Cwm Penmachno
| Cwm Penmachno | |
| Caernarfonshire | |
|---|---|
 Cwm Penmachno, with the quarry behind | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SH751473 |
| Location: | 53°-0’32"N, 3°51’44"W |
| Data | |
| Postcode: | LL24 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Conwy |
Cwm Penmachno in Caernarfonshire is a former quarry settlement at the head of the valley of the River Machno. It stands at the top of the road, by the watershed between the north coast of Caernarfonshire and Cardigan Bay, which marks the border between Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire over the hill.
The village was founded to serve the slate quarry here. The quarry was formerly linked by narrow-gauge railway to the Ffestiniog railway at Blaenau Ffestiniog, a few miles to the west in Merionethshire. Before the Ffestiniog Railway, slates were brought from Blaenau Ffestiniog over the hill, down the Machno and out to Trefriw on the River Conwy for shipping.
The slopes around the village provide streams which are the source of the River Machno, which flows past the larger village of Penmachno before joining the River Conwy at the Fairy Falls south of Betws-y-coed.
Standing near the top of the valley is The Latymer School's outdoor centre, Ysgol Latymer, which every year accommodates six year 7 trips and six year 9 as well a various geography and PE trips organised by the school. The Latymer School have bought this centre in the mountains so that its pupils can get to know each other better and to find out their individual skills.
