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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

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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.
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 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…
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.
Y Drenewydd | Newtown

Address

Newtown, Powys, SY16 2BB

Telephone
01686 625544

enquiries@newtown.org.uk

Newtown

Newtown, a charming town in the heart of Mid Wales, offers visitors a unique blend of history, natural beauty, and modern amenities. With a rich industrial heritage, visitors can explore the Montgomery Canal, Severn Way, and other attractions. The…
Talgarth

Address

Brecon, Powys, LD3 0BW

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.
Crug Hywel | Crickhowell

Address

Crickhowell, Powys, NP8 1AA

Telephone
01873 853254

Crickhowell

The historic town of Crickhowell lies on the River Usk on the southern edge of the Black Mountains in the Eastern part of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Cenarth

Address

Cenarth, Ceredigion, SA38 9LE

Cenarth

Cenarth is a pretty village which lies on the county boundary between Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire. It is renowned for its waterfall and salmon fishing.
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.
Llanfair Caereinion

Address

Llanfair Caereinion, Powys, SY21 0SQ

Llanfair Caereinion

Llanfair Caereinion in Montgomeryshire's Banwy Valley is one of the smallest towns in Powys. Almost 3,000 people lived here in the mid 19th century when the woollen industry was at its peak.
Aberporth

Address

Ceredigion, SA43 2BU

Telephone
01239 613230

cardigantic@ceredigion.gov.uk

Set picturesquely overlooking two sandy beaches, the resort village of Aberporth is one of West Wales' most favoured family holiday locations. The beach is a regular recipient of Blue Flag and Seaside awards.
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,…
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.
Rhaeadr Gwy | Rhayader

Address

Rhayader, Powys, LD6 5BU

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.
Blaenau Ffestiniog

Address

Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, LL41 3HS

Telephone
01766 512981

porthmadog.tic@gwynedd.gov.uk

Blaenau Ffestiniog

Blaenau Ffestiniog is famously known as the "slate capital of Wales" and the "town that roofed the world". Its industrial role has long since diminished, yet Blaenau Ffestiniog attracts many visitors because of its rich slate history.
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.
Dinas Mawddwy

Address

Dinas Mawddwy, Gwynedd, LL49 9LP

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

Address

Llanfyllin, Powys, SY22 5AQ

Telephone
01938 552043

ticwelshpool@btconnect.com

Llanfyllin

Llanfyllin is thriving market town in north Powys on the upper reaches of the Cain valley. It is an ideal centre to explore the area including nearby Lake Vyrnwy and Welshpool.
Llangammarch Wells

Address

Llangammarch Wells, Powys, LD4 4EE

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.
Corris

Address

Corris, Gwynedd, SY20 9SS

Corris

Located 5 miles north of Machynlleth, Corris boasts a surprisingly rich vein of local attractions nearby together with thrilling mountain biking in the forest, excellent fishing at Llyn Myngul (Tal y Llyn Lake) and challenging walking on Cadair…