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Summer Half Term in Mid Wales

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Half Term Activities in Mid Wales | Family Things to Do

Summer half term in Mid Wales

Summer half term falls in late May, when Mid Wales is warming up and the beaches, mountains and family attractions are open for the season. It is one of the best weeks of the year to visit, with longer evenings, quieter roads than the summer holidays, and enough variety to keep families busy for a full week.

Beach days

The beaches along the Cardigan Bay coast are the obvious starting point. Barmouth has the big sandy beach with dunes and an ice cream van. Aberdyfi is smaller and more sheltered. Aberystwyth has two beaches plus the pier, the cliff railway and plenty of cafes. On the Ceredigion coast, New Quay has dolphins visible from the shore and Llangrannog has a proper cove with rock pools.

Steam railways

Children love steam trains. The Vale of Rheidol Railway runs from Aberystwyth to Devils Bridge through mountain scenery. The Talyllyn Railway near Tywyn in Southern Eryri (Southern Snowdonia) is the oldest preserved railway in the world. The Welshpool and Llanfair Railway crosses Powys farmland. Each journey takes about an hour, and most railways have cafes and shops at the stations.

Family attractions

The Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth is a hands-on experience for all ages, with a water-powered cliff railway, interactive displays and nature trails. King Arthur's Labyrinth at Corris takes you underground by boat to explore caverns with sound and light displays. Gigrin Farm near Rhayader feeds red kites daily and hundreds come swooping down at feeding time.

Bwlch Nant yr Arian near Aberystwyth has mountain bike trails, walking trails and a lakeside cafe where red kites are fed daily. The Silver Mountain Experience near Aberystwyth takes you into an old lead mine. Animalarium in Borth is a small zoo and rescue centre right by the beach.

Outdoor activities

If the weather is good, head for the outdoors. Kayaking on the Dyfi estuary or in Cardigan Bay is suitable for families. Cycling the Mawddach Trail from Dolgellau to Barmouth is flat, traffic-free and follows the estuary. Walking routes in the Elan Valley, around Llyn Clywedog or along the coast path are manageable for children.

Rainy day plans

It will rain at some point. When it does, Aberystwyth has the National Library of Wales (free exhibitions), the Ceredigion Museum and indoor swimming. The Magic of Life butterfly house near Aberystwyth is small but children love it. In Powys, the Royal Welsh Showground at Builth Wells sometimes has events during half term, and Llandrindod Wells has the Radnorshire Museum and Lakeside cafe.

Where to stay

Self-catering cottages work best for families at half term. A cottage with a garden and a washing machine makes a week with children much easier. Camping is also good in late May, with warmer nights and quieter sites than the summer holidays. Book early for coastal properties; half term is popular.

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Shrewsbury Railway Station

Address

Castle Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY1 2DQ

Telephone
0800 464 0000

Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury railway station is the hub for many rail services to and from Wales.
Mwnt Beach

Address

Mwnt, Cardigan, Ceredigion, SA43 1QH

Telephone
01545 570200

mwnt@nationaltrust.org.uk

Cardigan

Mwnt, about 4.5 miles from Cardigan, is named after the conical hill (Foel y Mwnt) that rises above this popular beach. It is an ideal place to spot bottlenose dolphins, basking sharks and porpoises in the distance!
Wales Coast Path | South Wales Coast

Address

Chepstow - Cardiff Bay - Bridgend, CF33 4PT

Telephone
0300 065 3000

wcp@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

Chepstow - Cardiff Bay - Bridgend

The South Wales Coast and Severn Estuary stretch is 176km/109-mile in length running from Chepstow to the Kenfig Dunes near Port Talbot.
Hay Castle | Wedding Venue

Address

Hay Castle, Oxford Road, Hay-on-Wye, Powys, HR3 5DG

Telephone
01497 820079

helen.lowther@haycastletrust.org

Hay-on-Wye

Hay Castle sets the imagination soaring. Once a great medieval stronghold, the castle and the grounds in the heart of Mid Wales are alive with possibilities once again.
PYFA Evening Concert | Gregynog

Address

Gregynog Hall & Gardens, Tregynon, Nr Newtown, Powys, SY16 3PL

Telephone
01686 650224

enquiries@gregynog.org

Nr Newtown

Dates

From:
29 July 2026Open 19:00 - 21:00

Join us for the opening concert of the second edition of Pererinion Ysbrydol Festival Academy!
Green Man Festival

Address

Glanusk Estate, Crickhowell, Powys, NP8 1AA

Telephone
0161 813 2222

customerservices@ticketline.co.uk

Crickhowell

Dates

From:

20 Aug 2026to23 Aug 2026

Green Man Festival is an award-winning music and arts festival held annually at Glanusk Park near Crickhowell, Powys. Set against the backdrop of the Bannau Brycheiniog mountains, it brings together live music, arts, culture and outdoor experiences.
Coed Maen Arthur | Woodland Walk

Address

Coed Maenarthur Woodland, Pontrhydygroes, Devil's Bridge, Ceredigion

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Devil's Bridge

Coed Maen Arthur is a woodland in the Ystwyth valley near the village of Pont-rhyd-y-groes, 14 miles from Aberstwyth. The waymarked walk goes through the woodland to Castell Grogwynion, one of the largest hill forts in Wales, and passes near an…
EnduroGP of Wales 2026 - The Grand Finale

Address

Cwmythig Hill, Rhayader, Powys, LD6 5NS

info@endurogp.wales

Rhayader

Dates

From:

6 Aug 2026to9 Aug 2026Open 16:00 - 22:00

The EnduroGP of Wales returns to Mid Wales from 6 - 9 August 2026 as the final round of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship.
RSPB Mawddach Valley - Arthog Bog

Address

5 St Marys Terrace, Arthog, Gwynedd, LL39 1BQ

Telephone
01654 700222

mawddach@rspb.org.uk

Arthog

Arthog Bog is located in southern Snowdonia between Dolgellau and Fairbourne. It is a small wetland and a wonderful place to see weird and wonderful plants, flowers, butterflies and birds.
Bryn-tail Leadworks (Cadw)

Address

Llyn Clywedog, Llanidloes, Powys, SY18 6NU

cadw@gov.wales

Llanidloes

The ruins of the Bryn-tail Leadworks lie in the shadow of the dam at the southern end of Llyn Clywedog Reservoir near Llanidloes Buildings and structures associated with the nineteenth-century extraction and processing of lead ore.
Montgomery Cycle Trail | Llandyssil and Abermule

Address

Circular Cycling Route, Montgomery, Powys, SY15 6HN

Telephone
01938 552043

admin@montgomery-wales.co.uk

Montgomery

There are five Montgomery Cycle Trails based in and around Montgomery that will provide you with beautiful views of the dramatic countryside of the Mid Wales Marches. Cycle Parking is available in Broad Street in the town centre.
Aberystwyth Bus Station

Address

Alexandra Road, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 1LH

Telephone
0800 464 0000

feedback@traveline.cymru

Aberystwyth

Aberystwyth bus station is next to the railway station with services from/to London, Cardiff, Carmarthen, Bangor, Haverfordwest, Fishguard and Cardigan.
Black Mountains | Pen Tir Walk

Address

Brecon Beacons | Black Mountains, Cwmdu, Crickhowell, Powys

Telephone
01873 812105

Crickhowell

This walk starts on the west of this striking and distinctly shaped hill in the small village of Llangenny (240180), just to the east of the bridge over the Grwyne Fawr.
Aberystwyth Castle

Address

Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 2AG

Telephone
01970 612125

Ceredigion

In the marvellous sweep of Cardigan Bay stand the ruins of one of Edward I's late 13th century castles. Of the seven major English strongholds he established in Wales, Aberystwyth Castle has fared least favourably in the survival stakes.
Brecon Jazz Festival Weekend

Address

Multiple Venues around Brecon, Brecon, Powys, LD3 7EW

info@breconjazzfestival.co.uk

Brecon

Dates

From:

6 Aug 2026to9 Aug 2026

The Brecon Jazz Festival is a music festival held annually hosting world-class jazz performances across a variety of venues in and around Brecon.
North Clettwr Valley Walk

Address

Llandysul, Ceredigion, SA44 4DN

Telephone
01239 613230

cardigantic@ceredigion.gov.uk

Ceredigion

Part of Llandysul Trails - North Clettwr Valley Walk
Start: SN452425 - Car Park, Capel Dewi church hall
Suitable for: Moderately fit walkers
Grade: Easy
Distance: 3.2km/2M
Time: 1 hour (excluding rest stops)
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.
Offa's Dyke Centre

Address

West Street, Knighton, Powys, LD7 1EN

Telephone
01547 528753

oda@offasdyke.org.uk

Knighton

The Offa's Dyke Centre is positioned at about the halfway point of the Offa's Dyke Path National Trail and at the start of the Glyndwr's Way National Trail.
Teifi Valley Railway

Address

Henllan Station, Llandysul, Ceredigion, SA44 5TD

Telephone
01559 371077

info@teifivalleyrailway.wales

Llandysul

The Teifi Valley Railway was created from a branch line of the Great Western Railway which served the West Wales rural area.
Ystwyth Trail | Ystradmeurig - Tregaron

Address

Ystwyth Trail (Stage 2), Ystrad Meurig - Tregaron, SY25 6BJ

Telephone
01970 612125

aberystwythtic@ceredigion.gov.uk

Ystrad Meurig - Tregaron

The Ystwyth Trail is a 32.1km/20M cycle route and footpath linking Aberystwyth and Tregaron. Part of the trail follows the track of the old Great Western railway line.
Start: Aberystwyth SN584812
Finish: Tregaron SN679597