natural wonder
Pontsticill Reservoir
A long reservoir beneath Pen y Fan served by the Brecon Mountain Railway, with forest trails along its eastern shore.
29 km · about 35 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomWales
Machen
Wales, United Kingdom · Europe
About Machen
Machen is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Bedwas, 29km from Pontsticill Reservoir.
Machen is in Wales, United Kingdom, with about 2,400 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Bedwas, about 4 km away.
Machen (from Welsh ma "place (of)" + Cein, a personal name) is a large village three miles east of Caerphilly, south Wales. It is situated in the Caerphilly borough within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. It neighbours Bedwas and Trethomas, and forms a council ward in conjunction with those communities. ItRead more
lies on the Rhymney River. Mynydd Machen (Machen Mountain) provides a view over the village. It is possible to walk up to and along the top of the mountain, where a number of large boulders are present.
Machen has a successful boules (petanque) team that are located at the rugby club. The team has had a team in the first Division of the boules in Gwent (BIG) league for the last four years.
Where to Stay in Machen
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Machen.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Machen.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Machen?
Within an hour or so of Machen: Pontsticill Reservoir (29 km), Sugar Loaf (Y Fal) (30 km), Skirrid Fawr (Ysgyryd Fawr) (31 km), Talybont Reservoir (32 km).
Are there any good drives near Machen?
The nearest famous roads are A466 Wye Valley (Chepstow to Monmouth), Cheddar Gorge Road (B3135) and Gospel Pass.
Where is Machen?
Machen is in Wales, United Kingdom, about 4 km from Bedwas.
Road trip
Drive to Machen
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Machen. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 2,362
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Wales
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 51.5960, -3.1419
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Machen
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
scenic viewpoint
Sugar Loaf (Y Fal)
A 596m conical hill above Abergavenny with a 360-degree view over the Usk valley and the Black Mountains; easy from the car park.
30 km · about 35 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Skirrid Fawr (Ysgyryd Fawr)
A landslipped 486m ridge above Abergavenny whose split profile gave rise to the legend it cracked at the Crucifixion.
31 km · about 35 min drive
natural wonder
Talybont Reservoir
A wooded reservoir in the central Brecon Beacons with a lakeside cycle route on the old Brecon and Merthyr railway.
32 km · about 35 min drive
cafe
Rattlesnake Biker Cafe
A characterful biker cafe in the Brecon Beacons serving as a popular pit stop for riders exploring the stunning Welsh mountain roads.
34 km · about 40 min drive
famous road
A466 Wye Valley (Chepstow to Monmouth)
A wooded riverside road through a designated AONB past Tintern Abbey, gentle and beautiful rather than challenging.
34 km · about 40 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Devil's Pulpit
A narrow limestone pinnacle perched above the Wye Valley near Tintern Abbey, offering a dizzying view down through the forest canopy.
35 km · about 40 min drive
waterfall
Sgwd yr Eira
Spectacular waterfall in the Brecon Beacons where you can walk behind the curtain of water on a natural rock ledge, a truly unique experience.
36 km · about 40 min drive
Driving roads near Machen
- 30 kmSugar Loaf (Y Fal)A 596m conical hill above Abergavenny with a 360-degree view over the Usk valley and the Black Mountains; easy from the car park.
- 31 kmSkirrid Fawr (Ysgyryd Fawr)A landslipped 486m ridge above Abergavenny whose split profile gave rise to the legend it cracked at the Crucifixion.
- 34 kmA466 Wye Valley (Chepstow to Monmouth)A wooded riverside road through a designated AONB past Tintern Abbey, gentle and beautiful rather than challenging.
- 35 kmDevil's PulpitA narrow limestone pinnacle perched above the Wye Valley near Tintern Abbey, offering a dizzying view down through the forest canopy.
- 38 kmPen y FanThe highest peak in southern Britain at 886 metres, the flat-topped summit of the Brecon Beacons offering sweeping views across Wales.
- 38 kmCorn DuPen y Fan's twin summit at 873m, with a Bronze Age cairn and the finest view over the Beacons' north escarpment.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Machen.
Plan a trip around Machen
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Machen.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.