Maintenance work on an ancient Machynlleth landmark has begun, with Powys County Council carrying out the routine work to improve a historic walking trail.

Machynlleth’s ‘Roman Steps’, along Glyndŵr’s Way just outside the Powys town, will be receiving some routine maintenance work by Powys County Council to improve the pathway for walkers in more treacherous winter conditions.

The council is carrying out work on the steps as part of a routine bit of maintenance, which involves seeing the drainage system cleared and ruts in the steps filled in.

There are 27 steps in the pathway along the hillside, and despite dating back centuries and being well worn are still very well used and maintained.

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They feature an integral gutter that keeps water from the fields above clear of the path, which is one of the areas the council’s work will clear so the wet weather in the winter months won’t pose a problem for walkers.

The ‘Roman Steps’, carved into a hillside out of solid rock, give access to Wylfa Common where the Romans maintained a lookout post, which is why they were thought to be built in ancient times.

However, despite their name, it’s unclear if the steps were actually built by the Romans.

Some believe the steps were cut by workers at the long-disused quarry to get to the top of the workings.