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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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Dyfi Discovery Walk | Cwm Ralltgoed Walk

Address

Aberllefenni, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8BL

Telephone
0300 065 3000

Machynlleth

Start: NRW forest car park.
Turn R just before Aberllefenni village sign.
Grid Reference: SH 769 092
Distance: 8.4 km - 5.2 miles
Grade: Easy/Moderate
Maps: OS Explorer . OL23
Aberystwyth Arts Centre | Conferences - Meetings

Address

Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Penglais, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3DE

Telephone
07875664179

aum@aber.ac.uk

Aberystwyth

The Arts Centre can cater for events and conferences up to the capacity of 900 people.
Award winning Aberystwyth Arts Centre is Wales’ largest arts centre and recognised as a 'national flagship for the arts'.
Montgomery Canal Triathlon 2026

Address

Newtown - nr Crickheath Bridge, Newtown, Powys, SY16 2NH

Telephone
01938 553271

triathlon@themontgomerycanal.org.uk

Newtown

The Montgomery Canal Triathlon is one of the biggest events to take place on or near the canal. This special marathon is 27 - 28 miles of cycling, paddling and walking or running and will end at School House Bridge, Crickheath
Lôn Las Cymru Route 8 (South)

Address

Llanidloes - Cardiff, Llanidloes - Cardiff, LD2 3DT

reception@sustrans.org.uk

Llanidloes - Cardiff

This is the section of the route that runs south from Llanidloes, Rhayader, Llanelwedd/Builth Wells towards the Brecon Beacons and the Valleys before arriving into Cardiff.
Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal

Address

Brecon - Newport, Powys, LD3 7EW

Telephone
01633 892167

Brecon - Newport

The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal is often voted Britain's prettiest canal. It runs for 32 miles (51.5 km) through idyllic scenery in the Brecon Beacons National Park
Brecon | Poetry Trail

Address

Aberhonddu | Brecon, Powys, LD3 7AD

Telephone
01874 622485

Aberhonddu | Brecon

Brecon's poetry trail invites everyone to explore the streets, rivers and landmarks of the ancient Welsh town of Brecon and its connection to the myths and legends of the magical, mystical land of Wales.
Sustrans Route 81: Rhayader - Shrewsbury

Address

Rhayader Town Centre, Rhayader - Shrewsbury, LD6 5BU

Telephone
01179268893

Rhayader - Shrewsbury

This section of route 81 heads North East via Llanidloes, Newtown and Welshpool towards Shrewsbury and England.
Gŵyl Gerdd Llanfyllin Music Festival

Address

St Myllins Church & Llanfyllin Workhouse, Llanfyllin, Powys, SY22 6XZ

sec.llanfyllinfestival@gmail.com

Llanfyllin

Llanfyllin Music Festival 2026 will take place on the weekends of 3rd to 5th July and 10th to 12th July, when a string of classics musicians will descend upon the town for a series of performances.
Cefn Cenarth Nature Reserve

Address

Rhayader, Powys, LD6 5LR

Telephone
01597 823298

info@rwtwales.org

Powys

Two areas of upland sessile oak woodland connected by a recently felled conifer plantation now replanted with native broadleaved species. An important place for mosses and lichens.
Dyfi Discovery Walk | Machynlleth to Dyfi Wildlife Centre

Address

Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8BL

Telephone
0300 065 3000

Machynlleth

This walk starts at the car park at Y Plas, Machynlleth and is graded as moderate. The terrain includes road, woodland paths, firm tracks and fields and is a distance of 5 miles.
Pererindod Melangell Walk

Address

Llyn Efyrnwy | Lake Vyrnwy, Llanwddyn, Powys, SY10 0LY

Telephone
01691 870346

vyrnwy@rspb.org.uk

Llanwddyn

A spectacular 15 mile walk passing by Lake Vyrnwy, and leading to Britain's oldest Romanesque shrine at the ancient church of Pennant Melangell.
Welshpool and Berriew (Cycle Route)

Address

Trefaldwyn | Montgomery, Powys, SY15 6HN

Powys

A picturesque cycle ride which follows part of Route 81 on country lanes between Leighton and Berriew.
23.7 Miles (38.1km) 3 hours - Elevation Total Ascent: 549M
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.
Offa's Dyke | Buttington Bridge to Llanymynech

Address

Welshpool - Llanymynech, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 7DD

Welshpool

The Buttington Bridge to Llanymynech section of the Offa's Dyke National Trail starts at Buttington Bridge where you meet the River Severn, from where it is a short walk into Welshpool.
Talley Woodlands (NRW)

Address

Talley, near Llandovery, SA19 7AX

Telephone
0300 065 3000

near Llandovery

Talley Woodlands overlook an historic village and ruined abbey in Carmarthenshire, 12 miles from Llandovery. Picnic area and waymarked walking trails with steep climbs and far-reaching views over the abbey and surrounding hills
Ceredigion Coast Path | Aberaeron - Llanrhystud

Address

Aberaeron, Aberaeron, Ceredigion, SA46 0BT

Telephone
01545 570602

countryside@ceredigion.gov.uk

Aberaeron

5th section of the Ceredigion Coastal Path
Total distance 11.9km (7.4 miles)
Aberaeron to Aberarth 3.1km (1.9miles), grade/easy
Aberarth to Llanon 4.8km (3.0 miles), moderate-easy
Llanon to Llanrhystud 4.0km (2.5 miles), grade/easy
Canolfan Treftadaeth | Tregaron Heritage Centre

Address

Tregaron Heritage Centre, Dewi Road, Tregaron, Ceredigion, SY25 6JW

Telephone
07799 231999

Tregaron

Tregaron is one the oldest market towns in Wales, having received a royal charter in 1292. The Tregaron Heritage Centre is situated in the old Victorian church school, and includes a reconstructed Victorian era classroom, tea room and information…
Dyfi Valley & Coast

Address

Mid Wales, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8SR

Machynlleth

The Dyfi Valley opens wide as it approaches Cardigan Bay Coast and ends in sandy beaches and dunes. It cradles the westerly spur of Powys, Ceredigion north of Aberystwyth, and the southern rim of Snowdonia National Park.
Race the Train

Address

Tal-y-llyn Railway, Tywyn, Gwynedd, LL36 0DF

info@racethetrain.com

Tywyn

This unique event is a must for all multi - terrain runners. Many competitors return regularly to Tywyn to try and better their performance or just beat that train while others have run nearly every year since the races started.
Harlech Castle (Cadw)

Address

Castle Square, Harlech, Gwynedd, LL46 2YH

Telephone
03000 252239

harlechcastle@gov.wales

Harlech

Explore the magnificent castle of Edward I at Harlech - which is inscribed on the World Heritage List. One of the most formidable and dominant fortresses in Wales. Panoramic views of Snowdonia and the sea. On site exhibition.