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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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Llanbedr

Address

Llanbedr, Gwynedd, LL45 2LD

Telephone
01341 280787

Llanbedr

Llanbedr is an attractive village situated between Barmouth and Harlech. It's an ideal location for walking and Shell Island is famous for it's abundance of sea shells.
Aberystwyth Town Library

Address

Canolfan Alun R Edwards, Aberystwyth, SY23 2EB

Telephone
01970 633717

llyfrgell.library@ceredigion.gov.uk

Offering a wide range of books, talking books, DVDs, music CDs for loan, access to online resources including eBooks, local and family history collections, computers and free WiFi.
Minffordd Railway Station

Address

Minffordd, Porthmadog, LL48 6HG

Telephone
0800 464 0000

Porthmadog

Minffordd railway station is on the Cambrian Coast Line from Machynlleth to Pwllheli.
Penrhyndeudraeth Railway Station

Address

Cambrian View, Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd, LL48 6LN

Telephone
0800 464 0000

Penrhyndeudraeth

Penrhyndeudraeth railway station is on the Cambrian Coast Line from Machynlleth to Pwllheli.
Y Tren Nadolig Fictoraidd | Talyllyn Railway

Address

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

Telephone
01654 710472

enquires@talyllyn.co.uk

Tywyn

Dates

From:
8 Dec 2026
From:
15 Dec 2026
From:
22 Dec 2026

Celebrate the joys and traditions of Christmas and join us for a day out with a Festive Flavour on one of our special Guided Trains.
Craig y Cilau National Nature Reserve (NRW)

Address

Llangattock, Crickhowell, NP8 1LG

Telephone
01874 620860

office@visitbrecon.org.uk

Crickhowell

This former limestone quarry is one of Wales' most outstanding botanical sites, famous for its exceptional variety of alpine plants and trees, some extremely rare.
Barmouth Bonfire & Firework Display 2026

Address

The Quay, Barmouth, Gwynedd, LL42 1HB

Telephone
07887 953888

Barmouth

Dates

From:
7 Nov 2026

Come along and enjoy another epic Firework Display in Barmouth for 2026. Free event - donations welcome.
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
Royal Welsh Winter Fair

Address

Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3SY

Telephone
01982 553683

requests@rwas.co.uk

Builth Wells

Dates

From:

30 Nov 2026to1 Dec 2026

As one of the finest prime stock shows in Europe, the Winter Fair draws crowds from far and wide to enjoy two-days packed full of competitions, festivities and Christmas shopping.
Bwlch Nant yr Arian | Mountain Biking (NRW)

Address

Bwlch Nant yr Arian, Bwlch Nant yr Arian Visitor Centre, Ponterwyd, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3AB

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Ponterwyd, Aberystwyth

Mid Wales is a serious stop off and venue for people wishing to improve their dirt jump and pump track skills and the Mountain Bike Skills Park at Bwlch Nant yr Arian equips people to more safely enjoy their cycling out on the existing mountain bike…
Pwll y Wrach Nature Reserve

Address

Talgarth, Powys, LD3 7LH

Telephone
01874 625708

info@welshwildlife.org

Powys

This 21 acre hillside site embodies the essence of all that is best about the woodland dingles of Mid Wales. Easy access trail through the wood.
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.
Aberporth

Address

Ceredigion, SA43 2BU

Telephone
01239 613230

cardigantic@ceredigion.gov.uk

Set picturesquely overlooking two sandy beaches, the resort village of Aberporth is one of West Wales' most favoured family holiday locations. The beach is a regular recipient of Blue Flag and Seaside awards.
Royal Welsh Show

Address

Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3SY

Telephone
01982 553683

requests@rwas.co.uk

Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells

Dates

From:

19 July 2027to22 July 2027

The Royal Welsh Show is one of the most respected events of its kind in Europe. It brings together the farming industry and rural communities to celebrate the very best of British agriculture, with a distinctive Welsh character that sets it apart.
Spot the Ghoulsh*t interactive ghost walk

Address

Aberystwyth Promenade, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 2AU

Telephone
07807 699 118

Alisonpierse@gmail.com

Aberystwyth

Dates

From:
3 Oct 2026Open 19:00 - 21:15
From:
30 Oct 2026Open 19:00 - 21:00

Interactive ghost walk of Aberystwyth
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.
Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail

Address

Pembrokeshire, SA72 6DY

Telephone
0845 3457275

pcp@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail twists and turns its way through 186 miles of breathtaking coastal scenery in Wales.
Manorbier to Skrinkle Haven (3.22km / 2 miles) An exhilarating cliff top walk with outstanding views
Castell Bronllys | Bronllys Castle

Address

Talgarth, Powys, LD3 0HL

Telephone
0300 025 6000

cadw@gov.wales

Talgarth

Bronllys Castle near Talgarth is a sturdy stone tower with a turbulent history. It was first built as a ‘motte-and-bailey’ castle in the late 11th or early 12th century. The surviving stone tower dates from the 13th century and you can still climb…
Mid Wales Rail Trails | Barmouth to Porthmadog.

Address

Barmouth Railway Station, Station Approach, Barmouth - Porthmadog, LL42 1LS

Barmouth - Porthmadog

Mid Wales Rail Trails | Points of interest travelling on the Cambrian Line from Barmouth to Porthmadog.
Dyfnant Forest | Pont Llogel Wood

Address

Dyfnant & Vyrnwy Forests (NRW), Car Park & Picnic Site, Lake Vyrnwy, Powys, SY21 0QH

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Lake Vyrnwy

Pont Llogel is a small woodland within the Dyfnant Forest next to the Afon Efyrnwy (River Vyrnwy) and the car park and picnic area is set beside an old stone bridge at the edge of a hamlet. This tranquil area has been designated a SSSI choice of 3…
International Ceramics Festival 2027

Address

Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3DE

Telephone
01970 623232

artstaff@aber.ac.uk

Aberystwyth

Dates

From:

25 June 2027to27 June 2027

The biennial festival features demonstrations, kiln builds and spectacular firing sculptures, talks and discussions, films, exhibitions, performances and lectures as well as hands-on activities for visitors to get involved.