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Destinations in Mid Wales | Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Mid Wales

Mid Wales stretches from the Brecon Beacons in the south to the mountains of Southern Snowdonia in the north, from the English border to the Cardigan Bay coast. It covers three counties, dozens of market towns, hundreds of miles of walking paths and some of the emptiest landscape in Britain. This is not a place you visit for attractions. You come for the land itself.

Where should I go in Mid Wales?

That depends on what you are looking for. The Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) have the highest mountains in southern Britain, waterfall walks and the dark sky reserve. Central Powys is quieter still: market towns like Builth Wells and Llandrindod Wells surrounded by green valleys and the Elan Valley reservoirs. The Ceredigion coast runs along Cardigan Bay with harbour towns, dolphin watching and the Wales Coast Path. Southern Snowdonia has Cadair Idris, the Mawddach Estuary and the castle town of Harlech. North Powys stretches from Welshpool to Machynlleth, with Lake Vyrnwy and the Montgomeryshire canal.

What is the landscape like?

Varied, and wilder than people expect. The Cambrian Mountains in the centre of the region are among the most sparsely populated uplands in England and Wales. Red kites circle overhead, rivers run fast and clean, and the roads wind through valleys where farms outnumber houses. The coast is different again: wide bays, rocky headlands, bottlenose dolphins offshore and long beaches that empty out as soon as you walk five minutes from the car park.

Which towns are worth visiting?

Brecon is the gateway to the national park, with a cathedral, independent shops and a good food scene. Aberystwyth is the largest town on the coast, a university town with a promenade, pier and a funicular railway up Constitution Hill. Machynlleth has a Wednesday market, the Museum of Modern Art and the Centre for Alternative Technology nearby. Rhayader is the gateway to the Elan Valley. Crickhowell has more independent shops per head than almost anywhere in Wales.

Every town here has its own character. None of them are trying to be something they are not.

Mid Wales rewards the visitor who picks one area and stays a while. Book a cottage in the Brecon Beacons for walking, a B&B in Aberystwyth for the coast, or a farmhouse in the Cambrian Mountains for the silence. Each area has its own character, and a week is barely enough to feel you have scratched the surface. Browse our accommodation search to find your starting point.

Discover Mid Wales Destinations

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Number of results: 52

, currently showing 1 to 20.

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Abermaw | Barmouth

Address

Barmouth, Gwynedd, LL42 1LS

Telephone
01341 280556

info@barmouth-wales.co.uk

Barmouth

Barmouth is one of the most picturesque resorts on the Welsh coast and is surrounded by the unrivalled splendour of the Snowdonia National Park.
Llandrindod Wells

Address

Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 6BL

Telephone
01597 822600

llandrindodtic@btconnect.com

Llandrindod Wells

Llandrindod Wells, or 'Landod' as it is known to locals, is the administrative centre of Powys and one of its largest towns. As the name suggests, Llandrindod Wells owes its origins to the spring waters.
Y Trallwng | Welshpool

Address

Welshpool, Powys, SY21 7DD

Telephone
01938 552043

touristcentre@welshpooltowncouncil.gov.uk

Welshpool

Welshpool is nestled in the heart of the picturesque in north Powys / Severn Valley. Explore Powis Castle, take a scenic walk along the Montgomery Canal, or browse the independent shops and traditional markets for local treasures. Discover the…
Trefaldwyn | Montgomery

Address

Montgomery, Powys, SY15 6HN

Montgomery

Montgomery, known in Welsh as Trefaldwyn, is a little town with a big history! It's seen everything from the Iron Age to the Romans, Saxons, Normans and even the English Civil War! This Georgian gem is tucked away from the hustle and bustle.
Y Drenewydd | Newtown

Address

Newtown, Powys, SY16 2BB

Telephone
01686 625544

enquiries@newtown.org.uk

Newtown

Y Drenewydd (Newtown) is a small riverside market town on the River Severn in Mid Wales, easy to walk with independent shops, cafés, galleries and green spaces all close together. Follow riverside paths and town trails through Dolerw Park, explore…
Dolgellau

Address

Southern Snowdonia, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, LL40 1PS

Dolgellau

Dolgellau is the ideal base to explore southern Snowdonia's dramatic scenery, adrenalin-fuelled activities and world heritage attractions. It's a historic mountain town built on the wool trade and steeped in folklore.
Llanymddfri | Llandovery

Address

Llanymddfri | Llandovery, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, SA20 0AW

Llandovery

Llanymddyffri, or Llandovery, means ‘church among the waters. Surrounded by three rivers, the Towy, the Bran, and the Gwydderi. Llandovery is a market town with a population of just under 3000.
Llanbedr Pont Steffan | Lampeter

Address

Lampeter, Ceredigion, SA48 7AA

Telephone
01970 612125

aberystwythtic@ceredigion.gov.uk

Lampeter

The market town of Lampeter in the Teifi Valley - home of the oldest University in Wales, surrounded by beautiful countryside.
Tref farchnad Llambed yn Nyffryn Teifi, cartref y Brifysgol hynaf yng Nghymru, yng nghanol cefn gwlad hyfryd.
Y Fenni | Abergavenny

Address

Monmouthshire, NP7 5HD

Abergavenny is the traditional gateway to South Wales and to the Brecon Beacons National Park. The old market town is surrounded by beautiful border countryside and home to the best food festival in the UK.
Llwyngwril

Address

Gwynedd, LL37 2JS

Telephone
01341 280787

barmouth.tic@gwynedd.gov.uk

Llwyngwril is a coastal village with a population of around 500. The village falls within the Snowdonia National Park.
Pontrhydfendigaid

Address

Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion, SY20 8TG

Telephone
01970 612125

aberystwythTIC@ceredigiong.gov.uk

Pontrhydfendigaid

At the heart of Pontrhydfendigaid - 'the bridge of the blessed ford' (known locally as ‘Bont’) is a narrow hump backed bridge across the river Teifi, whose source is about 5 miles away in the hills, at Teifi Pools.
Aberystwyth

Address

Ceredigion, SY23 2AG

Telephone
01970 612125

aberystwythtic@ceredigion.gov.uk

Welcome to Aberystwyth - a beautiful and lively seaside town on the Mid Wales coast. Enjoy stunning natural beauty, cultural attractions, unique shopping and dining, and a range of accommodation options. Easily accessible by railway, bus, or car,…
Llanrhystud

Address

Llanrhystud, Ceredigion, SY23 5BW

Telephone
01970 612125

AberystwythTIC@ceredigion.gov.uk

Llanrhystud

Llanrhystud is a Ceredigion coastal village midway between Aberystwyth and Aberaeron. It has a half mile long sandy beach at low tide which is well suited for windsurfing and swimming.
Oswestry

Address

Shropshire, SY11 2TE

Telephone
01654 702653

info@mwtcymru.co.uk

Oswestry is the third largest town in Shropshire with a population of 17,000; it is five miles from the border with Wales and has a mixed Welsh and English heritage.
Aberdyfi | Aberdovey

Address

Aberdyfi, Gwynedd, LL35 0ED

Telephone
01654 767321

TIC.Aberdyfi@eryri-npa.gov.uk

Aberdyfi

Aberdyfi's pastel-coloured terraces front a large sandy beach and quaint old harbour. The town is a popular centre for sailing, watersports and golf.
Llangrannog

Address

Ceredigion, SA44 6SD

Telephone
01239 613230

CardiganTIC@Ceredigion.gov.uk

Llangrannog is one of Ceredigion's favourite seaside resorts, seven miles south of New Quay. Its award winning sandy beaches nestle below the cliffs and are crossed by the Ceredigion section of the Wales Coast Path.
St Dogmaels

Address

Pembrokeshire, SA41 3PX

The riverside village of St Dogmaels sits on the border of Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. The village's main attractions are St Dogmaels Abbey and Y Felin water mill.
Tywyn

Address

Tywyn, Gwynedd, LL36 0DF

Telephone
01654 767321

TIC.Aberdyfi@eryri-npa.gov.uk

Tywyn

Tywyn is a coastal town in Southern Snowdonia on the Mid Wales coast. The name Tywyn comes from the Welsh word for beach or sand dunes.
Pontarfynach | Devil's Bridge

Address

Devil's Bridge, Ceredigion, SY23 3JW

Devil's Bridge

The village of Devil's Bridge is situated at the head of the Rheidol Valley in the heart of the Cambrian Mountains. Famous for its bridges and waterfall, Devil's Bridge and can be reached via the Vale of Rheidol Steam Railway.
Machynlleth

Address

Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8BL

Machynlleth

Unwind in the heart of the Dyfi Biosphere at Machynlleth. Part of the UNESCO Dyfi Biosphere and offers exciting activities, from mountain biking to exploring the natural beauty of Mid Wales. The Centre for Alternative Technology is an excellent…