Rural Getaways in Mid Wales
Be outside more and discover incredible landscapes, wildlife, lifestyles and adventures in our two National Parks, Cambrian Mountains and Welsh borderlands
Visiting the central uplands of Mid Wales - the 'Cambrian Mountains' you'll find one of the great upspoilt landscapes in the UK. The source of two major rivers - River Wye and River Severn - are to be found here.
Try forest-bathing walks in the mighty Mid Wales forests, kayaking in the inland waterways, reservoirs and canals or mountain-biking through unspoilt landscapes.
The quiet Shropshire-Powys borderlands are famed for the quality of its local produce, castles, country houses and garden attractions, attractive market towns and excellent walking and cycling routes; not to be missed.
Inland Places to Stay
The area has a number of significant market towns; Machynlleth the ancient capital of Wales and the heart of the Dyfi Biosphere; Devil’s Bridge & Tregaron in Ceredigion, Rhayader & the Elan Valley, Llanidloes, Montgomery and Tregaron are popular market towns.
The region also boasts two National Parks; Snowdonia National Park and the Brecon Beacons National Park.
ELAN VALLEY RESERVOIRS
The Elan Valley has 5 beautiful reservoirs which can be explored on foot, by bike and by car.
Work began in 1894 and the reservoirs were opened by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1904, the entire project cost £6 million which is around £240 million in today’s money.
SNOWDONIA NATIONAL PARK
Home to some of the most famous mountain ranges in Britain and the source of inspiration for a nation, Snowdonia National Park acquired its status in 1951 making it the second oldest in Britain
BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK
Stretching from Hay-on-Wye in the east to Llandeilo in the west and includes four ranges of mountains; the Black Mountains, the Central Beacons, Fforest Fawr and the Black Mountain(Mynydd Du)
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 1300 you won't find a more livelier community; with cafes, inns and restaurants, 2 castles, numerous attractions, and the award-wining 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 6000 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.
Rhaeadr Gwy | Rhayader
Rhayader
A busy, historic market town, Rhayader is named after 'Rhayadr Gwy', a Welsh name for a local waterfall on the Wye. The town is situated in the very heart of Mid Wales in the beautiful Upper Wye Valley sheltered by the Cambrian Mountains.
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.
Pontarfynach | Devil's Bridge
Devil's Bridge
The village of Devil's Bridge, which translated in Welsh is Pontarfynach, means 'The bridge on the Mynach' is internationally famous for its waterfalls, and the Rheidol narrow gauge Steam Railway.
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.
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.
Llanymddfri | Llandovery
Llandovery
Llandovery is delightful little town at the northern edge of Carmarthenshire. The name Llandovery means 'church amongst the waters', owing to its position in a valley where the rivers Towy, Bran, Gwydderig and Bawddwr coincide.
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.
Llanbedr Pont Steffan | Lampeter
Lampeter
Lampeter is the home of the oldest University College in Wales. In the eighteenth century Lampeter was an important gathering place for drovers.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
