Mid Wales Town Tour by Rail - Day 1: Monday

Glad you can join us for five days in rural Mid Wales from Shrewsbury and taking in the towns of Welshpool, Newtown and Machynlleth on their market days and two days on the coast at Aberystwyth - all reached along the scenic Cambrian Line railway. Suggestions for overnight accommodation are in or very close to the towns (and their railway stations) that we will be visiting so that you can drop off your luggage when you arrive and not have to carry it around with you!

For each stage of the journey, there are notes available with points of interest along the railway as we travel down the line to Aberystwyth.

The itinerary is from Monday to Friday based on National Rail timetables from 9 December 2018 to 18 May 2019.

How to join the tour:-
From London Euston - Take the 08.43 to Birmingham International which arrives at 09.53 (or alternatively the 08.23 arriving at 09.33); the 10.09 train for Aberystwyth will be waiting for you on Platform 5.
From Birmingham & the West Midlands - Take the Aberystwyth train from Birmingham International at 10.09, New Street at 10.25, Wolverhampton at 10.43 or Telford at 10.59.
From Manchester Piccadilly - Take the 09.31 Carmarthen train to Shrewsbury (or from Crewe at 10.08) which arrives at 10.37.
From Cardiff Central - Leave on the 09.21 Holyhead train (09.35 Newport, 10.01 Abergavenny, 10.27 Hereford) which will arrive at Shrewsbury at 11.21; there is an earlier train from Cardiff at 08.50 arriving Shrewsbury 10.48.
From Shrewsbury - The Aberystwyth train leaves at 11.27.

Morning

Monday - We start the Tour with a short trip down the Cambrian Line to Welshpool; leaving Shrewsbury at 11.27, this takes about 20 minutes.

Welshpool is the first stop; leave the station by the footbridge.

Before heading into town, visit Edinburgh Woollen Mill’s shop which is housed in the imposing Old Station building constructed in 1860. The railway was realigned and the current station built in 1993 to facilitate the provision of a new road to by-pass Welshpool.

Journey notes available - see Points of Interest Shrewsbury-Welshpool

Shrewsbury Railway Station

Shrewsbury railway station is the hub for many rail services to and from Wales.

Points of Interest Shrewsbury-Welshpool Mid/Towns at Shrewsbury Railway Station

Mid Wales Towns Tour Journey Notes 1 - Shrewsbury to Welshpool.

Lunch

A brief tour of Welshpool - drop off your luggage, ideas for lunch and suggestions for the afternoon.

From the Old Station, walk straight ahead for the town. On your left, we pass the Powysland Museum by the canal bridge. At the crossroads/traffic lights, if you are staying at the Royal Oak this evening, you can drop off your luggage. Shops, etc. left or right; right for the Tourist Information Centre. The main street for shops and cafes is straight ahead together with Welshpool Market which is held beneath the clock tower; there will be street stalls as well.

The footpath to Powis Castle (about a mile) is from Park Lane off Broad Street/High Street near the Town Hall. Continue past the Town Hall and up out of the town to the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway’s Raven Square station which is by the roundabout at the junction of the A458 and the A490.

Welshpool/Y Trallwng

Welshpool is a Mid Wales town which lies only 4 miles from the border with England. Its Welsh name 'Y Trallwng' means 'the marshy or sinking land' referring to the fact that the town is low-lying on the River Severn.

The Old Station Welshpool

The Old Station, Welshpool offers a unique opportunity for both the holiday maker and the local visitor to shop in one of the most elegant listed buildings in the area.

Afternoon

After lunch, more time to look around the town or visit one of the following:-

The National Trust’s Powis Castle is a world class medieval castle and gardens - not to be missed! Normally open all year from 10.00 or 11.00 to 16.00/17.00/18.00.

Powysland Museum illustrates the archaeology and social history of Montgomeryshire; it is housed in a restored warehouse beside the Montgomery Canal. Open on Mondays 10.30 or 11.00 to 13.00 and 14.00 to 17.00.

The Welshpool & Llanfair steam Railway was closed in 1956; restoration of the line began in 1959, the first passenger train ran from Llanfair Caereinion in 1963 and by 1981 the line was open again to Welshpool, some 8 miles. Trains are limited on Mondays but on some dates (15 & 22 April, 6 & 27 May and 22 July - 26 August) you can take an early afternoon steam train from Welshpool to Llanfair and back.

Powis Castle

Powis Castle, built circa 1200, began life as the medieval fortress of the Welsh Princes of Powys. The world-famous gardens, overhung with clipped yews, shelters rare plants laid out under the influence of Italian and French styles.

Powysland Museum

In 1867 the Powysland Club was founded by members from in and around Welshpool who shared an interest in history, especially of Mid Wales.

Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway

A narrow gauge train trip up the steepest gradients in Britain. Steam locos and coaches from around the world. Shops and picnic areas at both termini.

Evening

Take a stroll along the banks of the Montgomery Canal or Powis Castle Parkland. Enjoy dinner at the Royal Oak or at one of the many local restaurants and inns.

Overnight

Overnight stay in The Royal Oak Hotel, a historic coaching Inn or local bed and breakfast.

Royal Oak Hotel

The Royal Oak is a historical Hotel that is within easy walking distance of the National Trust Castle, Powis Castle, the leisure centre, Welshpool / Llanfair Light Railway and the restored canal and canal museum.

Shrewsbury Railway Station

Shrewsbury railway station is the hub for many rail services to and from Wales. Follow signs for town centre; the postcode is SY1 2DQ. Ticket office open Monday to Friday 05.20 - 20.40 (19.30 Sat), Sunday 07.30 - 19.30. Live Departure and Arrival screens. Ticket machine, payphones, waiting room, café, toilets. Short stay and accessible parking area on station forecourt. Car park Howard Street @ £5.50/day - 189 spaces; cycle storage stands, taxis from station forecourt. When arriving on the train, turn left out of the station forecourt for the town centre.

Cambrian Line from 9 December 2018 to 18 May 2019:- Departures for Machynlleth & Aberystwyth Monday to Friday at 06.25, 07.27, 09.30, 10.29, 11.27, 13.29, 15.30, 17.29, 18.31, 19.30, 20.32 & 21.50. All except the 06.25, 10.29, 18.31, 19.30 & 21.50 connect/divide at Machynlleth for Pwllheli. Saturday times similar. Sunday at 11.28, 13.28, 15.28, 16.29, 17.27, 18.28, 19.27 & 21.27. The 17.27 divides at Machynlleth for Pwllheli. Arrivals from Aberystwyth & Machynlleth Monday to Friday at 07.12, 08.14, 09.16, 10.17, 11.18, 13.16, 14.18, 15.19, 17.20, 19.18, 20.22 & 21.21. Saturday times similar. Sunday arrivals at 11.19, 12.17, 13.16, 15.17, 16.18, 17.17, 19.16 & 21.16.

Heart of Wales Line from 9 December 2018 to 18 May 2019:- Departures for Swansea Monday to Friday are at 05.56, 10.09, 14.05 & 18.24 (also 04.49 to Llandrindod); Saturday at 05.16, 09.00, 13.58 & 17.57, Sunday at 12.04 & 16.18. Arrivals from Swansea Monday to Friday are at 10.14, 13.32, 18.28 & 22.54 (also 07.57 from Llandrindod); Saturday at 08.22, 13.09, 17.11 & 22.08, Sunday at 15.12 & 19.33.

North Wales - Departures to Wrexham, Chester, Llandudno Junction, Bangor and Holyhead mostly every hour Monday to Saturday; very limited service on Sunday. Trains on this route originate from/continue to Cardiff Central or Birmingham International. Additional services all days to Wrexham and Chester.

One or two trains every hour Mondays to Saturdays to/from Newport and Cardiff Central; one an hour on Sundays. Mondays to Saturdays most of these trains continue to/come from Swansea, Carmarthen and (every two hours) Milford Haven; trains on this route continue to/come from Manchester Piccadilly or Holyhead.