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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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Glaslyn Nature Reserve

Address

Aberhosan, Powys, SY20 8RE

Telephone
01938 555654

Powys

Glaslyn is Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust’s biggest nature reserve, an integral part of the Cambrian Mountains.
The Rheidol Cycleway

Address

Ceredigion, SY23 1PG

Telephone
01970 612125

aberystwythtic@ceredigion.gov.uk

A 28km trail along designated cycle paths and quiet country lanes between the towns of Aberystwyth & Devils’ Bridge.
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.
Ystwyth Trail (Stage 2)

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 20-mile(32.1km) cycle route and footpath linking Aberystwyth & Tregaron which follows part of the track of the old Great Western railway line
Côr Meibion Llangwm Male Voice Choir | Gŵyl Machynlleth Festival

Address

Y Tabernacl Auditorium, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8AJ

Telephone
01654 703355

info@moma.machynlleth.org.uk

Machynlleth

Dates

From:
25 Aug 2026Open 19:30 - 21:30

Awarm welcome to the very well-known and popular Côr Meibion Llangwm who hold concerts all over North Wales and beyond. jOINED BY Trystan Llŷr Griffiths and Meinir Wyn Roberts both making a welcome return to the Festival
Y Gelli Gandryll | Hay-on-Wye

Address

Hay-on-Wye, Powys, HR3 5DG

Telephone
01982 553307

Hay-on-Wye

Hay-on-Wye - in Welsh 'Y Gelli Gandryll' or just 'Y Gelli' is well known as 'the town of books' and is home to the Hay Literature Festival.
Ceredigion Coast Path | Aberporth-Llangrannog

Address

Aberporth - Llangrannog, Aberporth, Ceredigion, SA43 2BU

Telephone
01545 572105

countryside@ceredigion.gov.uk

Aberporth

2nd section of the Ceredigion Coastal Path
Total distance 18.7km 11.7 miles
Cardigan to Gwbert 5.6km (3.5 miles), grade/easy
Gwbert to Mwnt 5.8km (3.6 miles), grade/easy
Mwnt to Aberporth 8km (5 miles), grade/moderate
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.
Llanidloes

Address

Llanidloes, Powys, SY18 6EQ

information@llanidloes.com

Llanidloes

Llanidloes is a small historic market town in Mid Wales; it is the first town along the River Severn.
Aberystwyth

Address

Ceredigion, SY23 2AG

Telephone
01970 612125

aberystwythtic@ceredigion.gov.uk

Welcome to Aberystwyth - a beautiful and lively seaside town on the Mid Wales coast. Enjoy stunning natural beauty, cultural attractions, unique shopping and dining, and a range of accommodation options. Easily accessible by railway, bus, or car,…
Llanbedr Beer Festival

Address

Llanbedr, Gwynedd, LL45 2LD

Telephone
01341 280787

llanbedrbeerfestival@gmail.com

Llanbedr

Dates

From:

18 Sept 2026to19 Sept 2026

Llanbedr Beer Festival is a small, friendly event for lovers of locally brewed real ales and Welsh cider.
Talgarth

Address

Brecon, Powys, LD3 0BW

Brecon

The ancient market Town of Talgarth nestles beneath the Black Mountains which run along the border between Wales and England. Close to Brecon, Crickhowell and Hay-on-Wye, it provides an ideal base for visitors wishing to explore the area.
Rhayader to Devil's Bridge | Scenic Drive

Address

Rhaeadr Gwy | Rhayader, Rhayader to Devil's Bridge, Powys, LD6 5BU

Rhayader to Devil's Bridge

Described by the AA as “one of the 10 best scenic drives in the world”, expect spectacular scenery as you travel the watershed of the Cambrian Mountains,
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.
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.
The Shrine Church of Saint Melangell

Address

Pennant Melangell, Llangynog, Powys, SY10 0HQ

Telephone
01691 860408

admin@stmelangell.org

Llangynog

St Melangell's is one of the loveliest small churches in Britain, and one of the most remote. Its famous shrine attracts many visitors, but not enough to disturb its tranquillity.
Mwnt Beach

Address

Mwnt, Cardigan, Ceredigion, SA43 1QH

Telephone
01545 570200

mwnt@nationaltrust.org.uk

Cardigan

Mwnt, about 4.5 miles from Cardigan, is named after the conical hill (Foel y Mwnt) that rises above this popular beach. It is an ideal place to spot bottlenose dolphins, basking sharks and porpoises in the distance!
Ystwyth Trail | Aberystwyth - Ystradmeurig

Address

Ystwyth Trail, Aberystwyth - Ystrad Meurig, Ceredigion, SY25 6BJ

Telephone
01970 612125

aberystwythtic@ceredigion.gov.uk

Aberystwyth - Ystrad Meurig

The Ystwyth Trail is a 32.https://dms-nvg.newmindets.net/App/PMS/Product.aspx?pid=1741451&ref=s#1km/20M cycle route and footpath linking Aberystwyth and Tregaron. Part of the trail follows the track of the old Great Western railway line.
Brechfa Forest (NRW)

Address

Abergorlech, Carmarthenshire

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Carmarthenshire

The famous Brechfa Forest is managed by Natural Resources Wales for the benefit of people, wildlife, recreation and timber production.
Gypsy & Folk Session | Gŵyl Machynlleth Festival

Address

Canolfan Owain Glyndwr Centre, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8EE

Telephone
01654 703355

info@moma.machynlleth.org.uk

Machynlleth

Dates

From:
26 Aug 2026Open 15:00 - 16:00

Experience a taster session of gypsy and folk flavoured music with the Budapest Cafe Orchestra.
Bryn-tail Leadworks (Cadw)

Address

Llyn Clywedog, Llanidloes, Powys, SY18 6NU

cadw@gov.wales

Llanidloes

The ruins of the Bryn-tail Leadworks lie in the shadow of the dam at the southern end of Llyn Clywedog Reservoir near Llanidloes Buildings and structures associated with the nineteenth-century extraction and processing of lead ore.