It doesn’t always rain in Wales. Trust me, I grew up there. From the top of Mount Snowdon to the mining towns of South Wales, Wales has a lot to offer its visitors. It boasts unspoilt countryside, beautiful coastlines with sandy beaches, and quaint market towns to vibrant cityscapes. Mid Wales is where my heart lies, and I insist that it must be on everyone’s destination wishlist. Here’s why.
By Kim John
@Toffs_on_tour
I didn’t realise growing up how special Mid Wales was. - I grew up near the market town of Builth Wells, Powys - yes, there are going to be some weird spelt words here and they aren’t a mistake. It’s Wales! I didn’t appreciate the quiet, the rolling green hills and the mountainous landscapes. I was a teenager, I wanted action, I wanted nightclubs. Teenage me would never know that as an adult, all the things I hated about growing up in Mid Wales, would be what I’d seek out as an adult.
My heart still belongs in Powys, some of my best friends live there and whenever I seek to travel, I’m always searching the holiday cottages in Mid Wales first.
But what draws me back? Here are some of my favourite places to visit and no matter how many times I do, they never get dull.
Elan Valley
Elan Valley is set in the Cambrian Mountains. It’s, it’s totally unspoilt but made amazing by the dams and reservoirs that form part of its landscape.
The dams, reservoirs and 73-mile aqueduct of the Elan Valley were built a hundred years ago to supply desperately needed clean water to Birmingham. An epic feat of civil engineering set within an area of outstanding scenic beauty. There are six dams in Elan Valley, four on the Elan River and two on River Claerwen. Craig Goch is the highest upstream of the series of dams, Garreg Ddu Dam is a low, completely submerged dam, Pen y Garreg is the third dam and the lowest of the dams in the sequence of four built in the valley of the Elan River, is Caban Coch Dam. Then there are two River Claerwen Dams, Claerwen and Dol y Mynach is the unfinished dam. When the water is flowing over the walls of these spectacular structures, it's exhilarating. You can choose to drive between the dams, cycle or walk. There are over 80 miles of rights of way across the Elan Estate, so pop on your hiking boots. Dogs are also welcomed.
Start or finish with a cup of tea and a Welsh cake (honestly, the best thing you can eat in Wales!) at the Elan Valley Visitor Centre. Or visit the market town of Rhayder and enjoy produce from quaint cafes and local pubs.
Brecon Beacons National Park
519 mountainous square miles make up one of the best-loved landscapes in Britain. But not only that, they’re on the world map too.
There’s no shortage of ways to explore the Brecon Beacons. There are easy canal path routes to amble, or if you’re a keen hiker, scale Pen-Y-Fan, the highest peak in southern Britain and seen from miles around. At 886 metres (2,907 ft) above sea level, it’s not for the faint-hearted! The Brecon Beacons is not just mountains, horse riding and walking;, you can explore caves, abseil and enjoy a variety of watersports. The Brecon Beacons is a must-visit for any thrill seeker. Want something a little more sedate? Enjoy visiting the towns and villages. Abergavenny has a fantastic annual food festival, and Brecon has a vibrant theatre programme and a wonderful selection of shops.
Hay Festival and Hay-on-Wye
Technically, Hay-on-Wye sits within the Brecon Beacons, but as a book lover, felt it needed its own section! This small town is famous the world over for its books and is the venue for the annual Festival of Literature which draws in thousands of visitors and famous names in literature, it celebrates great writing from poets and scientists, lyricists and comedians, novelists and environmentalists, and the power of great ideas to transform our way of thinking.
The festival takes place at the end of May, but if you are a book lover, Hay is a great place to visit any time of year. With more than 20 bookshops lining this small little town, it’s no wonder it’s known as the town of books. To set the scene - Hay’s longest-serving bookshop, Hay Cinema Bookshop, boasts over 200,000 volumes and is named due to it being a former cinema and transformed into a bookstore in 1965. There are bookshops dedicated to poetry, children’s books and crime books among any other kind of bookshop you can think of.
Offa’s Dyke
Offa’s Dyke is Britain’s longest ancient monument and roughly follows the border between England and Wales. The structure is named after Offa, the Anglo-Saxon king of Mercia from AD 757 until 796, who is traditionally believed to have ordered its construction. Although its precise original purpose is debated, it delineated the border between Anglian Mercia and the Welsh kingdom of Powys. Some might say he didn’t think much of the Welsh! But fear not, the 177-mile-long Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail from Chepstow to Prestatyn does not keep England and Wales apart but joins them in a shared love of the spectacular scenery and landscape. The walking trail passes through no less than eight different counties and crosses the border between England and Wales over 20 times. Another reason to don your hiking gear and get exploring!
That’s just a snippet of things to do in Mid Wales. If, if you’re not a thrill-seeker or someone that even owns a pair of hiking boots, then do not fear, just sit back and enjoy the peace and tranquillity that Mid Wales brings. The likelihood is, that you won’t have a mobile signal anyway so can well and truly turn off from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Go on, I recommend it.
(Oh, and it might just rain, so bring your waterproofs!)
