Guidebook for Darowen
Eating out
Darowen is a tiny place and so you'll need to leave the village in order to get a meal out! These are some of our favourite places.
Number Twenty One
21 Heol MaengwynGreat local food in an intimate setting.
Tafarn Dwynant
A tiny local pub serving honest pub grub
Can't be bothered making your own breakfast? This place has the answer! Newly opened in 2018. Great veggie options too.
Camlan Garden Centre, Farm Shop & Cafe
Can't be bothered making your own breakfast? This place has the answer! Newly opened in 2018. Great veggie options too.
We hear good things about this large local inn! We must eat there one day!
10 locals recommend
The Brigands Inn
We hear good things about this large local inn! We must eat there one day!
One of only two Michelin featured restaurants in the area.
Gastro pub in an historic old inn. Great food and great service.
14 locals recommend
Riverside Hotel Pennal
One of only two Michelin featured restaurants in the area.
Gastro pub in an historic old inn. Great food and great service.
This tiny former railway hotel is our closest pub, and has been fabulously rejuvenated by Mo and Michael through local community events and now providing superb food. Michael's Sunday lunch has to be experienced. Often features local music events.
Dovey Valley Hotel
This tiny former railway hotel is our closest pub, and has been fabulously rejuvenated by Mo and Michael through local community events and now providing superb food. Michael's Sunday lunch has to be experienced. Often features local music events.
A large pub restaurant at the gateway to Snowdonia. Great food at good prices. A favourite of ours, we often meet visiting friends here.
10 locals recommend
Cross Foxes Inn
A large pub restaurant at the gateway to Snowdonia. Great food at good prices. A favourite of ours, we often meet visiting friends here.
Sightseeing
Cadair Idris - Penygadair
Iconic local mountain
Get buzzed by the fast jets of the RAF and USAF training at high speed and ultra low level. Climb Cad East or Cad West and look down on the pilots. Some will even wave back!
13 locals recommend
Mach Loop
Get buzzed by the fast jets of the RAF and USAF training at high speed and ultra low level. Climb Cad East or Cad West and look down on the pilots. Some will even wave back!
Machynlleth is known as "the town with the clock tower". One can not visit the area without seeing it!
Machynlleth Clock Tower
Penrallt StreetMachynlleth is known as "the town with the clock tower". One can not visit the area without seeing it!
Bwlch y Groes (Pass of the Cross) is the highest public road mountain pass in "North" Wales, with a summit altitude of 545m (1,788 ft). Once known as "Hellfire Pass" as it was used by car manufacturers to test their vehicles!
Bwlch y Groes
Bwlch y Groes (Pass of the Cross) is the highest public road mountain pass in "North" Wales, with a summit altitude of 545m (1,788 ft). Once known as "Hellfire Pass" as it was used by car manufacturers to test their vehicles!
A long since abandoned mining community only a few remnants survive but the most interesting feature is 10,000 years older; Dylife Gorge is a fabulous "stolen river" gorge formed during the last ice age.
Dylife
A long since abandoned mining community only a few remnants survive but the most interesting feature is 10,000 years older; Dylife Gorge is a fabulous "stolen river" gorge formed during the last ice age.
The Wynford Vaughan Thomas memorial and viewpoint is near the road just below the summit of Foel Fadian and provides fabulous views. It is claimed that on a clear day that Snowdon can be seen from here, whether or not it can, it is certainly a view worth stopping for.
Foel Fadian
The Wynford Vaughan Thomas memorial and viewpoint is near the road just below the summit of Foel Fadian and provides fabulous views. It is claimed that on a clear day that Snowdon can be seen from here, whether or not it can, it is certainly a view worth stopping for.
The Llyfnant valley is a delightful narrow gorge which remains somewhat of a secret even to locals. The narrow single track road is not for the feint hearted driver, with only a handful of passing places, should you meet an oncoming vehicle one of you must reverse, sometimes alongside a precipitous edge into the babbling river several meters below!
Park up by the (now closed) tiny chapel just outside of Glaspwll and walk the road for a chance to see some scarce native wildlife.
Glaspwll
The Llyfnant valley is a delightful narrow gorge which remains somewhat of a secret even to locals. The narrow single track road is not for the feint hearted driver, with only a handful of passing places, should you meet an oncoming vehicle one of you must reverse, sometimes alongside a precipitous edge into the babbling river several meters below!
Park up by the (now closed) tiny chapel just outside of Glaspwll and walk the road for a chance to see some scarce native wildlife.
Parks & Nature
Walk along the banks of the mighty River Severn while it is still a mountain stream.
31 locals recommend
Hafren Forest
Walk along the banks of the mighty River Severn while it is still a mountain stream.
Probably the best mixed habitat bird reserve in Wales. Woodland, heath, bog, and estuary all meet to provide a fabulous environment for wildlife. Great for just a walk too!
33 locals recommend
RSPB Ynys-hir
Dyfi FurnaceProbably the best mixed habitat bird reserve in Wales. Woodland, heath, bog, and estuary all meet to provide a fabulous environment for wildlife. Great for just a walk too!
These fabulous dunes are part of the important Dyfi National Nature Reserve that was expanded to become the UNESCO Dyfi Biosphere. The most visited reserve in the area, can be busy on summer weekends.
46 locals recommend
Ynyslas
These fabulous dunes are part of the important Dyfi National Nature Reserve that was expanded to become the UNESCO Dyfi Biosphere. The most visited reserve in the area, can be busy on summer weekends.
We think this is the best Osprey Project in the country! Even if you are not into massive fish eating "eagles" that migrate here each year from Africa, the 360 Observation Tower provides some great views across the meandering river Dyfi and it's marshes.
33 locals recommend
Dyfi Osprey Project
We think this is the best Osprey Project in the country! Even if you are not into massive fish eating "eagles" that migrate here each year from Africa, the 360 Observation Tower provides some great views across the meandering river Dyfi and it's marshes.
Arts & Culture
Always excellent local and international art on exhibition.
21 locals recommend
The Museum Of Modern Art (MOMA) Machynlleth
Heol Pen'RalltAlways excellent local and international art on exhibition.
Entertainment & Activities
A tiny cinema and restaurant! Just one screen, but it always shows a current blockbuster. And the food is excellent.
18 locals recommend
Libanus 1877
High StreetA tiny cinema and restaurant! Just one screen, but it always shows a current blockbuster. And the food is excellent.
The oldest cinema in continuous service! A traditional balcony theatre layout, showing current block busters, special events, and arthouse movies.
Wonderful!
34 locals recommend
Magic Lantern - Llusern Hud
6a Corbet SquareThe oldest cinema in continuous service! A traditional balcony theatre layout, showing current block busters, special events, and arthouse movies.
Wonderful!