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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 and Ceredigion.

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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Cors Caron National Nature Reserve | Walking (NRW)

Address

Cors Caron National Nature Reserve, Tregaron, Ceredigion, SY25 6JF

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Ceredigion

Cors Caron is a vast wetland near Tregaron. The huge raised peat bogs and surrounding habitats support a wealth of wildlife. Accessible boardwalk over bog to hide, and Sustrans National Cycle route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
Bow Street Railway Station

Address

Bow Street, Ceredigion, SY23 3EA

Telephone
0800 464 0000

Bow Street

Bow Street railway station is on the Cambrian Line from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth
Dolgellau Town Trail

Address

Dolgellau, Gwynedd, LL40 1PS

Dolgellau

Discover Dolgellau with its rich history and captivating architecture on the Dolgellau Town Trail. Begin and end your journey at Eldon Square in the heart of the town and meander through its irregular streets and admire the solid buildings.
Y Lanfa | Powysland Museum & Library

Address

Y Lanfa Powysland Museum, The Canal Wharf, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 7AQ

Telephone
01938 55003

ylanfa@powys.gov.uk

Welshpool

The Powisland Museum is housed in a restored historic warehouse beside the Montgomery Canal with Welshpool Library on the ground floor and Powysland Museum upstairs. The museum depicts the archaeology and social history of Montgomeryshire.
Build A Nest Box at RSPB Ynys-hir

Address

RSPB Ynys-hir, Eglwys-fach, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8TA

Telephone
+441654700222

ynyshir@rspb.org.uk

Machynlleth

Putting up a nest box in our gardens and open spaces is a great way to help birds such as great tits, blue tits, robins and many more. Come and join us at RSPB Ynys-hir to build your own. We will provide the kit and you can put it together with our…
National Eisteddfod Genedlaethol 2026

Address

Llantood, Nr Cardigan, Pembrokeshire, SA43 3NU

Telephone
0845 4090 800

gwyb@eisteddfod.org.uk

Nr Cardigan

The National Eisteddfod is a celebration of the culture and language and the 2026 Eisteddfod will be held at Llantwd (Llandudoch), North Pembrokeshire
Waen-oer Ridge Mountain Walk

Address

Dinas Mawddwy, Gwynedd, LL49 9LP

Telephone
01341 422888

Gwynedd

The Waun-oer Ridge Walk climbs from the village of Dinas Mawddwy over the bare mountains of Maesglase, Craig Portas, Cribin Fawr and Waun-oer and then down the slopes of Mynydd Ceiswyn to Bwlch Llyn Bach pass, Tal-y-llyn.
Craig Cerrig Gleisiad & Fan Frynych (NRW)

Address

Brecon Beacons, Nr Libanus, Powys, NP8 1LG

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Nr Libanus

Craig Cerrig-gleisiad and Fan Frynych National Nature Reserve is a 156 acre (631,000 m²) area of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
August Sunset Specials | Talyllyn Railway

Address

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

Telephone
01654 710472

enquires@talyllyn.co.uk

Tywyn

Take a trip up the Fathew Valley in the golden evening sun with the Sunset Specials,
Henrhyd Falls

Address

Dol Henrhyd, Coelbren, Neath, Brecon Beacons, Powys, SA10 9PH

Neath, Brecon Beacons

Henrhyd Falls, is tucked away on the western edge of Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons). Plunging 90ft (27m) into a wooded gorge, it’s a natural wonder well worth a visit. Henrhyd Falls is free of charge to visit and see.
Tywyn Beach

Address

Tywyn, Tywyn, Gwynedd, LL36 0DF

Telephone
01654 767321

TIC.Aberdyfi@snowdonia.gov.wales

Tywyn

The west facing beach at Tywyn in southern Snowdonia is a long stretch of sand and pebbles backed by sand dunes.
Sustrans Route 81:Aberystwyth - Rhayader

Address

Aberystwyth Town Centre, SY23 1LG

Telephone
01179268893

Sustrans route 81 or "Lon Cambria" is an East-West cycle route which crosses the Cambrian Mountains and heads towards Shrewsbury and beyond.
Talybont | Mynydd Gorddu Walk

Address

Talybont Village Green, Talybont, Ceredigion, SY24 5HE

Telephone
0300 065 3000

Talybont

Start: Tal-y-bont village green
Grid Reference: SN654 891
Distance: Walk A: 10.5 km – 6.5 miles
Walk B: 9.8 km – 6.1 miles
Grade: Moderate
Terrain: Tarmac road, firm tracks, fields and woodland. Can be muddy in places
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.
Presteigne | Tourist Information

Address

The Judge's Lodging, Broad Street, Presteigne, Powys, LD8 2AD

Telephone
01544 260650

presteignetic@powys.gov.uk

Presteigne

Presteigne has its own Tourist Information Centre, based in The Judge’s Lodging historic building. There is a large amount of local information available, stretching throughout Powys, going into Herefordshire and much of Shropshire.
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
Llys-y-Frân Lake & Visitor Centre

Address

Llys y Frân, Clarbeston Road, Pembrokeshire, SA63 4RR

Telephone
01437 532273

llysyfran@dwrcymru.com

Clarbeston Road

Llys y Frân Lake has reopened following a £4m refurbishment with a new Visitor Centre, cafe, cycle hire, fishing, walking, watersports, adventure playground and climbing wall
St Dogmaels

Address

Pembrokeshire, SA41 3PX

The riverside village of St Dogmaels sits on the border of Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. The village's main attractions are St Dogmaels Abbey and Y Felin water mill.
Morfa Dyffryn Nature Reserve (NRW)

Address

Dyffryn Ardudwy, near Barmouth, LL43 2AR

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

near Barmouth

The spectacular Morfa Dyffryn Reserve stretches for about 4.5 miles along the coast of Cardigan Bay from Afon Ysgethin in the south to Afon Artro in the north.
Lake Vyrnwy 10k Trail

Address

Lake Vyrnwy, Llanfyllin, Powys

Telephone
07595 031 333

hello@adrenalinesportingevents.co.uk

Llanfyllin

The Lake Vyrnwy 10k offers a challenging route for all trail runners. It takes in some breath-taking scenery overlooking the Lake that is very rarely seen.