Machynlleth will welcome an inaugural, bilingual literary and travel festival, paying homage to an award-winning Llyn author, this November.

From Friday to Sunday, 26 to 28 November, Machynlleth will host the Amdani! Fachynlleth Literature & Travel Festival, which translates to Let’s Go! Machynlleth.

The inaugural festival will pay homage to award-winning Welsh historian, travel writer and author Jan Morris, who sadly passed away in November 2020, on the first anniversary of her death.

With her son Twm Morys’ blessing, and many of her author friends agreeing to take part, it’ll be a celebration of her life and achievements, as well as attendees hearing from acclaimed speakers on the theme of travel in Wales, and beyond, with a series of notable travel and literature writer events.

Some of Jan’s sketches and paintings will also be on display for the first time ever, and artist Dan Llywelyn Hall will be unveiling a new portrait at the opening of the festival, which will be on display for the duration of the weekend.

With venues including the home of the Museum of Modern Art, The Tabernacle and The Wynnstay Hotel on board within the town, many speakers are confirmed for the event.

Twm, a writer, musician and poet, will formally open and close the festival; Simon Jenkins, from The Guardian, will talk about the neglected architecture masterpieces of Wales, a subject close to Jan’s heart; Jan Morris’ agent for 20 years, Derek Johns, and literary journalist and author of five travel books Paul Clements, who are working together as Jan Morris’s biographers, will be discussing their up-and-coming book about Jan, Life from Both Sides; British writer Dea Birkett will discuss female travellers; Ursula Martin will tell the story of walking 5,500 miles through three winters, 14 countries and a pandemic, and many more.

Owner of The Wynnstay Hotel in Machynlleth, Charles Dark, who was instrumental in the festival’s creation, said: “Bringing together some of the UK’s most knowledgeable and acclaimed travel and literature experts is extremely exciting.

“This is very much a team effort between The Tabernacle and The Wynnstay, and we look forward to what is expected to be a weekend full of laughter, informative material and sharing of wonderful stories on the theme of travel.

“On top of the speaker events, we will also have opportunities for attendees to chat to speakers at dedicated meals, as well as exhibitions so there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

“I can’t thank the speakers enough for agreeing to take part, as they are the best of the best and we can’t wait to welcome them to the beautiful town of Machynlleth.”

Emily Bartlett, managing director of MOMA, added: “We are delighted to be working with the Wynnstay on Machynlleth’s inaugural literary festival, and with such an esteemed line up of travel and literature experts involved, this truly promises to be an engaging, informative and exciting weekend.”

Tickets are now on sale at £10 each and can be purchased from the www.moma.cymru What’s On page.

For more information, visit www.moma.cymru or search @AmdaniFachynlleth on Facebook.­