Mid Wales is the green heart of Wales. The clear seas, bright harbours and hidden coves of the Ceredigion and Powys give way to red kite-filled skies, busy market towns and dramatic hill walks. Within the region of Mid Wales you'll find Ceredigion and Powys.
There’s so much to see and do and over the course of my weekend I set out to explore the mountain passes, characterful towns, hidden history and find our why the area is the place to visit to escape life's hustle and bustle.
Now when it comes to planning a weekend away you might be thinking about climbing the highest mountain, enjoying a thrill-seeking adventure or discovering what the local area has to offer. In this Blog I want to show you it’s possible to do all that and more in just three days.
How to travel around Mid Wales
If you’re visiting Mid Wales for a weekend then I can 100% recommend travelling by car. You’ll have the freedom and flexibility to do what you like depending on the weather and this itinerary would be difficult using public transport.
Mid Wales is a good place to visit all year round, as long as you are prepared for the weather. In just three days in mid April I went from being sunburnt on a Saturday morning to a blizzard of snow in just a few ours, which is why it's important to pack for every eventuality.
Where to stay in Mid Wales - Llangurig
Whether you want luxury hotels, budget hotels, cosy B&Bs, huge cottages or camping or glamping options this areas has it all. However, after the recent restrictions in Wales I visited at a time when only self-contained holidays were allowed.
This gave me the opportunity to stay in a luxury lodge in the village of Llangurig which lies on the banks of the River Wye. Here you’ll find good local amenities including a village shop, Post Office, craft shop, church and two pubs serving food.
National Cycle Route 8 and the Wye Valley Walk both pass through the village making it a great choice of base for keen cyclists and walkers. It’s also an excellent central location for exploring the coast of Aberystwyth, the Elan Valley and the southern edge of the Snowdonia National Park which are all less than an hour’s drive away.
Elan Valley
Set against a magnificent backdrop of magnificent scenery these towering dams and reservoirs were built to supply regular fresh water to Birmingham. Building work began way back in 1883, continuing until the last dam was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
There are six impressive dams altogether.
Four follow the Elan River - Craig Goch, Pen y Garreg, Garreg Ddu, and Caban Coch and two are on the river Claerwen - the Claerwen dam and the unfinished Dol y Mynach dam.
All are easily accessible on foot, by bike or car, but if you intent to walk from the visitor centre to Craig Goch then you should allow for around 2hrs 30 minutes each way.
This route also takes in Caban Coch, Pen y Garreg and Garreg Ddu. You can then drive to Claerwen and Dol y Mynach by car from the visitor centre as these are much further up the Claerwen river.
Another epic visit to include is the Nant-Y-Gro Dam. In July 1942 Barnes Wallis tested the prototype charge for the Dambusters raid on a small dam in the Elan Valley. Barnes carried out two experiments using 280lbs of high-explosive which destroyed the central portion of the masonry dam and lead to the RAF's 617 Squadron carrying out an audacious bombing raid. The squadron attacked dams in the Ruhr valley, leaving German factories and mines badly damaged.
Devils Bridge
Devils Bridge Falls sits in the heart of the Cambrian Mountains and 12 miles from the seaside town of Aberystwyth . These unique waterfalls have attracted many thousands of visitors since the 18th century, including William Wordsworth who wrote about the “Torrent at the Devil’s Bridge”. Today, the Falls Nature Trail provides a unique opportunity to see this great structure in the Rheidol Gorge and nearby beauty.
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth can be found smack bang in the middle of the rugged Ceredigion coastline, making it an obvious base to tour the 180 mile Coastal Way. A visit to Aberystwyth is quite impossible without a walk, jog or mindfulness moment on the mile long Victorian promenade followed by a 430 feet climb up Constitution Hill. Or if you aren’t feeling quite as energetic , there’s always the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway . The longest cliff railway in Britain takes you to the world’s largest Camera Obscura at the top.
Borth Beach Sunken Forest
A short drive up the coast from Aberystwyth is the bucolic Welsh coastal village of Borth, which at low tide reveals a hidden world. In 2014, stumps of tree species such as oak, ash, and birch were uncovered after a massive storm removed tons of sand from the beach. Carbon dating has placed the old plants at around 6,000 years old. The forest has become associated with the longstanding myth of a sunken civilization known as Cantre’r Gwaelod, a sort of Welsh Atlantis.
Cwmystwyth Metal Mines
Cwmystwyth mines are arguably one of the most important historical mining areas in Wales. The main Cwmystwyth Mine is approximately 6km northeast of the village of Pont-rhyd-y-groes, Ceredigion. The mine sits on the steep northern slopes of the Ystwyth Valley, with some minor workings on the southern slopes. The earliest mining at the site has been dated to the Early Bronze Age until finally being abandoned in 1950. The remains at Cwmystwyth are extensive and include vast waste dumps, a large opencast, ruinous buildings, and shafts.
Hafod Estate
Hafod Uchtryd or the Hafod Estate is 12 miles south-east of Aberystwyth and is rrecognised as one of the finest examples in Europe of a Picturesque landscape.
Back in 1748 its celebrated owner, Thomas Johnes built a new house in this remote location and laid out its grounds in a manner suited to displaying its natural beauties in sympathy with the 'Picturesque principles' fashionable at the time. Sadly the former mansion house no longer exists but you can explore the former grounds on circuit walks allowing the visitor to enjoy a succession of views and experiences.
I suggest the Ystwyth Gorge Walk which is a 2 mile walk from the car park. This spectacular route takes the walker on a long, narrow loop up one side of the Ystwyth gorge and includes views over the River Ystwyth, a walk across the gorge from the Chain Bridge and offers dramatic scenery along the walk
Plynlimon Fawr
Plynlimon Fawr (meaning "five peaks” in Welsh) or Pumlumon as it’s known in Wales is the highest point of the Cambrian Mountains and the source of the River Severn, Rheidol and the Wye.
This wild and barren place is a hidden treasure among locals and is rarely explored by the thousands upon thousands who generally flock to the nearby Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia National Park.
At 2468 ft, the summit sits just above the other nearby peaks including Pen Pumlumon Arwystli, Y Garn, Pen Pumlumon Llygad-bychan and Pumlumon Fach. The mountain also sits in the centre of Wales, half way between Cadair Idris in Snowdonia and Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons. You can see a seperate Blog on the best way to climb the mountain on my Blog section.
You can watch my entire weekend vlog here:
Comments