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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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Barmouth | Walking Routes and Trails

Address

Barmouth, Southern Snowdonia, LL42 1LS

Telephone
01341 280787

barmouth.tic@gwynedd.gov.uk

Barmouth

Listed are some of the delightful southern Snowdonia walks in and around Barmouth and surrounding areas.
Wales Coast Path | New Quay - Aberaeron

Address

Cei Newydd | New Quay, New Quay - Aberaeron, Ceredigion, SA46 0JP

Telephone
01970 612125

countryside@ceredigion.gov.uk

New Quay - Aberaeron

New Quay to Aberaeron is a popular section of the Wales Coast Path that presents no major challenges. The walk is a distance 10.5km (6.5miles)
Glyndwr's Way | Machynlleth - Llanwddyn

Address

Mid Wales, Powys, SY20 8EE

Telephone
01597 827562

helen.tatchell@powys.gov.uk

A 132 mile National Trail set in the heart of Mid Wales breathtaking countryside, dedicated to the 15th Century Welsh Prince Owain Glyndwr
Fairbourne Beach

Address

Fairbourne, Gwynedd, LL38 2DX

Telephone
01654 767321

TIC.Aberdyfi@snowdonia.gov.wales

Fairbourne

A two mile stretch of sand backed by steep pebble banks and surrounded by the Snowdonia National Park.
St Myllins Church

Address

Llanfyllin, Powys, SY22 6XZ

Telephone
01691 648306

revhl@btinternet.com

Powys

St Myllins church was founded in the 7th Century by the Irish Bishop Molling (Myllin) and the earliest references to a church in Llanfyllin appear in the Norwich Taxation of 1254.
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
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.
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.
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…
Churchstoke and Priest Weston (Cycle Route)

Address

Trefaldwyn | Montgomery, Powys, SY15 6HN

Powys

A lovely cycle ride requiring 2 miles on main road at the beginning, after which you will be on beautiful, country lanes.
19.3 Miles ( 31KM) 2-2.5hours - Elevation Ascent: 427m
Ceredigion Coast Path | Llanrhystud-Aberystwyth

Address

Llanrhystud - Aberystwyth, Llanrhystud, Ceredigion, SY23 5BW

Telephone
01545 570602

aberaeronTIC@ceredigion.gov.uk

Llanrhystud

6th section of the Ceredigion Coastal Path Llanrhystud to Aberystwyth
Total Distance 17km (10.6 miles) Grade - moderate/hard
Despite being challenging this section of Heritage Coast is dramatic, lonely and extremely worthwhile.
Lon Las Cymru | Rhayader to Llangurig

Address

Rhaeadr Gwy | Rhayader, Powys, LD6 5BU

Telephone
01597 826605

Rhaeadr Gwy | Rhayader

Although this is not strictly a traffic free route, this minor gated road running down the Wye Valley carries next to no traffic as the main A470 runs parallel, on the other side of the valley, all the way from Llangurig to Rhayader.
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
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.
Cadair Idris | Walking Routes (NRW)

Address

Cadair Idris, Southern Snowdonia, LL39 1AX

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Southern Snowdonia

There are three recommended walking routes to conquer Cader Idris. Whichever route you take they are all designated ‘hard/strenuous’ routes, and you should allow between five to six hours to get there and back
St David's Day Stories & Clog Dancing | National Wool Museum

Address

National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, Near Newcastle Emlyn, Llandysul, SA44 5UP

Telephone
0300 111 2 333

wool@museumwales.ac.uk

Near Newcastle Emlyn

Celebrate St David’s Day with a fun family-friendly event filled with Welsh stories, rhythm and movement.
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.
The Precipice Walk

Address

Dolgellau, Southern Snowdonia, LL40 1PS

Southern Snowdonia

The Precipice Walk is one of the famous attractions of Dolgellau. It passes through an interesting variety of habitats which include deciduous woodland, a conifer plantation, meadows, lakeside and sheep-walk.
Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve

Address

Derwenlas, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8SR

Telephone
01654 781414

enquiries@dyfiospreyproject.com

Machynlleth

The Cors Dyfi reserve in the heart of the UNESCO Dyfi Biosphere is a mixture of bog, swamp, wet woodland and scrub supporting a plethora of animals and plants, including the magnificent ospreys and the recently introduced beavers.
Cilgerran Castle (Cadw)

Address

Cilgerran, Cardigan, SA43 2SF

Telephone
03000 252239

CilgerranCastle@gov.wales

Cardigan

Picturesque remains that include a pair of highly defensible round towers dating to the first half of the thirteenth century. Earlier Norman origins.