Sights in Mid Wales
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
St Mary's Priory Church & Tithe Barn
Relatively modest-looking, St Mary's contains a remarkable treasury of aristocratic tombs within. It was founded at the same time as the castle (1087) as part of a Benedictine priory, but the present building dates mainly from the 14th century, with 15th- and 19th-century additions and alterations. In the northern transept is one of the most important medieval carvings in Europe – a monumental 15th-century wooden representation of the biblical figure of Jesse.
The priory's 13th century tithe barn has recently been restored and converted into an excellent heritage centre and a food hall focusing on locally sourced Welsh products.
reviewed
-
B
Marine Terrace
A stroll along Marine Terrace, the walkway overlooking North Beach, is the most genteel pursuit on offer and one that harks back to the town's erstwhile halcyon days as a Victorian resort. When you reach the bottom of the 1.5-mile prom, it's customary to kick the white bar, although the locals can't seem to explain the rationale behind this ritual.
North Beach is lined by faintly shabby Georgian hotels, albeit with a couple of notable exceptions. The top-heavy Royal Pier lumbers out to sea under the weight of its cheerfully tacky amusements arcade. North Beach is also the main swimming beach as South Beach has few facilities, although both beaches have lifeguards and an…
reviewed
-
Constitution Hill
At the northern end of North Beach is Aberystwyth's headland, 430ft Constitution Hill . From the wind-blown balding hilltop there are tremendous, long coastal views - 60 miles from the Llŷn to Strumble Head - and you can spot 26 mountain peaks including Snowdon. The site has been redeveloped in recent years with new children's attractions, including gold panning and go-karts. The erstwhile Victorian tearooms have been rebuilt in line with environmental considerations and the resulting Consti Café is a café by day and licensed steakhouse three nights per week. It also features displays of the wildlife you can spot on a, ahem, constitutional around the hill. One relic of…
reviewed
-
C
Brecon Cathedral
Perched on a hill above the River Honddu, Brecon Cathedral was founded as part of a Benedictine monastery in 1093, though little remains of the Norman structure except the carved font and parts of the nave. It's a lovely church and very visitor-friendly; seven information points provide information about key features.
In the cathedral grounds is a Heritage Centre, cafe and gift shop housed in a restored 15th-century tithe barn.
reviewed
-
D
National Library of Wales
Sitting proudly on a hilltop half a mile east of town, the National Library is a cultural powerhouse, holding millions of books in many languages. The Hengwrt Room is where it displays all of the really important stuff, such as the 12th-century Black Book of Carmarthen (the oldest existing Welsh text) and the 13th-century Tintern Abbey Bible. Other galleries display an ever-stimulating set of changing exhibitions.
reviewed
-
E
South Wales Borderers Museum
The South Wales Borderers Museum commemorates the history of the Royal Regiment of Wales, which is based in Brecon. Many of the soldiers are Gurkhas, often to be seen in their civvies around the town. The highlight is the Zulu War Room - the regiment's predecessor fought in the 1879 Anglo-Zulu war in South Africa, inspiration for the 1964 film Zulu starring Michael Caine.
The fascinating collection of artefacts recalls the defence of Rorke's Drift, when 150 Welsh soldiers held out against 4000 Zulu warriors.
reviewed
-
F
Brecknock Museum & Art Gallery
Behind the stolid neoclassical exterior of the former Shire Hall is the impressive Brecknock Museum & Art Gallery. Exhibits include 1200-year-old dugout canoe found at Llangorse Lake, a complete Victorian assize court complete with a stilted recording of court pronouncements, and that favourite of Welsh museums, a re-created Welsh kitchen. Also featured are the archaeology, history and natural history of the Brecon area, and an art gallery with changing exhibits.
reviewed
-
G
Abergavenny Castle & Museum
Not much remains of Abergavenny Castle except for an impressive stretch of curtain wall on either side of the gatehouse on the northwest side. The castle keep, converted into a hunting lodge by the Victorians, now houses a small museum devoted to the history of the castle and the town.
reviewed
-
H
Ceredigion Museum
Houses entertaining exhibitions on Aberystwyth's history – everything from old chemist furnishings to hand-knitted woollen knickers and a wall devoted to the Little Britain TV series.
reviewed
-
I
Museum of Modern Art for Wales
On Penrallt St is the town's only neoclassical building, the Tabernacle, a former Methodist chapel (1880) that's been restored and now forms part of the Museum of Modern Art for Wales . There are shows by Welsh artists and a small permanent collection within the white-walled galleries. The chapel itself has the feel of a courtroom, but has good acoustics, and is a venue for concerts, theatre and talks.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
J
Aberystwyth Arts Centre
One of the largest arts centres in Wales, Aberystwyth Arts Centre has excellent opera, drama, dance and concerts (all of which can also be booked at the tourist office), plus a bookshop, an art gallery and a good, albeit slightly uncomfortably stylish, café. The cinema in particular shows a good range of world and foreign-language cinema. The centre is half a mile east of the town centre.
reviewed
-
K
Owain Glyndŵr Centre
Housed in a rare example of a late-medieval Welsh town house, the Owain Glyndŵr Centre has somewhat dry displays but nevertheless tells a rip-roaring story of the Welsh hero's fight for independence. Although it's called the Old Parliament Building, it was probably built around 1460, some 50 years after Glyndŵr instituted his parliament on this site, but it's believed to closely resemble the former venue.
reviewed
-
L
Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
Brecon is the northern terminus of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, built between 1799 and 1812 for the movement of coal, iron ore, limestone and agricultural goods. The 33 miles from Brecon to Pontypool is back in business moving tourists around, and the busiest section is around Brecon. The canal basin is 400m south of the town centre.
reviewed
-
Sugar Loaf Vineyards
On the western edge of town are the Sugar Loaf Vineyards, established in 1992 and producing around 12,000 bottles a year of award-winning Welsh wine. You can take a self-guided tour before sampling the goods at the café and gift shop.
reviewed
-
Talybont-on-Usk
A peaceful 8.5-mile walk along the towpath of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal leads to the picturesque village of Talybont-on-Usk. You can return on the X43 bus from Abergavenny to Brecon, or the Beacons Bus B4, B6 or B8.
reviewed
-
M
Norman Castle
What little remains of Brecon's Norman Castle was incorporated into the Castle of Brecon Hotel. Across the road from the hotel is the original Norman motte (mound), capped by the ivy-clad Ely Tower (not open to the public).
reviewed
-
N
MOMA Wales
Housed partly in a neoclassical chapel (1880), the Museum of Modern Art exhibits work by contemporary Welsh artists as well as an annual international competition (mid-July to early September).
reviewed
-
CAT
Founded in 1974, CAT is a virtually self-sufficient workers' cooperative which acts as an ecologically driven laboratory and information source for alternative technologies. There are more than 3 hectares of displays dealing with topics such as composting, organic gardening, environmentally friendly construction, renewable energy sources, sewage treatment and recycling. It has about 130 on-site workers and 15 full-time residents. To explore the whole site takes about two hours – take rainwear as it's primarily outdoors. Kids love the interactive displays and adventure playground.
There are workshops and games for children during the main school holidays and an extensive…
reviewed
-
Bwlch Nant yr Arian
Part of a forestry commission block, Bwlch Nant yr Arian is a picturesque piece of woodland set around a lake, ringed with mountain biking and walking tracks. The main drawcard, however, is the red kite feeding which takes place at 2pm daily (3pm daylight saving time). Even outside of mealtime you'll quite often see the majestic birds of prey circling around. You can watch all the action from the terrace of the attractive turf-roofed visitor centre and cafe.
It's 9 miles east of Aberystwyth on the A44.
reviewed