Mid Wales borderlands and rural heart of Wales
Get out and about, discovering a new way of life with unassuming landscapes, wildlife and activities across our National Parks, Cambrian Mountains and Welsh Borderlands.
Uncover places you’ll love. Relax and unwind visiting one of the greatest unspoilt landscapes the UK has to offer between the source of two major rivers – the River Wye and Severn.
Get familiar with the striking market towns of old, or get lost in something new. Choose between forest-bathing walks, waterways kayaking, mountain-biking through fresh terrain, or just do it all.
Celebrate the borderlands of Shopshire-Powys, decorated for their quality of local produce, castles, country houses and gardens – full of undeniable walking and cycling trails.
Inland Places to Stay
Market towns a plenty, the area shares the likes of Machynlleth, the ancient capital of Wales and locations across the heart of the Dyfi Biosphere; Devil’s Bridge, Ceredeigion, Rhayader The Elan Valley, Llanidloes, Montgomery and Tregaron with visitors far and wide.
National Parks are more your thing? No problem. Snowdonia National Park and The Brecon Beacons National Park are just a stone’s throw away – perfect for stargazing in dark skies, scenic railways, walks and trails or just simply being together,
The Brecon Beacons National Park lies on the border between Mid and South Wales, covering an area of 520 square miles.
It’s home to Fforest Fawr, the UNESCO Global Geopark, international Dark Sky Reserve – and it’s waiting for you.
MID WALES LAKES & RESERVOIRS
The Elan Valley near Rhayader, Llyn Clywedog near Llanidloes and Lake Vyrnwy in the foothills of the Berwyn Mountains bordering north Wales are vast reservoirs which can be explored on foot, by bike and by car.
Llangorse Lake, the Usk and Crai Reservoirs and Llyn Brianne are all within the Brecon Beacons National Park and Bala Lake in southern Snowdonia is the largest inland lake in Wales.
Mid Wales Lakes & Reservoirs >>
SNOWDONIA NATIONAL PARK
Snowdonia is home to some of the most famous mountain ranges in Britain. The source of inspiration for a nation, Snowdonia acquired its National Park status in 1951 making it the second oldest in Britain.
Southern Snowdonia mountains and coast include the Mawddach Estuary, the legendary Cader Idris mountains, the Rhinogs are reputed to be some of the wildest and remote mountains in Wales, and Bala Lake, the largest natural inland lake in Wales.
BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK
From Hay-on-Wye on the Powys / Herefordshire border to Llandeilo in west Wales, the National Park includes four ranges of mountains; the Black Mountains, the Central Beacons, Fforest Fawr and the Black Mountain(Mynydd Du).
Achieving Dark Sky Reserve status and host to a UNESCO Geopark, expect to experience the natural world at is unspoilt best.
UNESCO DYFI BIOSPHERE
The Dyfi Biosphere is part of a network of UNESCO 'Biosphere Reserves' throughout the world and one of only six in the UK.
LAKE VYRNWY
Lake Vyrnwy Reservoir is home to the RSPB Lake Vyrnwy Reserve.
The RSPB, in partnership with Hafren Dyfrdwy, manages part of the reserve as the largest organic farm in England and Wales.
EXPLORE MID WALES TOWNS
Mid Wales has so much to offer when you're looking for a quiet escape. The largest inland town in Mid Wales is Newtown which boasts a whopping 13,000 people. If you're looking for an unfussy, rural countryside hideaway then Mid Wales is the place for you.
Featured Towns
Newtown
Newtown is the largest town in Powys with a population of just 13,000. The source of the River Severn which is the longest river in the UK, starts just up the road in Llanidloes.
Montgomery
Although Montgomery has a small population of around 1,300 you won't find a livelier community; with cafes, inns and restaurants, 2 castles, numerous attractions, and the award-winning Monty's Brewery.
Welshpool
Welshpool is close to both Newtown and Montgomery and is only 4 miles from the shropshire border. With a population of just 6,000, it is home to the famous Powis Castle and Gardens.
INLAND TOWNS
Y Drenewydd | Newtown
Newtown
Newtown, known in Welsh as 'Y Drenewydd', is the largest town in Powys and is situated on the banks of the River Severn. Founded at the end of the 13th century, Newtown boasts a rich industrial heritage, surrounded by beautiful countryside.
Llandrindod Wells
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, it owes its origins to the spring waters that were recognised to have healing properties.
Tregaron
Tregaron
Tregaron nestles in the foothills of the Cambrian Mountains near the source of the river Teifi. In the 19th Century, it was a thriving market town and an important stop for drovers on their routes through Wales to English markets.
Y Trallwng | Welshpool
Welshpool
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.
Trefaldwyn | Montgomery
Montgomery
A historic market town, Montgomery is just one mile from Offa's Dyke and the Welsh-Shropshire border. There is much to explore in the area including Montgomery Castle and the town's cobbled streets and Georgian and Victorian architecture.
Llanbedr Pont Steffan | Lampeter
Lampeter
Lampeter or Llanbedr Pont Steffan or Llambed in Welsh, is the home of the oldest University College in Wales, second oldest to Oxford and Cambridge. In the eighteenth century Lampeter was an important gathering place for drovers.
Llanfyllin
Llanfyllin
Llanfyllin is thriving market town on the upper reaches of the Cain valley in north Powys, and is an ideal centre to explore the area including nearby Lake Vyrnwy and Welshpool.
Llangammarch Wells
Llangammarch Wells
Llangammarch Wells lies south-west of Builth Wells and east of Llanwrtyd Wells and is the smallest of the four spa towns/villages of Mid Wales.
Llanandras | Presteigne
Presteigne
Presteigne, (Llanandras in Welsh), was once the county town of Radnorshire and nestles at the heart of the Mid Wales Marches on the border of Wales and England.
Ystradgynlais
Ystradgynlais
Ystradgynlais is a small town located south of the Brecon Beacons National Park. It lies on the edge of the coalfield and ironworks were founded here in the early 17th Century.
Guilsfield
Welshpool
Guilsfield is a treasure of a village just three miles north of the market town of Welshpool. It is a great place to base yourself for an exploration of the Mid Wales Marches and an even better place just to relax and indulge yourself.
Dinas Mawddwy
Dinas-Mawddwy
North-east of Machynlleth and south-east of Dolgellau, the village of Dinas Mawddwy is just to the side of the A470 at the junction with the mountain road to Lake Vyrnwy and Bala.
Machynlleth
Machynlleth
The attractive market town of Machynlleth lies in the heart of the UNESCO Dyfi Bioshere. You'll find shops, galleries, cosy cafés and a local market held on Wednesday. Local attractions include the Centre for Alternative Technology
Aberhonddu | Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a town where you'll enjoy losing yourself...not only in the narrow streets and passageways lined with Georgian and Jacobean shopfronts, but in the sense of timelessness about the place.
Aberriw | Berriew
Welshpool
The picturesque village of Berriew (Welsh: Aberriw) is one of the jewels in the Mid-Wales crown, with its black-and- white cottages, majestic church and the river Rhiw flowing through its heart.
Llandysul
Llandysul
Llandysul is ideally situated for exploring the varied and beautiful counties of Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and the Brecon Beacons and is almost equidistant from the larger towns of Cardigan, Carmarthen and Lampeter.
Y Gelli Gandryll | Hay-on-Wye
Hay-on-Wye
Hay-on-Wye - in Welsh 'Y Gelli Gandryll' or just 'Y Gelli' is well known as 'the town of books' and is home to the Hay Literature Festival.
Llanfair Caereinion
Welshpool
Llanfair Caereinion is in the heart of old Montgomeryshire's Banwy valley and is one of the smallest towns in Powys. The quaint and sleepy exterior of the town give it a picture book feel that typifies the traditional Welsh countryside.
Talgarth
Brecon
The ancient market Town of Talgarth nestles beneath the Black Mountains which run along the border between Wales and England. Close to Brecon, Crickhowell and Hay-on-Wye, it provides an ideal base for visitors wishing to explore the area.
Llanfair ym Muallt | Builth Wells
Builth Wells
Builth Wells is home to the Royal Welsh Show, red kites and the final resting place of Wales' last prince, Llewelyn the Last.
