Mid-Wales: Places to Explore

A pleasingly eccentric combination of faded Victorian seaside resort and artsy college town, Aberystwyth is the largest community in Mid-Wales, with a population of barely 16,000. When the weather's fine... Read more

Barmouth, on the northern mouth of the Mawddach Estuary, is one of the few places along the Welsh coast that can be described as a full-fledged seaside resort, although it's looking a bit tired these days... Read more

A solidly Welsh town with dark stone buildings and old coaching inns made of the local gray dolerite and slate, Dolgellau (pronounced dol-geth-lee) thrived with the wool trade until the mid-19th century... Read more

With its crumbling old castle and low-slung buildings framed by lolloping green hills, Hay-on-Wye is a beautiful little place. In 1961 Richard Booth established a small secondhand bookshop here. Other... Read more

Also known as Llandod, the old spa town of Llandrindod Wells preserves its Victorian look with turrets, cupolas, loggias, and balustrades everywhere. Cross over to South Crescent, passing the Glen Usk... Read more

Machynlleth (pronounced "Mck-unth-leth"), at the head of the beautiful Dovey Estuary, doesn't look like a typical Welsh country town. Its long and wide main street, Heol Maengwyn, is lined with a mixed... Read more