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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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Llanbedr Railway Station

Address

Llanbedr, Gwynedd, LL45 2LR

Telephone
0800 464 0000

Llanbedr

Llanbedr railway station is on the Cambrian Coast Line from Machynlleth to Pwllheli.
Llyn Mwyngil | Tal-y-Llyn Lake

Address

Southern Snowdonia, Tywyn, Gwynedd, LL36 9AJ

Telephone
01654 767321

TIC.Aberdyfi@snowdonia.gov.wales

Tywyn

Located at the foot of Cadair Idris, Tal-y-llyn Lake (Also known as Llyn Mwyngil) is north of Machynlleth and north-east of Tywyn.
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.
Siân James | Gŵyl Machynlleth Festival

Address

Y Tabernacl Auditorium, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8AJ

Telephone
01654 703355

info@moma.machynlleth.org.uk

Machynlleth

Dates

From:
29 Aug 2026

An afternoon of song with the singer, harpist and pianist Siân James. Sian is one of Wales’ leading contemporary female vocalists and a foremost innovator in the field of traditional songs.
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.
Cwm Hengae Walk

Address

Corris, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 9SS

Telephone
0300 065 3000

Powys

Start: NRW forest car park. Turn R just before Aberllefenni village sign
Grid Reference: SH 769 092
Distance: 7.4 km – 4.6 miles
Grade: Moderate
Terrain: Tarmac road and grassy tracks.
Maps: OS Explorer – OL 23
Cambrian Mountains | Abergwesyn Common

Address

Nr Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys

Telephone
01654 702653

marketing@mwtcymru.co.uk

Nr Llanwrtyd Wells

Abergwesyn Commons, on the southern edge of the Mid Wales Cambrian Mountains, is a wild and ancient landscape with far-reaching views. The commons stretch for 12 miles between the Nant Irfon valley in the west and Llanwrthwl in the east.
Pontrhydfendigaid

Address

Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion, SY20 8TG

Telephone
01970 612125

aberystwythTIC@ceredigiong.gov.uk

Pontrhydfendigaid

At the heart of Pontrhydfendigaid - 'the bridge of the blessed ford' (known locally as ‘Bont’) is a narrow hump backed bridge across the river Teifi, whose source is about 5 miles away in the hills, at Teifi Pools.
Eryri National Park (Snowdonia )

Address

Mid & North Wales, Eryri National Park, LL48 6LF

Telephone
01766 770274

park@snowdonia.gov.wales

The Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park is a special part of the country where visitors come to relax and enjoy a wide range of leisure activities in spectacular surroundings.
Brecon Beacons | Pen y Fan & Corn Du

Address

Pant ar Daf, Central Brecon Beacons, Powys, LD3 8NL

Telephone
01874 625515

brecon@nationaltrust.org.uk

Central Brecon Beacons

Pen y Fan and Corn Du are the two highest peaks of the central Brecon Beacons. They dominate the landscape for miles around, and make up one of the most recognisable skylines in the UK.
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.
Land Rover Rally | Talyllyn Railway

Address

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

Telephone
01654 710472

enquires@talyllyn.co.uk

Tywyn

Dates

From:
30 Aug 2026

The Annual Land Rover take-over of Wharf returns!
Tour de France 2027 - Stage 3 Welshpool to Cardiff

Address

Stage 3 Start: Powis Castle, Welshpool, SY21 8RF

contact@aso.fr

Welshpool

Dates

From:
4 July 2027

Stage three of the men’s Tour de France, the world’s largest annual sporting event, will start in Welshpool on Sunday, July 4 and finish in Cardiff.
Forest Holidays | Garwnant

Address

Garwnant Forest Visitor Centre, Cwmtaf, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 2HU

Merthyr Tydfil

Garwnant Visitor Centre and holiday cabins are managed by Forest Holidays. The centre lies on the southern end of the Brecon Beacons National Park
Glyndwr's Way National Trail

Address

Trail Start - Knighton, Powys, LD7 1EN

Telephone
01597 827562

helen.tatchell@powys.gov.uk

Powys

A 132 mile trail set in the heart of Mid Wales breathtaking countryside, dedicated to the 15c Welsh warrior and self proclaimed Prince Owain Glyndwr
Ludlow

Address

Shrophire, SY8 1AS

Telephone
01584 875053

info@ludlow.org.uk

Located 28 miles south of Shrewsbury and 23 miles north of Hereford, the town of Ludlow is significant in the history of the Welsh Marches and neighbouring Wales which is 14 miles to the west.
Manor Wood | Walking Trails (NRW)

Address

Wye Valley Woodlands (NRW), Wye Valley, Between Chepstow and Monmouth, GL16 7NZ

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Between Chepstow and Monmouth

Manor Wood is on the edge of a quiet village on the eastern side of the Wye Valley. Home of the Manor Wood Leap Grid Ref: SO 528059
Pincyn Llys (NRW)

Address

Clocaenog Forest (NRW), Nr Llanfihangel, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 2AS

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Ruthin

Walk up to the Lord Bagot's monument with excellent views eastwards across Ruthin and the Vale of Clwyd
There is a small roadside car park and information board. OS Grid Ref: SJ060557
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.
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.
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.