10 Must-See Welshpool Tourist Attractions
With historic castles, modern art exhibits and stunning walks along the canal, Welshpool is one of the hidden wonders of Powys, Mid Wales. Planning a visit, but not sure where to start your journey around this timeless market town? Read on for our pick of the best tourist attractions in Welshpool to visit during your trip.
1. Powysland Museum
Located in an unassuming building by the canal, is the Powysland Museum and Welshpool library. The museum is split into two parts, depicting the archaeological and social histories of Montgomeryshire. It’s also home to a number of fascinating exhibitions, from Montgomeryshire Yeomanry to Roman coin hoards found in the area. You can even learn the history of Laura Ashley in Wales if you wish!
2. Llyn Coed y Dinas
An amazing spot for birdwatchers, you can expect to see grebes, lapwings and tufted ducks at this popular Welshpool tourist attraction. LLyn Coed y Dinas was created from a gravel pit, quarried to create the Welshpool bypass. Free to visit, this nature reserve is open all year round and it’s entirely pushchair and wheelchair accessible. It’s also a perfect place to stop for picnics.
3. Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway
Running from Raven Square to Llanfair Caereinion, visitors to Welshpool need to ride the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway. The 16 mile trip runs from April to October, and takes about 45 minutes each way. Travellers climb some of the steepest gradients in Britain, and from the open balconies of the coaches you can spot hawks, deer and otters. An extra special way to enjoy this vintage rail journey is to book a Driver Experience course, where you get to take control and drive the train!
4. Montgomery Canal
Another great tourist attraction in Welshpool for wildlife lovers is the Montgomery Canal. Much of the 33-mile 18th-century canal is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Welshpool section itself is specifically marked as a Special Area of Conservation for its aquatic plants. Journeys along the towpath allow visitors to see the remains of Wales’ industrial history, as well as the natural beauty of Mid Wales. Plus, if you feel like it, you can spot even more plants and wildlife by canoe! Book a boat trip along the canal for a peaceful way to reconnect with nature.
5. Severn Farm Pond Nature Reserve
An urban nature reserve, Severn Farm Pond Nature Reserve is a safe haven for wildlife in the midst of an industrial estate. Frogs, toads, newts and dragonflies all call the pond their home, and a variety of birds visit during the spring and summer. Along with Llyn Coed y Dinas and the legendary canal, this quirky Welshpool attraction is one of the best places to spot wildlife during your stay.
6. Glansevern Hall Gardens
A 25-acre country estate with views of the River Severn, Glansevern Hall Gardens has lots to offer its visitors. Take a break and relax at the 5-acre lakeside or birdwatch at the secluded riverbank hide. Why not stroll along the wisteria walk or visit the cascading water gardens? The new home of Naissance, a health and wellness brand that specialises in natural ingredients, the gardens and estate will re-open in Spring 2022.
7. Welshpool Golf Club
With panoramic views of the Welsh borderlands, the Welshpool Golf Club is a fantastic place to stop for a round of golf. Founded in 1929, the 18-hole course is open year-round and on a sunny day, you can even see Snowdonia. With affordable green fees and discounts for groups, this place should be on any sport lover’s list of things to do in Welshpool.
8. The Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture
The first museum in Europe to be dedicated to a living artist, the Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture is filled with examples of Logan’s decades of work. Explore a vibrant display of sculptures, mirrored portraits, watercolours and jewellery, all from Logan’s different artistic periods. Well worth a trip just outside Welshpool, this museum is in Berriew, which has been awarded Wales’ ‘Best Kept Village’ multiple times.
9. Dingle Nurseries and Garden
An ideal stop off for any plant lover, Dingle Nurseries and Garden is internationally acclaimed. Showcasing the lifetime work of Barbara and Roy Joseph, this 4.5-acre garden is still in the family, and is now run by her grandson and his wife. Sat among the rolling hills of Mid Wales, this quiet and peaceful garden is partnered with the RHS. A haven for a multitude of wildlife, the garden is especially renowned for its colour-themed and unusual planting style. Open year-round, there’s something for everyone no matter when you visit.
10. Powis Castle and Garden
Originally built in medieval times, Powis Castle and Garden boasts 17th-century interiors that are a testament to Welsh history. Supposedly built by Prince Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn in the 12th century, the castle was remodelled by the Herbert family, who lived there from the 1570s onward. The famed historic garden was created in the 1670s and is an impressive feat of renaissance style landscaping.
While at the castle, why not stop off at the Courtyard shop and buy a souvenir of your trip? Then, when you get peckish, you can call in at the Courtyard Café or Garden Coffee Shop for light bites to either eat in or take away.
The castle is also home to an impressive collection of art and other treasures, in particular the Clive Museum. The Clive Museum offers a look at the history of British colonialism in India and Asia. With over 1000 artefacts dating from the 1600s-1830s, it is the largest private collection in Britain of such items. Rather than glamourise the role the Clive family had in British colonialism, the museum aims to showcase the painful and challenging legacies attached to Powis Castle. This is one of the many reasons we feel this place should top your list of must-see tourist attractions in Welshpool.
Can’t get enough of Wales? Explore some of the best museums in Wales or take a look at our favourite adrenaline-filled adventure breaks in Wales for some faster-paced things to do during your visit.
