Feature

The countryside beauty spot where you can see fighter jets flying through the valley

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 26th October 2023

On first impression, the villages around south Snowdonia are pretty sleepy – a few small shops and pubs, beautiful scenery, a lot of sheep and not much else.

But stick around, and you’ll find the tranquility completely shattered by one of the most impressive sights in the country.

The series of valleys between Dolgellau in the north, and Machynlleth in the south, are also known to those in the know as the Mach Loop.

On a regular basis, you can see military aircraft flying through the valleys at alarming speeds.

The valleys used on The Mach Loop. Credit: Unsplash

The Mach Loop is a must-visit for anyone still in the grip of Top Gun: Maverick fever, the hotly-anticipated second instalment of Tom Cruise whizzing around in his jet ignoring his seniors.

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The aircraft in the Welsh valleys fly so low that if you climb the hills on either side of the loop, you can see straight into the cockpit.

It’s a truly awe-inspiring sight and sound, with the familiar roar of the engines echoing around the countryside.

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Aircraft in action on The Mach Loop. Credit: James Veitch

The area is used as a low-level training areas for fast aircraft, with planes sometimes flying as low as 76 metres.

You can regularly spot planes like Royal Air Force Airbus A400M, Typhoons and Hawk jets taking on the Mach Loops.

The challenge is knowing when they’ll appear.

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The aircraft tend to conduct their training flights throughout the weekdays, but there’s no published timetable to go off.

Read more: A Manc’s guide to: Saddleworth, where people flock for a taste of the countryside

Most people choose to wrap up warm and head up the hill armed with snacks, ready to camp out for the afternoon in the hope of catching some action.

As it’s a good couple of hours’ drive from Manchester, you might want to book into an Airbnb or hotel to make a weekend of it (the award-winning Ynyshir restaurant is also nearby).

There’s a car park on the A487 that you can use as a good starting point to find your vantage point of choice.

Featured image: James Veitch

Feature

The Bodorgan Inn – The amazing staycation with its very own pub inside

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The Bodorgan Inn - The amazing staycation with its very own pub inside

The day starts with a leisurely breakfast around the breakfast bar. Then there’s a bit of a kick-about in the garden. A quick BBQ for lunch before heading to the pub, for an afternoon of Guinness, darts, pool, and a pub quiz. In the evening, it’s a three course dinner, followed by a film with popcorn and pick n mix in the cinema.

Oh, did I mention you’ve done all of this without actually leaving the house?

That perfect day could very easily be your reality (along with more than a dozen of your mates) at this unbelievable house in Wales.

The Bodorgan Inn is a former, historic public house that’s been carefully converted into a home that up to 24 guests can stay in – and they’ve kept part of the working pub inside.

That means that guests can pour themselves a pint, watch the football, have a game of darts, sit around the fireplace, and even use a urinal, all without setting foot outside the front door.

As well as its own pub, the Bodorgan Inn has 10 beautiful bedrooms – some enormous, traditional ones with bay windows looking across the countryside; others modern rooms with en-suites that wouldn’t look out of place in a boutique hotel.

The Bodorgan Inn has its own pub
The Bodorgan Inn has its own pub
You can have the bar stocked for your arrival
You can have the bar stocked for your arrival
Host a pub quiz
Host a pub quiz
Play pool and darts
Play pool and darts
And generally enjoy your evening in your own private pub
And generally enjoy your evening in your own private pub
Play at being the bartender
Play at being the bartender

The house can comfortably fit 12 people in every single room at once (we tried it), whether you’re tucked around the kitchen table catching up over a cuppa or dressed up to the nines for dinner in the grand dining room.

You can also all easily fit into the pub, which is split across two rooms; the garden, which has ample outdoor seating; and the snug – the biggest snug I’ve ever seen – with a huge TV, PlayStation, fireplace and comfy couches.

In fact, the only place we couldn’t all fit at once was the hot tub on the terrace in the back garden.

It’s not just the physical space, either – it’s all the extra bits included in your stay, like having ample champagne flutes for everyone, loads of Guinness glasses, and more than enough mugs, plus two dishwashers and a glass wash to help with the clean-up.

Bedrooms in The Bodorgan Inn

It’s extremely hard to tear yourself away from this fabulous home, so we called in a private chef to cook dinner for the group, served up in our own stately dining room after we’d hosted a pub quiz.

And there was a little taste of home thanks to a giant tray of Buttercup’s banana pudding, and batched cocktails from Stray.

But if you do want to head out, the Bodorgan Inn is in a lovely spot, surrounded by the countryside of Anglesey and a short drive into the village of Rhosneigr, where walks can take in the beautiful sand dunes.

The Bodorgan Inn with Birch Stays
The Bodorgan Inn with Birch Stays
The huge gardens
The huge gardens
The nearby village of Rhosneigr
The nearby village of Rhosneigr
The Manc Team on the beach in Rhosneigr
The Manc team on the beach in Rhosneigr

Also, handily, the Bodorgan train station is directly opposite the house, whisking you along to Holyhead in one direction or to Bangor and along the North Wales coastline in the other.

Every inch of the Bodorgan Inn is stylish, luxurious, and comfortable, as well as being packed with fun touches and added extras.

If you book with Birch Stays, you can pop extra details onto your booking like having a keg of your beer or cider of choice in the pub, arranging a cocktail-making kit, bags of pick-n-mix for the snug, disposable cameras, and even Christmas decorations.

Movie night in the snug
Movie night in the snug
Dinner with private chef Meals by Chris
Dinner with private chef Meals by Chris
Brought Stray bar with us
Brought Stray bar with us
And a Buttercup banana pudding
And a Buttercup banana pudding
Team breakfast
Team breakfast
The Bodorgan Inn is dog-friendly too (this is Tiger)
The Bodorgan Inn is dog-friendly too (this is Tiger)

We loved the way the house is big and varied enough for groups to splinter off at times too – some watching sport in the pub, others having a glass of wine in the garden, some watching The Traitors in the lounge.

Whether it’s a Christmas do, a stag or hen party, a full family gathering or any other large group occasion, The Bodorgan Inn is well worth considering.

You can see more and book your stay with Birch Stays HERE.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Feature

Review | ‘Hopefully!’, you get lucky enough to see the spectacle that is Loyle Carner live

The Manc The Manc Loyle Carner Victoria Warehouse live gig review Manchester

The O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester has this week played host to Benjamin Gerard Coyle-Larner this week, a.k.a. Loyle Carner, as he serenaded adoring listeners with his captivating lyrics, spine-tingling bass and drumlines, as well as his ever-laid-back warmth and charisma.

His stage name is the only spoonerism you’ll ever find in this man’s craft, as every syllable is as intentional and well-placed as the last.

Accompanied by an incredibly talented band and golden production, the night lends itself to a thought-provoking performance that leaves you wanting more. Consider me listening to nothing but this setlist for the foreseeable.

As the rumble of eager, loyal/Loyle – take your pick – listeners awaited his arrival, you could sense what this artist and his poetic music mean to people.

Opening with ‘in my mind’, just like that, you saw the crowd suddenly holding each other’s hands whilst comfortably sitting in the palm of Carner’s.

Let’s not forget his brilliant band, either, who all got their time in the spotlight and wowed as a collective.

Carner and the crowd definitely gave them the recognition they deserved, with piano solos throwing a blanket of respectful silence and tentative listening over the whole audience.

Loyle’s well-loved and special lyrics were echoed throughout the venue from start to finish.

He insisted (and not for the first time) that there’s “something special about playing in Manchester” – and we couldn’t agree more.

Carner’s vulnerability onstage opens a glowing portal for his listeners to do so as well. He encourages feeling. And as an audience, this is extremely clear in the room. It was a sea of warm embraces, agreeing heads and ignited eyes.

loyle carner victoria warehouse dates
loyle carner live gig review
Loyle Carner was just as good on night two at Victoria Warehouse as he was on the first. (Credit: Audio North)

As the setlist crept towards the end, the crowd were not ready to say goodbye as the customary chants of ‘one more song!’ bounced off the Victoria Warehouse walls.

We were then blessed with a solo Loyle, who shared a typically creative and reflective spoken-word Carner special with us.

Without any demand, the crowd fell sweetly silent and absorbed his every word. A poet, pure and simple.

The 31-year-old rapper and wordsmith plays one more night at the venue to round off his mini residency tonight (Tuesday, 25 November 2025); you can try and grab last-minute tickets HERE.

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Featured Images — The Manc Group

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