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Castles in Mid Wales | Historic Fortresses and Ruins

Castles Across Mid Wales

Mid Wales has castles from every period of Welsh history. Some are UNESCO World Heritage Sites with walls intact. Others are atmospheric ruins on hilltops where sheep graze among the fallen stones. A few have been lived in continuously for centuries and are open to visitors with gardens, collections and tea rooms.

The Major Castles

Harlech Castle is the most dramatic, perched on a rocky outcrop above the coast with views across Tremadog Bay to the Llyn Peninsula. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Edward I's iron ring of fortresses. Powis Castle near Welshpool is altogether different, a medieval castle that became a grand country house, famous for its terraced gardens, which are among the finest in Wales.

Aberystwyth Castle stands in ruins on the headland, but the setting above the seafront is worth a visit. Montgomery Castle is a hilltop ruin with views across the Severn Valley into England.

Quieter Castles Worth Finding

Castell y Bere, near Dolgellau, is a native Welsh castle built by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth in the 1220s. It sits in a remote valley beneath Cadair Idris. Tretower Court near Crickhowell combines a medieval house with a castle tower. Cardigan Castle has been restored and hosts events, markets and exhibitions.

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Harlech

Address

Harlech, Gwynedd, LL46 2YA

Harlech

Harlech is a historic town on the Snowdonia coast which has fantastic beaches, Royal St David's - one of Wales' finest golf courses and Harlech Castle which a World heritage site.
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.
The Irfon View Road Ride

Address

Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, LD5 4RW

Telephone
01591 610666

info@llanwrtyd.com

Powys

THE IRFON VIEW ROAD RIDE
Distance 14km (8.7m)
TimE 1 - 2 hrs
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
Powis Castle | Courtyard Restaurant

Address

Powis Castle and Garden, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 8RF

Telephone
01938 551920

powiscastle@nationaltrust.org.uk

Welshpool

Powis Castle’s restaurant has long been acknowledged as an example of excellence. Enjoy a variety of traditional dishes made with local, seasonal ingredients such as organic Welsh black beef, sourced from a local farm.
Brecon Farmers & Makers Market

Address

Market Hall, High Street, Brecon, Powys, LD3 9DA

Telephone
07926 196714

maxencala@gmail.com

Brecon

Dates

From:
14 Nov 2026
From:
12 Dec 2026

Brecon Farmers & Makers Market is held on the 2nd Saturday of each month 09:30 - 16:00 at the Market Hall, Brecon.
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.
Hay Castle | Castell Y Gelli

Address

Oxford Road, Hay-on-Wye, Powys, HR3 5DG

Telephone
01497 820079

info@haycastletrust.org

Hay-on-Wye

Hay Castle sets the imagination soaring. Once a great medieval stronghold, the castle and the grounds in the welsh borderlands are alive with possibilities once again as a centre for cultural, arts and education.
Oswestry

Address

Shropshire, SY11 2TE

Telephone
01654 702653

info@mwtcymru.co.uk

Oswestry is the third largest town in Shropshire with a population of 17,000; it is five miles from the border with Wales and has a mixed Welsh and English heritage.
Llanwrtyd Wells

Address

Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, LD5 4RW

Llanwrtyd Wells

Llanwrtyd Wells is the smallest town in Britain. It is also one of the friendliest, having a long history of catering for the many visitors who today come to enjoy the unspoilt beauty of the surrounding Cambrian Mountains.
Cei Newydd | New Quay

Address

New Quay, Ceredigion, SA46 0JP

Telephone
01970 612125

aberystwythtic@ceredigion.gov.uk

New Quay

A visit to New Quay is all about sandy beaches that extend in an arc around the bay, the harbour where boat trips will take you dolphin spotting in Cardigan Bay, and the great Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas enjoyed a few pints in the local.
Bailey Einon Nature Reserve

Address

Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 5PD

Telephone
01597 823298

info@rwtwales.org

Powys

A broadleaved woodland that sits alongside the River Ithon. Teeming with birds and flowers, this is a small nature reserve with a lot of wildlife.
Harlech Railway Station

Address

Ffordd Morfa, Harlech, Gwynedd, LL46 2UL

Telephone
0800 464 0000

Harlech

Harlech railway station is on the Cambrian Coast Line from Machynlleth to Pwllheli.
Knighton Bus Station

Address

Bowling Green Lane, Knighton, LD7 1DR

Telephone
0800 464 0000

feedback@traveline.cymru

Knighton

Knighton bus station is off Bowling Green Lane with services to Ludlow.
Glyndwr's Way | Llanwddyn - Welshpool

Address

Mid Wales, Powys, SY21 7DD

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
Welsh National Foal & Yearling Show

Address

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

Telephone
01559 370 529

ruperra@hotmail.com

Builth Wells

Dates

From:
25 Oct 2026Open 10:00 -

Wales premier show for foals & yearlings with classes for all Welsh Sections and Riding Ponies.
Cadair Idris (NRW)

Address

Southern Snowdonia, Gwynedd, LL39 1AX

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Southern Snowdonia

Cadair Idris is a spectacular mountain reserve in southern Snowdonia with a variety of landscapes and terrain that cover over 450 hectares of breathtaking landscape.
Dyfi Furnace (Cadw)

Address

Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8PD

Telephone
0300 025 6000

cadw@gov.wales

Machynlleth

The Dyfi Furnace near Machynlleth is a restored mid-eighteenth-century charcoal-fired blast furnace, used for smelting iron ore.
Tresaith Beach

Address

Aberporth, Ceredigion, SA43 2JL

Aberporth

The small village of Tresaith, just to the east of Aberporth, overlooks this attractive sandy beach; popular for sailing and surfing; there are rock pools to explore and even a waterfall.
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
Pen Allt-Mawr

Address

Brecon Beacons | Black Mountains, Powys

Telephone
01873 812105

Powys

This walk is a continuation of the walk to Pen Cerrig-calch. The walk is approximately 8 miles and you need to allow at least 5.5hours if starting from the car park in Crickhowell.