experience

The Pennal Audio Trail makes the history of the village accessible through a dedicated circular walk. The audio walking trail about the local history was created with local historian Eluned Besent and begins on the village green near the river bridge. It takes visitors to St Peter ad Vincula church and its gardens, where they can see the bronze statue of Owain Glyndŵr.

St Peter ad Vincula is associated with the last senate meeting of the Welsh prince Owain Glyndŵr. The original medieval church was rebuilt in 1700. A memorial garden for the native Welsh princes was created in its churchyard. The bronze statue of Owain Glyndŵr there was unveiled in 2004. According to tradition, Lleucu Llwyd is said to have been buried beneath the altar of St Peter ad Vincula in 1390. The Tomen Las Castle Mound, a Scheduled Monument that belonged to the court of the princes of Gwynedd, is also located near Pennal.

Walks and local events

Alongside the Audio Trail, the Pennal Community Walk is developing into a regular annual event. The Pennal Show brings together a range of interests: the programme includes classes for handicrafts, poultry, sheep and flowers, sporting events, stalls, as well as sheep-shearing and other demonstrations. The show attracts hundreds of visitors over the August bank holiday weekend.

When local history is the main focus, the church, memorial garden, Audio Trail and Roman site provide specific themes for planning the day. Those who prefer to combine landscape and exercise can consider the paths around Pennal, the Tarren Hendre and the landscape along the River Dyfi. Events such as the Pennal Show or the Community Walk, in turn, add their own scheduled highlights.

Discover more destinations

If you would like to compare other destinations in addition to Pennal, you can find Groeslon, Pwllheli, Llanbedr, Y Felinheli, Dolbenmaen, Mallwyd, Llanrug and Bethesda here.

For the overarching travel overview: Gwynedd.