Suggestions of places to visit within 30 minutes drive
Sightseeing
Powis Caste is a Natural Trust property situated in Welshpool. It houses the unique Clive Collection of indian an asian artifacts. Its gardens are very popular with italianate terraces and an edwardian formal garden. There are both fallow and red deer in the deer park and peacocks around the castle and garden. Check the National Trust website for openings times and prices.
Where to eat - there is a cafe/restaurant at the castle, alternatively Welshpool is very close.
167 locals recommend
National Trust - Powis Castle and Garden
Powis Caste is a Natural Trust property situated in Welshpool. It houses the unique Clive Collection of indian an asian artifacts. Its gardens are very popular with italianate terraces and an edwardian formal garden. There are both fallow and red deer in the deer park and peacocks around the castle and garden. Check the National Trust website for openings times and prices.
Where to eat - there is a cafe/restaurant at the castle, alternatively Welshpool is very close.
Frequent steam train trips along the Banwy Valley running from Llanfair Caereinion to Welshpool. They often have special events such as a 'fish and chip' train. A very relaxing way to see some great scenery and lots of different trains.
Where to eat - If at Llanfair, there is a cafe at the station. If wanting a substantial meal in the evening The Goat Hotel has good food.
If at Welshpool, the station is a couple of minutes walk from the town centre which has plenty of cafes.
50 locals recommend
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway
Frequent steam train trips along the Banwy Valley running from Llanfair Caereinion to Welshpool. They often have special events such as a 'fish and chip' train. A very relaxing way to see some great scenery and lots of different trains.
Where to eat - If at Llanfair, there is a cafe at the station. If wanting a substantial meal in the evening The Goat Hotel has good food.
If at Welshpool, the station is a couple of minutes walk from the town centre which has plenty of cafes.
A lovely reservoir, with a dam you can drive/walk over. There is a cafe there, lots of walks and cycling routes and an RSPB bird reserve with bird hide.
Where to eat - Artisans cafe is at the dam end of the reservoir. The Lake Vyrnwy Hotel is a good choice for a special treat.
108 locals recommend
Lake Vyrnwy
A lovely reservoir, with a dam you can drive/walk over. There is a cafe there, lots of walks and cycling routes and an RSPB bird reserve with bird hide.
Where to eat - Artisans cafe is at the dam end of the reservoir. The Lake Vyrnwy Hotel is a good choice for a special treat.
An interesting historic area situated around the limekilns. The site is open 24 hours a day and free to visit and has a Hoffman Limekiln which you can walk into, so take a torch with you. Has flat walks through woodland and haymeadows and adjoins the Montgomery Canal and Llanymynech Rocks and Nature Reserve.
Where to eat - Unfortunately there are no cafes here, but there is a village shop and a couple of pubs.
13 locals recommend
Llanymynech Heritage Area
North RoadAn interesting historic area situated around the limekilns. The site is open 24 hours a day and free to visit and has a Hoffman Limekiln which you can walk into, so take a torch with you. Has flat walks through woodland and haymeadows and adjoins the Montgomery Canal and Llanymynech Rocks and Nature Reserve.
Where to eat - Unfortunately there are no cafes here, but there is a village shop and a couple of pubs.
A limestone outcrop that marks the beginning of the Oswestry uplands and is an old quarry site. A fantastic place for Bee and pyramidal orchids and the right time of year, and plenty of other wildflowers. Adjoins the Llanymynech Heritage Area and also Llanymynech Gold Course. If you rock climb then there are permitted areas for climbing but you will need permission from Red Ridge Centre first.
Where to eat - Unfortunately there are no cafes here, but there is a village shop and a couple of pubs.
9 locals recommend
Llanymynech Rocks Nature Reserve
A limestone outcrop that marks the beginning of the Oswestry uplands and is an old quarry site. A fantastic place for Bee and pyramidal orchids and the right time of year, and plenty of other wildflowers. Adjoins the Llanymynech Heritage Area and also Llanymynech Gold Course. If you rock climb then there are permitted areas for climbing but you will need permission from Red Ridge Centre first.
Where to eat - Unfortunately there are no cafes here, but there is a village shop and a couple of pubs.
A CADW managed castle which is free to visit. The castle sits upon a hill over the town so has great views. There is a car park near the castle, but it is only a short walk from the town. The town itself is a historic market and very pretty with plenty of tea rooms and Bunners hardware shop is worth a visit as is the Cloverlands Model Car Museum.
Where to eat - There are several cafes in the town, my favourite is Castle Kitchen in the square. For a more substantial meal, there is The Dragon Hotel, or nearby The Nags Head Inn at Garthmyl or The Railway Inn at Forden.
36 locals recommend
Montgomery Castle Car Park
11 Arthur StA CADW managed castle which is free to visit. The castle sits upon a hill over the town so has great views. There is a car park near the castle, but it is only a short walk from the town. The town itself is a historic market and very pretty with plenty of tea rooms and Bunners hardware shop is worth a visit as is the Cloverlands Model Car Museum.
Where to eat - There are several cafes in the town, my favourite is Castle Kitchen in the square. For a more substantial meal, there is The Dragon Hotel, or nearby The Nags Head Inn at Garthmyl or The Railway Inn at Forden.
The Montgomery Canal runs from Newtown in Powys to Frankton Junction in Shropshire, where it joins the Llangollen Canal. Nice for peaceful flat walks. Bywater Cruises (search for Horse Boat Cracker) offer horse drawn barge trips on the canal from Maesbury Marsh.
Where to eat - A lot of the towns and villages the canal runs through have cafes or pubs. The Lychgate Gate Tea Room & Deli in Berriew is a favourite.
6 locals recommend
Montgomery Canal
The Montgomery Canal runs from Newtown in Powys to Frankton Junction in Shropshire, where it joins the Llangollen Canal. Nice for peaceful flat walks. Bywater Cruises (search for Horse Boat Cracker) offer horse drawn barge trips on the canal from Maesbury Marsh.
Where to eat - A lot of the towns and villages the canal runs through have cafes or pubs. The Lychgate Gate Tea Room & Deli in Berriew is a favourite.
The county town of Powys. There is a tourist information office there. Home of Powis Castle, The Powysland Museum and the Montgomery Canal runs through the town. The Welshpool to Llanfair Caereinion Railway Station is at Raven Square. There are 2 Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust nature reserves in the town - Severn Farm and the other at Llyn Coed y Dinas.
Where to eat - There are plenty of cafes, restaurants and take-aways in the town.
37 locals recommend
Welshpool
The county town of Powys. There is a tourist information office there. Home of Powis Castle, The Powysland Museum and the Montgomery Canal runs through the town. The Welshpool to Llanfair Caereinion Railway Station is at Raven Square. There are 2 Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust nature reserves in the town - Severn Farm and the other at Llyn Coed y Dinas.
Where to eat - There are plenty of cafes, restaurants and take-aways in the town.
Is a CADW owned castle ruin, which is free to visit situated on top of a hill close to the village of Abermule. The climb up to it from the car park is fairly steep.
Where to eat - There are no facilities on site, the Lychgate Tea Room & Deli in nearby Berriew is very good or for a more substantial meal The Nags Head Inn at Garthmyl or The Lion Hotel in Berriew.
17 locals recommend
Dolforwyn Castle
Is a CADW owned castle ruin, which is free to visit situated on top of a hill close to the village of Abermule. The climb up to it from the car park is fairly steep.
Where to eat - There are no facilities on site, the Lychgate Tea Room & Deli in nearby Berriew is very good or for a more substantial meal The Nags Head Inn at Garthmyl or The Lion Hotel in Berriew.
I love this castle, it is mainly a ruin but the towers/gatehouse is complete. There is a moat with plenty of ducks and swans. The tearoom is fabulous. Run by a community trust. Not far from Owestry.
Where to eat - The cafe at the castle. There are several pubs in Whittington serving food, but I prefer The Queens Head in nearby Queens Head.
15 locals recommend
Whittington Castle
Castle StreetI love this castle, it is mainly a ruin but the towers/gatehouse is complete. There is a moat with plenty of ducks and swans. The tearoom is fabulous. Run by a community trust. Not far from Owestry.
Where to eat - The cafe at the castle. There are several pubs in Whittington serving food, but I prefer The Queens Head in nearby Queens Head.
Known for its gardens and woodland walks, and is really lovely when the Azalea's and Rhododendrons are in flower. It is a Grade 1 listed garden as described by CADW as 'one of the most important parks and gardens in Powys, dating from at least the 1500s'. It is a University of Wales site and has musical events. There is no charge for visiting the gardens but there is a parking charge of £2.50. Dogs are allowed, but must be kept on the lead.
Where to eat - There is a nice tea room on site. The Bull & Heifer pub in nearby Bettws Cedewain Sevres good food.
22 locals recommend
Gregynog Hall
Known for its gardens and woodland walks, and is really lovely when the Azalea's and Rhododendrons are in flower. It is a Grade 1 listed garden as described by CADW as 'one of the most important parks and gardens in Powys, dating from at least the 1500s'. It is a University of Wales site and has musical events. There is no charge for visiting the gardens but there is a parking charge of £2.50. Dogs are allowed, but must be kept on the lead.
Where to eat - There is a nice tea room on site. The Bull & Heifer pub in nearby Bettws Cedewain Sevres good food.
Museum
Just a fun and unusal small museum to visit, the entry fee is very reasonable. The museum is entirely run by volunteers so check it is open before traveling. It is in the heart of the market town of Montgomery, which also has a castle which is free to visit.
Cloverlands Model Car Museum
Just a fun and unusal small museum to visit, the entry fee is very reasonable. The museum is entirely run by volunteers so check it is open before traveling. It is in the heart of the market town of Montgomery, which also has a castle which is free to visit.
The museum is unusal as it is dedicated to a living artist. Andrew Logan has a unique style and is also famous for establishing the 'Alternative Miss World' event. Andrew Logan also ownsThe Lion Hotel (pub/restaurant) in Berriew. The Montgomery Canal runs through Berriew.
10 locals recommend
Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture
The museum is unusal as it is dedicated to a living artist. Andrew Logan has a unique style and is also famous for establishing the 'Alternative Miss World' event. Andrew Logan also ownsThe Lion Hotel (pub/restaurant) in Berriew. The Montgomery Canal runs through Berriew.
All about the history of Powys and has interesting artifacts. It is situated near the town centre on the wharfage of the Montgomery Canal.
9 locals recommend
Powysland Museum
All about the history of Powys and has interesting artifacts. It is situated near the town centre on the wharfage of the Montgomery Canal.
Wales only workhouse museum. Entry to the history centre is free. Find out how the workhouses came into being, and what they meant for poor people in Victorian times. Learn about the workhouse diet, workhouse children, the workhouse school.
9 locals recommend
LlanfyllinWorkhouse
Wales only workhouse museum. Entry to the history centre is free. Find out how the workhouses came into being, and what they meant for poor people in Victorian times. Learn about the workhouse diet, workhouse children, the workhouse school.
A small museum about the story of wool, from the fleece as the raw product, how it undergoes spinning a weaving to become flannel. Six back to back houses for the families of the weavers with the two open floors above where the weavers worked their looms.
Free entry, but only open 12 to 4pm on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May until the end of September.
Where to eat: Newtown has plenty of cafes, pubs and a couple of fast food places. If you want a special meal the Waggon & Horses is excellent.
Newtown Textile Museum
5-7 Commercial StA small museum about the story of wool, from the fleece as the raw product, how it undergoes spinning a weaving to become flannel. Six back to back houses for the families of the weavers with the two open floors above where the weavers worked their looms.
Free entry, but only open 12 to 4pm on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May until the end of September.
Where to eat: Newtown has plenty of cafes, pubs and a couple of fast food places. If you want a special meal the Waggon & Horses is excellent.
Neighbourhoods
Meifod is a very pleasant, quiet and friendly village, situated by the River Vrynwy.
Where to eat - The Kings Head pub just a couple of minutes walk away serves great food. Alternatively try Plas yn Dinas at nearby Llanfechain, The Stumble Inn at Bwlch y Cibau, Seeds in Llanfyllin or The Station Grill in Llansantffraid.
Meifod
Meifod is a very pleasant, quiet and friendly village, situated by the River Vrynwy.
Where to eat - The Kings Head pub just a couple of minutes walk away serves great food. Alternatively try Plas yn Dinas at nearby Llanfechain, The Stumble Inn at Bwlch y Cibau, Seeds in Llanfyllin or The Station Grill in Llansantffraid.