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You are here: Experience and Enjoy > Wildlife & Nature > Birdwatching in Mid Wales

Birdwatching in Mid Wales

Mid Wales is where the red kite was saved. By the 1960s, this bird had been reduced to just a handful of breeding pairs in the remote valleys of the Cambrian Mountains. From that tiny population, the kite has recovered across the whole of Wales and beyond, and today you can see them overhead from almost anywhere in Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia.

Two feeding stations give guaranteed close-up views. At Gigrin Farm near Rhayader, red kites gather every afternoon for the daily feed, and at Nant yr Arian near Aberystwyth the kites come down to the lake while you watch from the cafe terrace. Both are worth visiting, and on a good day you might count fifty or more birds circling overhead.

Ospreys returned to Wales at the Dyfi estuary near Machynlleth. The Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust runs the Dyfi Osprey Project with live nest cameras and a public viewing point open from April to September. Watching a fish eagle return to its nest with a catch is one of the best wildlife experiences in Britain.

The oak woodlands of Mid Wales, particularly in the Dyfi valley, around Lake Vyrnwy and in the Elan Valley, hold breeding pied flycatchers, redstarts, wood warblers and tree pipits in spring and summer. These are some of the most important woodlands for these species in the UK.

On the Ceredigion coast, choughs nest on the cliffs between Aberystwyth and Cardigan. Upland moors across the Cambrian Mountains support breeding curlew, golden plover, ring ouzel and merlin. The estuaries of the Dyfi and Mawddach draw wading birds and wildfowl through autumn and winter.

For guided birdwatching, check listings for local wildlife guides who know where to find the birds at different times of year.

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Llanrhystud Beach

Address

Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 5BU

Telephone
01970 612125

AberystwythTIC@Ceredigion.gov.uk

Ceredigion

The beach at Llanrhystud is a narrow shingle bank at high tide, but at low tide it becomes wide and sandy.
Llanidloes to Machynlleth via Llyn Clywedog | Scenic Drive

Address

Llanidloes - Machynlleth, Powys, SY18 6EQ

Llanidloes - Machynlleth

Explore the 20 mile mountain road from Llanidloes to Machynlleth, via Clywedog Reservoir. Wonderful views and take in the former lead mining community of Dylife and the Dylife Gorge and Wynford Vaughan-Thomas viewing point.
Tinsel & Turkeys Special | Talyllyn Railway

Address

Rheilffordd Talyllyn Railway, Gorsaf Wharf Station, Tywyn, Gwynedd, LL36 9EY

Telephone
01654 710472

enquires@talyllyn.co.uk

Tywyn

Dates

From:
5 Dec 2026
From:
12 Dec 2026

A festive steam train ride & full cooked Christmas Lunch, what more could you want? The ‘Tinsel & Turkey Special’ departs from Tywyn Wharf at 10:30 & 14:10, with your full Christmas lunch being served in King’s Café at 13:15 - just after or just…
Gwilym Bowen Rhys Trio | Tabernacl Auditorium

Address

Y Tabernacl, Penrallt Street, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8AJ

Telephone
01654 703355

info@moma.machynlleth.org.uk

Machynlleth

Dates

From:
31 Oct 2026Open 19:30 - 21:30

An evening in the company of folk singer and musician Gwilym Bowen Rhys, fiddler Patrick Rimes and harper Gwen Màiri.
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.
Bala & Penllyn | Cycle Trails

Address

Bala & Penllyn, Bala, Gwynedd, LL23 7AD

Bala

Cycle routes through southern Snowdonia and the exciting scenery around Bala,
The Precipice Walk

Address

Dolgellau, Southern Snowdonia, LL40 1PS

Southern Snowdonia

The Precipice Walk is one of the famous attractions of Dolgellau. It passes through an interesting variety of habitats which include deciduous woodland, a conifer plantation, meadows, lakeside and sheep-walk.
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.
NCN Lon Teifi

Address

Mid Wales, SY20 8TG

Telephone
01654 702653

info@showmewales.co.uk

Lôn Teifi is part of National Route 82 between Aberystwyth and Fishguard.
Dyffryn Ardudwy Railway Station

Address

Dyffryn Ardudwy, Gwynedd, LL42 2EU

Telephone
0800 464 0000

Dyffryn Ardudwy

Dyffryn Ardudwy railway station is on the Cambrian Coast Line from Machynlleth to Pwllheli.
Llangadog Railway Station

Address

Station Rd, Llangadog, Carmarthenshire, SA19 9LU

Telephone
0800 464 0000

Llangadog

Llangadog railway station is on the Heart of Wales Line which runs from Shrewsbury to Swansea.
St Michaels Church

Address

Discoed, Nr Presteigne, Powys, LD8 2NL

Telephone
01547 560246

davidhiam@aol.com

Nr Presteigne

Friends of St Michael's raise funds for the ancient church on the Welsh border near Presteigne. St Michael's in Discoed (Old English 'dic' and 'cot' a cottage by Offa’s Dyke) acts as a both a spiritual and artistic hub to the community.
Borth Railway Station

Address

Cambrian Trerrace, Borth, Ceredigion, SY24 5HT

Telephone
0800 464 0000

Borth

Borth railway station is on the Cambrian Line from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth.
Llangrannog & Cilborth Beaches

Address

Llangrannog, Llangrannog, Ceredigion, SA44 6SN

Llangrannog

Originally a hidden village above the old port, Llangrannog is now a popular beach and together with Cilborth immediately to the north, provides a favourite destination for families on days out, beach holidays and with surfers.
Cymer Abbey (Cadw)

Address

Vaynor Farm, Llanelltyd, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, LL40 2HE

Telephone
0300 025 6000

cadw@gov.wales

Dolgellau

Dates

From:

1 Apr 2026to31 Oct 2026

From:

1 Nov 2026to31 Mar 2027

The serene ruins of Cymer Abbey stand in a lovely setting beside the River Mawddach. Particularly impressive are its great windows, arches and an unusual tower. Saif olion heddychlon Abaty Cymer mewn lleoliad hyfryd ger Afon Mawddach.
Harlech

Address

Harlech, Gwynedd, LL46 2YA

Harlech

Harlech is a historic town on the Snowdonia coast which has fantastic beaches, Royal St David's - one of Wales' finest golf courses and Harlech Castle which a World heritage site.
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.
Pincyn Llys (NRW)

Address

Clocaenog Forest (NRW), Nr Llanfihangel, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 2AS

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Ruthin

Walk up to the Lord Bagot's monument with excellent views eastwards across Ruthin and the Vale of Clwyd
There is a small roadside car park and information board. OS Grid Ref: SJ060557
Cors Y Llyn Nature Reserve

Address

Newbridge-on-Wye, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3RU

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Builth Wells

The Cors y Llyn Reserve is one of several mires in the old county of Radnorshire and is located to the south of Newbridge-on-Wye.
Brecon Town Walk | Priory Groves

Address

Aberhonddu | Brecon, Powys, LD3 7AD

Telephone
01874 624437

enquiries@beacons-npa.gov.uk

Aberhonddu | Brecon

Priory Groves is a mixed woodland, bordering the Honddu river, with oak, beech, hazel and alder trees.Near the river, look out for dippers at any time of year, and grey wagtails in summer. In spring and early summer there is a good display of wild…
Wales Coast Path | Eryri (Southern Snowdonia)

Address

Wales Coast Path | Southern Snowdonia, Aberdyfi, Southern Snowdonia, SY24 5HX

wcp@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Aberdyfi

The Eyri (Southern Snowdonia) section of the Wales Coast Path providers the walker with the natural backdrop of the Eyri National Park.