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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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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
Royal Welsh Winter Fair

Address

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

Telephone
01982 553683

requests@rwas.co.uk

Builth Wells

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.
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.
Aberystwyth Tourist Information Centre

Address

Ceredigion Museum & Gallery, Coliseum, Terrace Road, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 2AQ

Telephone
01970 612125

aberystwythtic@ceredigion.gov.uk

Terrace Road, Aberystwyth

Ceredigion’s experienced Tourist Information Centre (TIC) staff will help you make the most of your visit to Ceredigion.
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.
Coed y Foel Woods to Capel Dewi Circular Walk

Address

Llandysul, Ceredigion, SA44 4DN

Telephone
01239 613230

cardigantic@ceredigion.gov.uk

Ceredigion

Part of Llandysul Trails - Coed y Foel Woods to Capel Dewi
Start: SN418406 - Car Park, Llandysul
Suitable for: Moderately fit walkers
Grade: Moderate-Strenuous
Distance: 13.1km/8M
Time: 4.5 hours (excluding rest stops)
The Big Tribute Festival

Address

Cefn Melindwr, Capel Bangor, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3LS

boxoffice@thebigtribute.co.uk

Aberystwyth

The Big Tribute Festival is THE unmissable family event of the summer – be part of it in Aberystwyth this August!
Llyn Brianne Reservoir & Dam

Address

Rhandirmwyn, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, SA20 0PG

Llandovery

Llyn Brianne is a spectacular reservoir at almost 300m (990ft) above sea level. It holds over 64million cubic metres of water contained by a 91m (300ft) stone-built dam and is the largest of its kind in Europe.
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.
Dyfi Discovery Walk | Centre for Alternative Technology Walk

Address

Centre For Alternative Technology, Llwyngwern Quarry, Pantperthog, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 9AZ

Telephone
0300 065 3000

Pantperthog, Machynlleth

Start: Centre for Alternative Technology
(C.A.T) car park
Grid Reference: SH 754 044
Distance: 7.1 km – 4.4 miles
Grade: Moderate (some steep sections)
Terrain: Firm tracks, roads and open grassland
Maps: OS Explorer OL23 or 215
Coed Pendugwm Nature Reserve

Address

Pontrobert, Powys, SY22 5JF

Telephone
01938 555654

info@montwt.co.uk

Powys

Majestic sessile oaks have nurtured this quiet corner of Wales for over 400 years providing leafy cover for plants and animals and creating a 'wild wood'.
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
Aberdovey Kite Festival

Address

Station Road, Aberdovey, Gwynedd, LL35 0RT

Telephone
07581 305803

mrkiteflyer@gmail.com

Aberdovey

Professional kite flyers from across the UK will be colouring the skies over Aberdyfi again this summer.Enjoy a colourful and spectacular display of kites and other wonderful flying creations.
Three Rivers Road Ride

Address

Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, LD5 4RW

Telephone
01591 610666

info@llanwrtyd.com

Powys

THREE RIVERS ROAD RIDE
Distance 30.5 (19m)
Time 1.5 - 3hrs
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…
Walking Newtown

Address

Various Walking Trails, Y Drenewydd | Newtown, Powys, SY16 2BB

Telephone
01686 625544

townclerk@newtown.org.uk

Y Drenewydd | Newtown

Walking Newtown have developed a series of walks in and around the Newtown area. The walks are all graded and vary from easy to strenuous, town trails, short strolls and accessible trails.
Borth Beach

Address

Ceredigion, Borth, Ceredigion, SY24 5LJ

Telephone
01970 612125

AberystwythTIC@Ceredigion.gov.uk

Borth

Borth's sandy beach is the longest in Ceredigion. With three miles of gently shelving golden sand this Blue Flag Beach is especially popular with families with younger children and sailboard enthusiasts.
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.
MWT Cymru | Meeting Room

Address

Mid Wales Tourism, The Station, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8TG

Telephone
01654 702653

davina@mwtcymru.co.uk

Machynlleth

Great location at Machynlleth Train Station, this first floor meeting room can be booked for interviews, training sessions, group/association meetings.
Beautiful Birds - Sunday Sketching Sessions at RSPB Ynys-hir with Tereska Shepherd

Address

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

Telephone
01654 700222

ynyshir@rspb.org.uk

Machynlleth

A special opportunity to study, sketch and create artwork inspired by the diversity of bird life found at RSPB Ynys-hir. No previous artistic experience required, all materials are provided. £35 per participant or £15 for a 10 to 16 yr old…