Machynys is said by some to mean "Monk's Island", presumably assuming it to be a truncated form of "mynachynys" (mynach = monk, ynys = island), but such a compound form would be most unusual in Welsh and there are no earlier forms to support it. Local legend (possibly from this mistaken interpretation of the name) holds that the area was home to a monastery built by
Saint Pyr in 513, although there is no concrete evidence of its existence. Another suggestion for the name's origin is that it was called "Bach ynys" meaning "small island", and the "b" turned into an "m" (Bachynys-Machynys) The site has been transformed beyond recognition since 1960. It is now home to the
Machynys Peninsula Golf Club which hosted the
Wales Ladies Championship of Europe from 2005 to 2008. To the west of the golf course lies a recent development, Nicklaus Village (), that consists of 175
New England style homes. Machynys is part of the Welsh Assembly Government's
Llanelli Waterside regeneration plan. The Llanelli
Millennium Coastal Park, which includes
National Cycle Network route 4, runs along the coast of Machynys. There are scenic views of the
Gower Peninsula and the
Bury Estuary from along the coast.
Machynys Ponds, a
Site of Special Scientific Interest notable for its
dragonfly population, is immediately to the east of the village of Machynys. ==References==