Is there a (open) waiting room at Machynlleth and Pwllheli?

There is no waiting room at Pwllheli- just a shelter on the platform. But there is a Wetherspoon's pub directly opposite the railway station.

Machynlleth is a train depot and the station is staffed all day, so has the ticket office to wait in. I say that carefully because according to National Rail the dedicated waiting room next to the booking office is temporarily closed. That closure is not on the TfW website and sounds odd.
Regardless I am happy that there is somewhere sheltered to wait.

Technically, unless you are on a rail pass, you are supposed to change at Dovey Junction. Anyone on a 'normal ticket' could be charged extra for the dog leg Dovey Junction to Machynlleth and back- I very much doubt the guards could care less (let alone charge you the extra fare) but it should be noted, as under the Community Guidelines advice given here has to be legal.

I wouldn't call the T2 bus less scenic- differently scenic is my view. The train is coastal scenery, the bus is mountain scenery.

Thank you! I was hoping you would see my question.

I am on a Eurail pass so I can pick and choose my route. The luxury of flexibility has already saved my bacon twice on this trip when travel I had planned on Route A was cancelled and I could piece together and travel on routes B+C without issue, thus salvaging my non-refundable room.

I have had four splendid days in the mountains so I am ready for the coastal route if feasible. And the Met office is showing that tomorrow should be much better than today for Mach and Pwllheli.

(My delightful hostel hosts thought I was absolutely mad this afternoon as I was scribbling down all sorts of travel schedule combinations to get from Caernarfon to Aberystwyth. I suppose they are far more used to juggling timetables than I am, and are more concerned about time than scenery.)

Thanks again!

I don't know what the weather is like there today, but the trains are so far on time. Your inbound train arrives at PWL at 1112, so hopefully they allow you straight on when it arrives. If it was Northern they would lock the train up, go off for a late breakfast then allow you on 2 minutes before departure.
So maybe TfW will be more sensible/helpful.

The weather today is a light breeze and dry. Partial clouds so nearly perfect.

I am on the number 12 bus as I dictate this. Last day of my fabulous 1BWS pass

After today’s journey, my next task is to figure out Rangers and Rovers and day tickets for tomorrow’s travel. Alas, no more 1BWS as I head south to Fishguard and Saint David’s.

Thanks again!!