Llandrindod Wells is a spa town in Mid Wales. It is a popular base for holidays and there is plenty for your client’s to do. We have put together some ideas for day trips so they can enjoy the beautiful countryside and wide open spaces in the area. Llandrindod Wells itself has been welcoming visitors since the Victorian times to ‘take the waters’. Popular attractions today include the National Cycle Museum, the peaceful surroundings of Llandrindod Wells Lake and the Llandrindod Wells Heritage Trail (leaflets are available at the tourist information centre) to discover more about this historic spa town.
Nature
Elan Valley is known for its reservoirs and dams in a beautiful setting and together with the moorland, bogs, woodland and river it is the most important area for land birds in Wales. The diversity mosses, liverworts and lichens indicate a lack of pollution. There are 12 separate ‘Sites of Special Scientific Interest’ and the upland areas are perfect for rare birds including the dunlin and golden plover.
Welsh Lavender Farm is open throughout the year but the best time to see the lavender is July and August. Visitors can walk through the lavender fields (farm notes are available for self-guided tours), visit the distillery to discover how the lavender flowers produce essential oil and buy products in the shop.
Dark Skies and star gazing is becoming increasingly popular because there is little light pollution in this area of Wales. There are many places to choose from including a network of International Dark Sky Reserves and Dark Sky Parks to experience the very best of the sky at night.
Gigrin Red Kite Feeding Centre near Rhayader is where hundreds of red kites are fed each day (check web site for the summer / winter times). It is a spectacular sight to see with general and photographic hides to get even better views. It is located on Gigrin Farm which is also a 170 acre family-run working sheep farm.
Castles, Gardens & Parkland
Carreg Cennen Castle this 13th century castle was voted by readers of the UK’s BBC Country File magazine as the most romantic ruin in Wales. It was built 300ft/90m above the River Cennen on a limestone rock and a can be seen for miles over the Carmarthenshire countryside. Today visitors can explore the barbican, twin towers, natural cave and vaulted passage as well as the farm with its famous longhorn cattle. The castle remains privately owned and managed but it is maintained by Cadw.
Dinefwr Estate near Llandeilo includes a Natural Nature Reserve that surrounds Newton House. Originally there were formal gardens but the owners were inspired by Capability Brown to create a more natural landscape and he visited in 1775 to give his approval. Today visitors can wander around the parkland, look out for the deer along with the rare White Park Cattle. The records show that the cattle date back to 920 and as there are only about a thousand breeding females, so they are rarer than the Giant Panda. Also on the Dinefwr Estate is Dinefwr Castle, a 12th century fort above the Tywi Valley.
Powis Castle and Garden offer spectacular views across the countryside. The castle is built on a rock above Welshpool and the Italian terrace gardens with original lead statues have been described as the best surviving example of a 17th century British terraced garden. Other highlights include the Edwardian formal garden with spectacular colour during the summer, 300 year yew trees and an orangery.
Walking
The rural countryside and gentle hills in Mid Wales makes perfect walking country and there are plenty of walks to choose from. Nearby is the Brecon Beacons National Park that has a series of walks and trails available online and Offa’s Dyke Path the long distance walking trail runs through the area too. Natural Resources Wales has a wide range of walking routes around the region and local bookshops may also stock books with a range of walks for all abilities to enjoy.
Cycling
The Radnor Ring (National Cycle Network route 825) is a 66 mile route around the old county of Radnor by country lanes, traffic free trails and mountain roads. The national Sustrans Route 8 also known as Lôn Las Cymru passes by too. There are many off road routes including Radnor Forest. Bwlch Nant yr Arian is a popular mountain bike centre. Local bookshops may also stock books with a range of cycle routes for all abilities to enjoy and of course remember to visit the National Cycle Museum too, where clients can also watch bicycles being repaired in the workshop.
Golf
Llandrindod Wells Golf Club has been voted in the top 3 inland courses in Wales. It was designed by multiple winners of The Open Championship Harry Vardon and James Braid, so golfers can expect a challenging round of golf with undulating fairways and fast greens in a picturesque setting.
There are plenty of other golf courses to choose from, a little further afield too.
Market towns
Aberystwyth is a coastal town and home to the popular Aberystwyth University and The National Library of Wales. The Aberystwyth Cliff Railway is the longest funicular electric cliff railway in Britain that has been taking passengers to the top of Constitution Hill since 1896. At the top there is one of the world’s largest camera obscuras, which offers a panoramic view of 1,000 square miles including the countryside, the town and Cardigan Bay.
Hay-on-Wye is renowned for its bookshops and places to buy books including at the cinema and fire station. Hay Castle has opened to visitors for the first time in it's 900 year history and is free to enter although exhibitions held at the castle carry a small charge. It also hosts the annual Hay Festival of Literature & the Arts held between May and June. There are also plenty of galleries, antique shops cafes, pubs and restaurants.
Knighton is a historic town dating back to 1230 and today many 17th century half-timbered houses line the windy streets. A town trail leaflet is available in the Tourist Information Centre / Offa’s Dyke Centre a perfect location as Knighton is located half way along this long distance path.
Llandeilo is located on the River Tywi with plenty of Georgian and Victorian buildings. One of the town's main features is St Teilo's church, rebuilt in the 1850's although the tower dates back to medieval times. The churchyard and site has a longer history which goes back to the sixth century. There are also lots of stylish galleries, boutiques café bars and restaurants. It’s great to combine with a visit to Dinefwr Estate and Carreg Cennen Castle.
There are many more market towns to visit in the area, so check out our Shopping in our cities and market towns fact sheet.
Car Touring
The Wales Way is the family of three national routes throughout Wales that celebrate the diverse countryside as well as the heritage and culture of Wales. The Cambrian Way is a 185 mile (300km) route linking the coastal town of Llandudno in the north with the capital city of Cardiff in the south. Llandrindod Wells is located along The Cambrian Way and there are a selection of touring itineraries that your clients can use to plan their very own Wales Way experience.
Be safe!
Exploring the outdoors is fantastic fun, but please read up on the risks and make sure you are prepared.
- Find safety advice for exploring Wales' National Parks and RNLI's safety tips for staying safe on the Welsh coast on the Visit Wales website.
- Visit AdventureSmart.uk for information on how to stay safe whilst exploring Wales.
