Highlights of Mid Wales

6 Days / 5 Nights
All year round
Min Guests: 1
Self Drive & Guided tour options

View of a small town with historic stone buildings surrounded by trees and fields, set against a backdrop of rolling green hills.

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Detail

This 6-day journey blends the history, scenery, and living culture of Mid Wales in a circular route from Newport. From the industrial heritage of Blaenavon to the coastal charm of Aberystwyth and the literary haven of Hay-on-Wye, each day offers a mix of castles, countryside, and characterful towns. Two nights by the sea, a stay near Powis Castle, and evenings in Brecon allow time to relax as well as explore. Highlights include the Elan Valley dams, wool and gold mining heritage in Dolgellau, the market towns of Newtown, Llanidloes and Builth Wells, a scenic drive through the Brecon Beacons, a stop in pretty Crickhowell, and the imposing Raglan Castle to conclude the adventure.

Price Includes

6 days of fully guided touring in a comfortable minibus
Accommodation in quality guesthouses/hotels (5 nights, twin/double rooms with breakfast)
Entrance fees to featured attractions (e.g. Big Pit, Devil’s Bridge Falls, Powis Castle, Raglan Castle)
Two evening group dinners (Aberystwyth & Brecon)
Local driver/guide with in-depth knowledge of Welsh history and culture

Price Excludes

Other lunches & dinners not specified
Optional activities (e.g. Vale of Rheidol steam railway, Aberystwyth Cliff Railway)
Travel insurance
Transfers to/from start and end points (unless pre-arranged)

Suggestions of things to bring:

Comfortable walking shoes
Waterproof jacket and layers (Welsh weather is changeable)
Small daypack and reusable water bottle
Camera for landscapes and historic sites
Spending money for bookshops, crafts, and optional meals

Itinerary

Pick-up Time & Location:

Start: Newport train station (Day 1 morning)
End: Newport train station (Day 6 late afternoon)

Day 1 – Newport – Blaenavon & Abergavenny

Meet at Newport station and begin with a short journey north.
Visit the Big Pit National Coal Museum at Blaenavon (UNESCO), with optional underground tour.
Continue to Abergavenny, gateway to the Black Mountains, for free time to explore the market town.

Overnight: Abergavenny/Brecon.

Day 2 – Elan Valley Dams – Arrival in Aberystwyth

Scenic drive via the Wye Valley to the Elan Valley Visitor Centre, with time to view the dams and reservoirs.
Continue west to the coast, arriving in Aberystwyth for a seaside stroll.
Evening group dinner with local Welsh produce.

Overnight: Aberystwyth (2 nights).

Day 3 – Aberystwyth & Devil’s Bridge

Morning walking tour of Aberystwyth: castle ruins, the National Library of Wales, and optional Cliff Railway ride.
Afternoon excursion to Devil’s Bridge Falls, with an option to take the Vale of Rheidol steam train.
Evening at leisure to sample Aberystwyth’s pubs, restaurants, or seafront.

Overnight: Aberystwyth.

Day 4 – Machynlleth – Dolgellau – Welshpool

Morning stop in Machynlleth, historic seat of Owain Glyndŵr.
Continue to Dolgellau, a stone-built town once famed for wool and gold.
Afternoon arrival in Welshpool, with a relaxed orientation walk.

Overnight: Welshpool.

Day 5 – Powis Castle – Newtown – Llanidloes & Clywedog Reservoir – Builth Wells – Brecon

Morning visit to the magnificent Powis Castle and Gardens (National Trust).
Drive south to Newtown for a short coffee stop.
Continue to Llanidloes, one of Mid Wales’ most charming small towns, with time for a stroll.
Scenic stop at the dramatic Clywedog Reservoir.
Travel on to Builth Wells, known for its riverside setting and the Royal Welsh Showground.
Arrive in Brecon for a leisurely lunch, followed by free time to explore the Cathedral, canal basin, or market streets.
Evening group dinner in Brecon.

Overnight: Brecon.

Day 6 – Hay-on-Wye – Crickhowell – Raglan Castle – Newport (Departure)

Morning visit to Hay-on-Wye, famous for its bookshops and riverside cafés.
Short stop in the delightful village of Crickhowell, with its stone bridge and castle ruins.
Final visit to the imposing Raglan Castle, one of Wales’ finest late-medieval fortresses.
Return to Newport station, where the tour concludes late afternoon.