Autumn in Mid Wales

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Autumn in Mid Wales runs from late September to the end of November. It's the season for golden valleys, waterfalls in full flow, red kites over the hills and evenings by the fire. Across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Eryri (Southern Snowdonia), the lanes go quiet after the summer holidays and the places that were busy in August have room again. In Welsh, autumn is hydref.

Is Mid Wales good for an autumn break? Yes, if what you want is walking, quiet and somewhere warm to come back to. Most people come for a few days of walks in the hills and valleys, a pub supper and a proper night's sleep. Here's where to go and what to look out for.

Where to see autumn colour

The Elan Valley near Rhayader in Central Powys is one of the best places in Wales for autumn colour. Oak and birch woods run down to a chain of reservoirs built more than a century ago to supply Birmingham, and the road past the Caban Coch, Garreg Ddu, Pen y Garreg and Craig Goch dams turns copper and gold through October. Start at Cwm Elan, the Elan Valley Visitor Centre, for maps, a café and the riverside path.

Hafren Forest, west of Llanidloes, is where the River Severn begins. Waymarked trails follow the young river through the forest, where the larch turns orange in late autumn, down to the waterfall known as Severn-break-its-neck.

The Mawddach Trail follows an old railway line for about nine and a half miles from Dolgellau to Barmouth along the estuary in Southern Eryri. It's flat, so it suits most walkers and cyclists, and the oak woods around Penmaenpool are at their best in October. Colour usually peaks from mid October into early November, depending on the weather. Find more routes on our walking routes page.

Waterfalls in full flow

Autumn rain means the waterfalls are at their loudest. At Devil's Bridge in the Ceredigion uplands, 12 miles inland from Aberystwyth, the 300ft Mynach Falls drop through a wooded gorge below three bridges built one on top of another. The steps on the Devil's Bridge Waterfalls nature trails are steep, so wear good boots. You can get there from Aberystwyth on the Vale of Rheidol Railway, a narrow-gauge steam line that climbs 680ft over 12 miles.

Dolgoch Falls in Southern Eryri sits on the Talyllyn Railway between Tywyn and Abergynolwyn, with a path up through the woods from Dolgoch station. In Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), the Four Falls Trail near Ystradfellte passes four waterfalls on the Mellte and Hepste rivers. Paths get slippery after rain, so take your time.

Dark skies and stargazing

Longer nights make autumn a good time for stargazing. The Elan Valley is an International Dark Sky Park, Bannau Brycheiniog is an International Dark Sky Reserve, and so is Eryri, which takes in the hills around Dolgellau and Bala. On a clear, moonless night away from the towns you can see the Milky Way with your own eyes.

Hay Bluff, on the eastern edge of Bannau Brycheiniog, is a good spot with a wide horizon. For a guided evening, Serydda runs stargazing experiences and night photography workshops near Tregaron in Ceredigion. The Spaceguard Centre near Knighton is a working observatory with afternoon tours. Our stargazing page has more places to go.

Wildlife in autumn

Red kites are easy to see in Mid Wales all year. At Gigrin Farm, half a mile from Rhayader, the kites are fed every day of the year, at 2pm from the end of October, and around 500 come in during the colder months.

Grey seals have their pups from September to November. Look down into the coves from the Wales Coast Path around New Quay on the Ceredigion coast, keep well back from the cliff edge and keep dogs on a lead. Red squirrels still live in the Tywi Forest, though you'll need patience to see one, and the Mawddach estuary fills with wading birds as the weather turns. See our wildlife and nature page for reserves and trails.

Cosy stays, pubs and log fires

After a day out, most people want a fire, a good meal and a comfortable bed. Plenty of self-catering cottages across Mid Wales have wood burners, and country pubs light the fire when the evenings draw in. Browse places to stay with open fires and log burners, or find somewhere with a hot tub for an evening under the stars.

Autumn is quieter than summer, so there's usually more choice. School half term weeks go first, and midweek stays are often easier to find.

Food and drink in season

Autumn is harvest time. Farm shops fill up with local apples, squash and root vegetables, game appears on pub menus and Sunday roasts come into their own. The season closes with the Royal Welsh Winter Fair at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, at the end of November, with livestock, a food hall and early Christmas shopping.

October half term

Half term is a good week for steam trains and woodland trails. The Talyllyn Railway, the Vale of Rheidol Railway and the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway all run through Mid Wales, so check their autumn timetables before you go. For wet days, King Arthur's Labyrinth and Corris Mine Explorers near Machynlleth take you underground. Keep an eye on our family events listings for Halloween trails and half term activities.

Good to know

The Cambrian Line runs from Shrewsbury through Welshpool, Newtown and Machynlleth to Aberystwyth, with a branch along the coast through Tywyn and Barmouth. The Heart of Wales Line crosses Powys through Knighton, Llandrindod Wells and Llanwrtyd Wells. Days are shorter, so plan walks to finish before dark and carry a torch. Some attractions change their hours after October half term, so check opening times before you travel.

Autumn here isn't about fitting everything in. Walk in the morning, eat well, get back before the light goes and let the evening look after itself. Check your dates and come and settle in for a few days.

Plan your autumn in Mid Wales

Inspiration

Halloween in Mid Wales

Evening ghost trains, underground stories and legends older than the castles. Halloween in Mid Wales is spooky enough for the children and still ends by a fire.
Autumn Food and Drink in Mid Wales

Apples, squash and game in the farm shops, a Sunday roast in a pub with the fire lit and a local ale to go with it. Autumn is a good time to eat in Mid Wales.
Accommodation with Open Fires and Log Burners

A log burner, thick blankets and a walk from the door. These cottages, inns and B&Bs are made for autumn and winter evenings in Mid Wales.
Dark Skies and Stargazing in Mid Wales

Some of the darkest skies in Britain, with the Milky Way overhead on a clear night. Here is where to go, what to look for and when.
Wildlife Watching in Autumn in Mid Wales

Hundreds of red kites over Rhayader, seal pups in the coves below the coast path and the first winter geese on the estuaries. Autumn is a busy season for wildlife.
Autumn Walks in Mid Wales

Oak woods turning copper above the reservoirs, larch going gold in Hafren Forest and the Mawddach at low tide. These are our favourite walks for autumn colour.

Number of results: 95

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Nyth Robin | Glamping Holidays

Address

Nyth Robin, Aberdyfi, Gwynedd, LL35 0RG

Telephone
07731 783534

hello@nythrobin.co.uk

Aberdyfi

Dates

From:

31 Mar 2026to30 Oct 2026

Nyth Robin Glamping offers fabulous holidays in a variety of unique accommodation options. You can choose from a family-friendly bell tent, yurt, or dome, a cosy woodland cabin, a unique vintage caravan, or a quirky converted horsebox!
All the…

Price
Price £80.00 to £130.00 per unit per night
Hafren Forest Hideaway

Address

Hafren Forest Hideaway, Staylittle, Llanbrynmair, Powys, SY19 7DB

Telephone
07871740514

info@hafrenforesthideaway.com

Staylittle, Llanbrynmair

Dates

From:

6 July 2017to31 Dec 2031

Hafren Forest Hideaway is a 4-star, chalet-style accommodation in the Cambrian Mountains near Staylittle, Powys. Perfect for groups of friends, families, or outdoor enthusiasts, it sleeps up to 13 guests across 4 bedrooms. Guests can choose…
Bryn Cleifion | Bettws Hall

Address

Bryn Cleifion Hall, Mallwyd, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 9HW

Telephone
01686650628

selina@bettwshall.com

Machynlleth

Dates

From:

1 Feb 2026to30 Sept 2026

Bryn Cleifion Hall and Lodge are two self catering properties in Snowdonia National Park in Mallwyd.
Bryn Cleifion Hall sleeps up to 8 in 5 en suite bedrooms and has a modern kitchen, a sitting room with open fire and an acre of lawns. Outside…

Price
Price £850.00 to £1,750.00 per unit per week
Afon Rhaiadr Country House

Address

Afon Rhaiadr Country House, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, LL40 2AH

Telephone
01341 450777

enquiries@afonrhaiadr.co.uk

Dolgellau

Dates

From:

3 Feb 2026to30 Nov 2026

A warm welcome awaits all at Afon Rhaiadr Country House, surrounded by gardens and Woodlands with a stream and waterfall running through. Sumptuous bedrooms with luxury bathrooms. Delicious home cooking. A perfect place to relax and unwind.

Price
Price £95.00 to £155.00 per room per night for bed & breakfast
Tynllwyn Farm

Address

Groes-pluen, WELSHPOOL, Powys, SY21 9BW

Telephone
07483344659

tynllwynfarm@btconnect.com

Groes-pluen, WELSHPOOL

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

A beautiful view and warm welcome awaits you at our 19th century farmhouse. Log fires and comfortable rooms. We are close to Powis Castle and the Llanfair narrow gauge railway and the canal for boat trips.

Price
Price £40.00 per person per night for bed & breakfast to £85.00 per room per night for bed & breakfast
Craig Y Nos Castle | Dog Friendly Accommodation

Address

Brecon Road, Craig-y-nos, Penycae, Swansea, SA9 1GL

Telephone
01639 731167

info@craigynoscastle.com

Penycae

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

Serviced accommodation Craig-y-Nos Castle stands in the Brecon Beacons National Park in the Upper Swansea Valley in South Wales.

Price
Price £140.00 to £220.00 per room per night for bed & breakfast
Penrhyn Dyfi

Address

Plas Penrhyn, Nr Machynlleth, Gwynedd, SY20 9JR

Telephone
01654 702029

glanfechan@hotmail.com

Nr Machynlleth

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

Sleeps 12 - Spacious, elegant Grade II listed Georgian country house with panoramic views overlooking the Dyfi Estuary on the outskirts of Machynlleth, Ideal base to explore the wonders of mid and north Wales and beyond. Aberdovey 10 miles. Perfect…

Price
Price £2,500.00 to £3,000.00 per unit per week
Canvas & Campfires

Address

Pant Yr Hwch, Llanwnnen, Lampeter, Ceredigion, SA48 7LY

Telephone
01570 434542

ellie@canvasandcampfires.co.uk

Lampeter

Dates

From:

1 Apr 2026to31 Oct 2026

Canvas & Campfires in West Wales is a luxury glamping site set on an 11-acre smallholding. The site has five safari tents, and a beautiful converted cowshed called Beudy Bach.

Price
Price £900.00 to £1,200.00 per unit per night
Plas Robin Rural Retreats

Address

Plas Robin, Llandyssil, Montgomery, Powys, SY15 6LQ

Telephone
07307197045

Carolsummors@btinternet.com

Montgomery

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

Three luxurious, bespoke holiday homes, in the Montgomeryshire hillside. Relax and unwind in these beautifully appointed homes, carefully designed with every modern comfort, including, of course, your very own private Hot Tub.

Price
Price £900.00 to £3,000.00 per unit per week
Ty Llewelyn Glamping | Luxury Glamping & Camping near Llanidloes, Mid Wales

Address

Ty Llewellyn, Cwmbelan, Llanidloes, Powys, SY18 6QD

Telephone
07483846101

maria@tyllewelyn.com

Llanidloes

Dates

From:

2 Apr 2026to1 Oct 2026

y Llewelyn Glamping and Camping offers luxury Safari Tents and Lotus Belle tents in the heart of Mid Wales near Llanidloes. Set within 13 acres of woodland and pasture, it’s the perfect Powys retreat. We also feature campervan and camping pitches…

Price
Price £15.00 per pitch per night to £95.00 per unit per night
Dragon Inn, Crickhowell

Address

High Street, Crickhowell, Powys, NP8 1BE

Telephone
01873 810362

enquiry@dragoninncrickhowell.com

Crickhowell

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

The Dragon is a quiet and relaxed Inn in the heart of Crickhowell in the Brecon Beacons National Park. It is a perfect base for exploring the countryside and is very popular with walkers, golfers, birdwatchers.

Price
Price £32.50 per person per night to £130.00 per room per night for bed & breakfast
Y Llofft

Address

Samaras, Tresaith, Ceredigion, SA43 2JG

Telephone
07821694599

info@holidaytresaith.co.uk

Tresaith

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

Y Llofft is a light, single-storey cottage tucked away in a peaceful wooded valley, just half a mile from Tresaith’s sandy beach on the Ceredigion coast. Recently refurbished throughout, it sleeps up to three guests and makes an ideal base for…

Price
Price £303.00 per unit per week
Upper Gelli

Address

Gelli Uchaf, Gelli Lane, Golfa, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 9BB

Telephone
07949 719618

bookings@uppergelli.co.uk

Golfa, Welshpool

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

The perfect getaway, the stunning two-bedroom Bach, our beautiful romantic luxury two-bedroom holiday Lodge and our traditional one-bedroom Shepherd’s Huts provide the ideal base to explore the stunning Mid Wales landscape, visit extraordinary…

Price
Price £150.00 to £250.00 per unit per night
The Lodge Staylittle

Address

Staylittle, Llanbrynmair, Powys, SY19 7BU

Telephone
01686 449354

thelodgestaylittle@gmail.com

Llanbrynmair

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

The Lodge at Staylittle is a mountain chalet style accommodation set in the beautiful Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales. The Lodge is able to sleep 35-40 people, making it the perfect venue for people exploring mid Wales and the west coast.
Brynglas Cottage

Address

Rhandirmwyn, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, SA20 0PE

Telephone
07891 323547

info@brynglascottage.com

Llandovery

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

Beautiful cottage with amazing views, wood burner, walks and cycle routes from the door and 2 pubs within short walking distance. Situated in a tranquil valley overlooking the river Towy, on the edge of the wild Cambrian Mountains, area of…

Price
Price £910.00 per unit per week
Broomfield House

Address

Glasbury On Wye, Hay-on-Wye, Powys, HR3 5NS

Telephone
01497 842970

info@broomfield.wales

Hay-on-Wye

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

Broomfield is a Grade II listed Georgian house of Italianate Regency style, standing in an elevated position commanding stunning views across the Wye Valley to the hills beyond.

Price
Price £150.00 to £275.00 per room per night for bed & breakfast
Tylau Cottages @ Mud and Wool

Address

Tylau, Bwlch-llan, Lampeter, Ceredigion, SA48 8QR

Telephone
07539273122

mudandwoolwales@gmail.com

Lampeter

A 2 bedroom (both with Ensuites ) self catering cottage in rural West Wales, situated in an elevated position with magnificent views of the Cambrian Mountains. This barn conversion has been lovingly restored and completed to a high standard.
Nannerth Country Holidays

Address

Nannerth Country Holidays, Nannerth Fawr, Rhayader, Powys, LD6 5HA

Telephone
01597 811121

info@nannerth.co.uk

Rhayader

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

Choose from 3 quality self catering properties with hot tubs near Rhayader & The Elan Valley; an airy barn conversion, a traditional cosy cottage and a romantic apartment. Set on our 200 acre farm, Nannerth is set in astonishingly beautiful…

Price
Price £299.00 to £650.00 per unit per week
Kilsby Cottage

Address

Kilsby, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, LD5 4TL

Telephone
01591 610 126

kilsbyhouse@btinternet.com

Llanwrtyd Wells

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

A delightful luxury cottage on the edge of 2.5 acres of garden and private woodland with spectacular views and a huge variety of birds. Paradise for walkers, birdwatchers, cyclists , fishermen and horse riders. Children welcome.

Price
Price £85.00 to £105.00 per unit per night
Coedmor Cottage and Coedmor Barn

Address

Coedmor, Caerdeon, Barmouth, Gwynedd, LL42 1TL

Telephone
01341 430332

coedmorenquiry@hotmail.co.uk

Barmouth

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

Charming units nestled between the beautiful Mawddach Estuary and Cader Idris mountain range. Minutes away from Barmouth and Dolgellau the cottages are ideally situated for walking, fishing, bird watching or just relaxing.

Price
Price £320.00 to £530.00 per unit per week
Mid Wales Arts Centre B&B

Address

Caersws, Powys, SY17 5SB

Telephone
07362 416973

office@midwalesarts.org.uk

Caersws

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

Historic country house and farm with unique private art gallery, sculpture hall and grounds. All rooms are spacious, newly refurbished, en suite and decorated with original artworks - fishing rights and easily reached by public transport.

Price
Price £40.00 to £95.00 per room per night for bed & breakfast