The 12 best things to see and do in Mid Wales
Rolling hills, steep sided wooded valleys, wonderful waterfalls, and luscious lakes. Mid Wales has such a wide and diverse landscape within which you can find a certain peace and solitude which is hard to find elsewhere in Wales.
Within this guide I list the top 12 things to see and do in Mid Wales. At the end of the blog I also suggest an beautiful little shepherds hut which makes for the ideal base for exploring all that the region has to offer.
At a glance
Elan Valley
Pumlumon Fawr
The Ceredigion Coast
The Hafod Estate
Lake Vyrnwy
Aberystwyth and constitution hill
Devils Bridge
Star Gazing
Dolphin spotting in Cardigan Bay
Bwlch Nant y Arian Centre
Go Mountain biking
Head for a hike
Visit the Elan Valley
If I could recommend one place to visit in Mid Wales, it would be the extraordinary Elan Valley.
Nestled in the heart of the Cambrian Mountains, the Elan valley is a series of Victorian dams and reservoirs located within some of the most picturesque landscape Wales has to offer.
Free to visit and open all round, the Elan valley and it’s six dams can be explored by car, foot, or bike.
It is best visited between the late Autumn & early spring after a period of heavy rainfall.
At this time of year, the reservoirs will be full and hopefully all five of the dams will be in full flow, making this location even more beautiful than it already is.
For more information on the Elan Valley, including where it is and how is best to visit, check out my detailed blog post below
Climb Pumlumon Fawr
Situated deep within the last wilderness of Wales, the 752m summit of Pumlumon Fawr is the highest point of the Cambrian Mountains and the county of Ceredigion.
The name Translates to "five beacons" and the mountain is the source of the Rivers Wye, Rheidol, and Severn.
This short but moderately challenging hike is perfect for those wanting to reconnect with nature and find some solitude.
On a clear day you will have phenomenal 360- degree panoramic views over the Preseli hills, Cardigan Bay, Brecon Beacons, alongside Cadair Idris and southern Snowdonia.
The best route to the summit is via the Caradog Jones Trail, which is the shortest of the 5 routes up to the 752m summit.
Be warmed the route is very boggy, not signposted and can be difficult to navigate, so make sure you have the route downloaded to your phone or carry a paper map and compass.
For all the information on Pumlumon Fawr, check out my blog post below.
Visit the beaches on the Ceredigion coast
Located between the Teifi and Dyfi estuaries, Ceredigion's 60 miles (96km) of Coastal Path is some of the most rugged, beautiful, and impressive in all of Wales.
As well as great views north towards Snowdonia and south towards Pembrokeshire, the Ceredigion Coast path has a wealth of wildlife, geological and archaeological features, and a colourful history to discover.
I would argue that the most beautiful and dramatic beaches are located on the southern section of the Ceredigion Coast between New Quay and Cardigan.
My favourites beaches include Llangrannog, Tresaith, and Mwnt.
To find out the beaches on the Ceredigion Coast, check out my blog post below.
Mwnt
Llangranog
Walk around the Hafod Estate
Designed in the late eighteenth century, The Hafod Estate consists of nearly 200 hectares of picturesque grounds to explore.
There are five historic woodland walks which weave around the grounds showing off its wide range of forests, ancient bridges, and wonderful waterfalls. The walks are all relatively easy and are between one and four miles.
Open all year round, and free to access, Hafod is located off the B4574 between Pontrhydygroes and Cwmystwyth.
For more information check out the National Trust website
Lake Vyrnwy
A stunning destination which boasts natural beauty, wildlife, history, and outdoor adventure.
Lake Vyrnwy was created by the Liverpool Corporation in the 19th Century to provide safe water storage for the rapidly growing city of Liverpool. The impressive structure of the stone-built dam, which is the first of its kind in Britain, and the unique straining tower still stand today.
The 5-mile-long reservoir is surrounded by remote mountains and thick forests which offers up a wide range of outdoor activities from hiking and biking to birdwatching and fishing.
Visitors can embark on a relatively easy 12-mile bike ride around the lake or hike one of the many walking trails. The lake is also a great location for birdwatching, with heather moorland, woodland, meadows, and rocky streams attracting a wide variety of wildlife. The lack of light pollution, around the lake also makes it an ideal location for stargazing.
Visit Aberystwyth and climb Constitution Hill
Aberystwyth, or ‘Aber’ as its colloquially known as, sits smack bang in the middle of the rugged Ceredigion coastline and is one of the one of the biggest towns in Mid Wales.
Constitution Hill rises dramatically from the northern end of Aberystwyth promenade and offers spectacular panoramic views of Aberystwyth and Cardigan Bay. On a clear day you can see 26 mountain peaks spanning much of the length of Wales.
At the summit you will find one of the world’s largest Camera Obscuras, which offers a bird’s eye view of 1000 square miles of land and seascape.
There are two main ways to the summit of Constitution hill.
You can catch the longest electric funicular railway in Britain, which has been transporting visitors to the summit since opening in 1896.
Alternatively you can take the moderate walk to the top. The Wales Coast Path runs directly through the peak so you can access it from either the north or the south.
At the summit you will also find historical displays, a kids play area, a gift shop, and a café selling delicious home-made snacks.
Whilst you are in Aberystwyth, you can also stop by the castle alongside taking a stroll along the promenade and around the town. If you are looking for a place to eat I would recommend Medina, a delicious Mediterranean café.
Image by @andrewjephson
Devils Bridge
Devil's Bridge is a famous crossing point where three bridges are built one above each other. The lowest was supposedly built by the Knights Templar before 1188, the middle one in 1753 and the uppermost road-bridge in 1901.
The bridge branches the Rheidol Valley where the Rivers Mynach and Rheidol tumble together down a narrow gorge.
Aside from the bridge, the main attraction of this area is the series of dramatic waterfalls which tumble down the gorge.
Unfortunately, it will cost you to see the waterfalls.
The land which the gorge runs through is private and the owners have decided to fence off the entry points with a heavily fortified gate and turnstile and introduce a fee.
There are two walks to choose from.
On the south eastern side of the bridge, you can take a short walk to see a front-on view of the three bridges alongside the Devils Punchbowl. This costs £2, involves 220 steps, and should take 10 minutes. Personally, I don’t think its worth it.
On the other side of the road is a longer and more difficult walk. This route gives you a side on view of the 3 bridges alongside a chance to drop down into the gorge and see the Mynach and devils’ waterfalls.
The beautiful woodland walk costs £4, involves 675 uneven steps and is very steep, so a good level of fitness and physical ability is required.
There is usually an attendant at the entrance to the waterfall walk from 9.45am to 5.30pm. When there is no attendant on duty you can pay by debit card or coins and enter through the turnstiles.
Parking for both walks is free. Alongside a tearoom & gift shop at the entrance to the walks, food is available from the Hafod Hotel opposite the exit to the waterfall walk.
Go star gazing
Home to some of the darkest night skies in Europe, Mid Wales has a number of publicly accessible Dark Sky Discovery sites which are the perfect places to go stargazing.
Although you will probably only have to step outside to see the stars, the best place in Mid Wales to go stargazing and for astrophotography would be the Elan Valley.
In 2015 the estate achieved Silver tier international dark sky peak status, meaning that the entire 45,000 acres of the Elan Valley are protected against light pollution.
Across the Elan Valley you will find multiple signs and information boards detailing what constellations you can see across the night sky and when is best to see them.
The Craig Goch Dam, the highest and arguably most beautiful of the six dams in the Elan Valley, is one of the most popular spots for Astrophotography. As you can drive across the dam and there is free parking at either end, where it is easy to get stunning views of the night sky with a picturesque foreground.
Alongside the Elan Valley, there are a whole host of other places for you to go out and witness the beauty of dark skies
The Craig Goch Dam Photo by Marcus Woodbridge
Bwlch Nant y Arian Centre
Perched on a hilltop nine miles east of Aberystwyth, Bwlch Nant yr Arian Visitor Centre offers something for everyone.
The site is managed by Natural Resources Wales, and affords scenic walks, a world class mountain bikes trails, alongside a whole host of other adventurous activities.
Alongside having incredible views of Cardigan Bay and the Cambrian Mountain uplands. the centre is also well-known for its long-established tradition of feeding red kites every day.
Bwlch Nant yr Arian is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities. I also has been awarded the Visit Wales Gold Award, awarded for attractions that make an exceptional effort to create an enjoyable and memorable experience for visitors, alongside the Green Flag Award, which recognises the highest possible environmental standards.
For more information check out the Natural Resources Wales Website
A Red Kite
Go Mountain Biking
Mid Wales’ uplands, forests, and mountains are home to thousands of miles of marked and unmarked trails which are longing to be ridden.
Whether you want to keep it low key and ride around the beautiful Elan Valley, dive into the custom built trails at Bwlch Nant y Arian, or simply get lost in the superb single-track which the last wilderness of Wales offers, then there is a trail for you.
Mid Wales is also a bike-packers paradise, with thousands of miles of gravel roads and numerous bothys to stay in. The most popular route is the epic Trans Cambrian Way, a 108 mile route which runs from Knighton on the English border, through the heart of mid Wales to Aberdyfi on the Ceredigion coast.
For more information check out the Mountain bike Wales website.
Above the Claerwen dam in the Elan Valley
Go dolphin spotting in Cardigan Bay
Designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Cardigan Bay is home to a diverse and varied population of marine life, including the beautiful bottlenose dolphin and over 5000 Atlantic grey seals.
Many of the harbour towns dotted along the Ceredigion coast offer tours with guides and boat trips from their shores.
New Quay is one of the 'hotspots' for spotting Cardigan bay's famous bottlenose dolphins, from the shore as well as from a guided boat trip.
Both the Wildlife Trust of South West Wales and the Seawatch foundation have a base in New Quay, and scientists often accompany trippers on the boats to survey the population of dolphins and porpoises that are semi resident in Cardigan Bay.
For more information visit the Welsh Wildlife Website
Head for a hike
Whilst the Cambrian mountains doesn’t have the same dramatic landscapes and awe inspiring beauty that Snowdonia and Bannau Brycheiniog national parks can offer, the region still has a whole host of varied and majestical walks for people of all ages and abilities.
The Cambrian mountains are known as the last wilderness of wales and are perfect for finding crowd free peaks. Alongside the rolling welsh hills, there’s a plethora of forests, lakes and even 60 miles of gorgeous coastline to explore.
For the best walking routes check out my blog post below.
Where to stay in Mid Wales?
If I could recommend a place to stay in Mid Wales, it would be this delightful shepherds hut just outside of Devils Bridge.
Located on the crest of a valley just off the roadside, the pocket-sized paradise looks out onto a green desert of rolling Welsh hills.
This quaint and cosy dog friendly hut is called Ffion and is a perfect retreat for couples to escape for a short break. Me, my partner, and dog spent two nights here recently and absolutely loved it.
It’s equipped with a double bed, electricity, a kitchenette with a stove, oven, kettle, toaster and sink, alongside a toilet and shower.
The huts ideal location also meant we could quickly and easily explore the best of what Mid-Wales has to offer. Situated 500m from Devils Bridge you can reach the likes of the Elan Valley, Hafod Estate, Cambrian mountains, or the Ceredigion coast in half an hour.
It’s a place I’d definitely recommend if you are considering visiting Mid Wales in the near future.
For more information on the hut and other unique hideaways across Wales check out the Unique Hideaway’s website.
So there we have it, the 12 best things to see and do in Mid-Wales.
Did you find the blog useful or did I miss anywhere out? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
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For more Mid-Wales travel inspiration check out my other guides below.
For more Welsh travel inspiration check out my in-depth guides to each of my favourite Welsh regions below.