A stone’s throw from the A5 in Conwy, north Wales, lies the quaint, green village of Penmachno, renowned for its old woollen mill which weaved the Penmachno rug until the 1990s. But neighbouring the mill is a lesser-known gem described by visitors as the best thing they’ve seen in the whole region.
The Roman Bridge at Penmachno, naturally dressed in ivy with such beauty you might assume it’s a man-made feature, isn’t actually Roman. It dates back to the 17th century, though it is possible it stands on the site of an earlier Roman bridge. It is likely it got its moniker from a Roman road which once ran south to Tomen y Mur, reports North Wales Live.
In the stunning picture captured by photographer Ian Lilley, the closer bridge to the lens looking up from the Afon Machno is the 19th century stone road bridge of Pont y Pandy, while the Roman Bridge, barely visible through the vines behind it, is likely its predecessor - not used for centuries and now succumbed to nature’s wondrous design. Find out about the latest events in Wales by signing up to our What's On newsletter here
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Unlike the nearby Machno Falls, the secrecy of the bridges is what leaves tourists breathtaken when they stumble across them. Robert Williams sums it up perfectly: “Enchanting. You would not know it was there if it was for Google Maps,” he said. “It was the highlight of our tour of north Wales.”
The Roman Bridge, spanning 33 feet over the gorge below, is thought to be an old packhorse bridge, intended to carry horses over the Machno, due to its lack of parapets. What is left is an elegant structure which blends splendidly with its surroundings. Another visitor, Tamas Gyorgy, summarised: “Talk about a hidden gem in Snowdonia. This spot is magical. Genuinely fairytale tier.”
Adding to its almost fictional style, tourist Gyula Brizs told of how the “nice old little bridge” is “protected” by a cockerel. “From a nearby cottage there is a cockerel which also keeps the Roman spirit and fiercely guards the area,” they amusingly recalled of their visit.
Parking near to the bridges is limited, and many advise to park further away and enjoy a longer hike. The bridges stand at the top of a gorge complex offering stunning scenic views of the region. Five hundred metres north of the bridge, on the west bank of the Machno, is Machno Falls. And where the Afon Machno feeds into the Conwy is the popular waterfall of Rhaeadr Y Graig Lwyd, or Conwy Falls.
