Powys

Small villages, quiet market towns and an abundance of sheep litter the undulating hills and moorland of rural Powys, by far Wales' biggest county. Named after an ancient Welsh kingdom, this modern entity was formed in 1974 from the historic counties of Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire and Brecknockshire. It's an overwhelmingly rural place, ideal for walking and cycling, but this county isn't just green in a literal sense – Machynlleth has become a focal point for the nation's environmentally friendly aspirations, and all over the county efforts to restore the threatened red kite have been met with outstanding success. The bird is now the very symbol of Powys, the county at Wales' green heart.

Explore Powys

0

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Powys.

  • Science Centre

    Centre for Alternative Technology

    A small but dedicated band of enthusiasts have spent 40 years practising sustainability at the thought-provoking CAT, set in the Dyfi Unesco Biosphere…

  • Castle

    Powis Castle

    Surrounded by magnificent gardens, the redbrick Powis Castle was originally constructed in the 13th century by Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn, prince of Powys,…

  • Gallery

    MOMA Machynlleth

    Housed partly in the Tabernacle, a former Wesleyan chapel, the Museum of Modern Art exhibits work by contemporary Welsh artists in a permanent collection…

  • Gardens

    Gregynog Hall

    While Gregynog Hall has been here in some form for 800 years, its current mock-Tudor manifestation – notable as one of the first uses of concrete in…

  • Church

    St Nicholas' Church

    Evocative Norman St Nicholas' Church dates from 1226 and boasts a vaulted ceiling decorated with intricate coloured bosses, a beautifully carved pre…

  • Gallery

    Oriel Davies Gallery

    One of Wales' leading contemporary spaces hosting often edgy national and international exhibitions, Oriel Davies is the largest visual-arts venue in the…

  • Museum

    Robert Owen Museum

    Housed in Newtown's Edwardian library and council chambers, this sober museum is the best place to bone up on Robert Owen's legacy. The son of a saddler…

  • Museum

    National Cycle Museum

    Housed in the art nouveau Automobile Palace, the National Cycle Museum comprises more than 250 bikes. The exhibits show the progression from clunky…

  • Museum

    Owain Glyndŵr Centre

    Housed in a rare example of a late-medieval Welsh town house, the Owain Glyndŵr Centre houses an exhibition telling the story of the Welsh hero's fight…

  • Gallery

    Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture

    The supremely flouncy and fascinating Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture is a surprise find in this tiny village. Occupying a former squash court, it's a…

  • Museum

    Powysland Museum & Montgomery Canal

    The Montgomery Canal originally ran for 35 miles, starting at Newtown and ending at Frankton Junction in Shropshire, where it joined the Llangollen Canal…

  • Museum

    Cloverlands Model Car Museum

    With over 3000 exhibits, Cloverlands is one of the most extensive collections of its kind in the UK, and a must for model-car lovers. Around half the cars…

  • Ruins

    St Mary's Old Parish Church

    Dating from at least 1253, St Mary's was allowed to fall into ruin after a bigger church was built in 1856; it's now a public garden, thanks to the local…

  • Observatory

    Spaceguard Centre

    The hilltop Spaceguard Centre is the UK's National Near Earth Objects Information Centre, keeping an eye out for any potential Judgment Day scenarios. As…

  • Museum

    Rhayader Museum & Gallery

    Focusing on local history and life in and around Rhayader, this small museum uses artefacts, film and more than 50 oral histories to explore everything…

  • Historic Building

    Judge's Lodging

    The Judge's Lodging offers an intimate glimpse into Victorian times through an audioguided wander through the town's 19th-century courthouse and lock-up…

  • Museum

    WH Smith Museum

    Newtown's WH Smith bookshop has been lovingly restored to its original 1929 look, complete with wooden furniture, mirrors, signage and skylights. Upstairs…

  • Park

    Rock Park

    Rock Park, the site of the earliest spa development, is an artfully wild, well-strewn oasis at the centre of town. The bathhouse is now a complementary…

  • Historic Building

    Radnorshire Arms

    The date on this venerable half-timbered inn, 1616, belies the true antiquity of a building once owned by Sir Christopher Hatton, alleged lover of Queen…

  • Museum

    Old Bell Museum

    Set in a former inn, slaughterhouse and temperance hotel, this local history museum explores the the town's long history (granted a Royal Charter in 1227,…