Mid Wales, often overshadowed by its northern and southern counterparts, offers a delightful blend of scenic charm, endearing villages, and rich cultural heritage. Summer in Mid Wales is a season of vibrant landscapes, long days, and ample opportunities for outdoor adventures.
Summer is the time we are waiting for to take holidays with family. As soon as the school holidays started, we planned for a week-long stay in beautiful Mid Wales. Our adventure begins in Glasgow, a vibrant city known for its rich cultural heritage and stunning architecture. We started our journey on a Monday morning, already packed with everything we needed earlier. Our first destination was Borth and the drive from Glasgow was around 6-7 hours, offering picturesque views of the Scottish Lowlands and the scenic countryside of northern England and Wales. We took around 8.5 hours as we took a break to have some food somewhere in England.
What to do in Mid Wales: Visit Mid Wales
The route from Glasgow to Mid Wales:
The route is quite straightforward. It was different motorways till starting of Wales. As soon as we reached Wales, the scenic beauty was changed completely as we were driving through a hilly narrow road for around 100 miles. The drive was beautiful and we wanted to visit again for that.
Where to stay in Mid Wales:
We planned to visit Mid Wales and chose Borth because it’s centrally located in the area we wanted to explore. Our itinerary included visiting Aberystwyth, Barmouth, and parts of Snowdonia National Park. Since our daughters love staying in a caravan park, we booked a 3-room caravan resort in Borth. The accommodation was fantastic, featuring 3 rooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, and a dining room with everything we needed. It was more than enough space for our family of four. The best part was the amazing view from our room – on one side was the open sea and on the other, a hill. It was the perfect escape for a summer holiday.
Day 2 in Mid Wales: Exploring Borth
Our first day was gone driving from Glasgow to Borth. After a good night’s sleep, it was time to explore Borth. Borth is a village and seaside resort in Mid Wales famous for its sandy beach. The main advantages of a caravan park are the swimming pool, entertainment from evening till late night and lots of activities for kids throughout the day. On our 2nd day, we woke up a bit late and then after spending some time at the Borth beach, we went to the Swimming pool.
After having lunch, we roamed around the village and submerged in the mesmerising natural beauty. Now it’s the time for kids to play and dance with the live bands and dinner. This is the end of our day 2 in Mid Wales.
Day 3 in Mid Wales: Exploring Aberystwyth and the Coast
It was a wonderful sunny day in Borth and a perfect day to explore Aberystwyth. Aberystwyth is a vibrant university town known for its picturesque seafront and historic sites. Our swimming pool session was already booked, so after having our breakfast and spending some time in the pool, we started our 3rd day exploring Mid Wales.
What to do in Aberystwyth
Cliff Railway and Constitution Hill:
Aberystwyth is a short drive from Borth. From our resort, we drove straight to take a ride on the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway, one of the longest electric funicular railways in the UK. It took us up to Constitution Hill, where we enjoyed panoramic views of the town and coastline. There’s also a cafe at the top, perfect for a cup of tea. It was enjoyable sipping a hot cup of latte sitting on the top of the hill.
Aberystwyth Castle:
We took the same Cliff Railway to get down to the hill where we parked our car and headed straight to Aberystwyth Castle. It was just a 5-minute drive from there. The ruins of this 13th-century castle offer stunning views of Cardigan Bay and a glimpse into the area’s storied past. The surrounding grounds are perfect for a leisurely walk, offering plenty of photo opportunities.
Dinner in Aberystwyth:
We found a good Indian restaurant nearby, Light of Asia. We decided to have a walk in the city centre and then go to the restaurant. The food was good and tasty.
Aberystwyth Beach:
After finishing our food, we walked back to the beach to take our car and we spent some time watching the waves kiss the shore.
Sunset at Borth
After spending the day at Aberystwyth, it is time to drive back to Borth. The long, sandy beach of Borth is perfect for a relaxed evening. As the sun sets over the Irish Sea, it casts a warm, golden glow—an ideal way to end your third day.
Day 4 in Mid Wales: Exploring Barmouth
Barmouth is a small town near the Snowdonia National Park, where the mountains meet the sea. On our fourth day, after spending some time in the resort, pool, and nearby area, we decided to visit another town – Barmouth. It was around a 35-mile drive one way, and the route was very scenic. We started after having our lunch, and it would have been a mistake not to visit this town. We’ve never seen such a beautiful, long sandy beach in the UK.
The main attractions of Barmouth are the sandy beach and a bridge over the sea. We spent a lovely evening enjoying fish and chips from a local shop and a hot cup of coffee. When we returned to our resort from the beach, it was almost 10 PM – the end of a beautiful day.
Day 5 in Mid Wales: Picnic lunch
On the fifth day, we mainly travelled the long way back to our home. After checking out, we had our food in the open area, like a picnic, spent some time in the activity area, and started our journey back to Glasgow around 1 pm.
Other things to do in Mid Wales:
Although we haven’t covered it, if you have time and more enthusiasm, then here is the list of nearby areas you may try –
Devil’s Bridge:
Only 12 miles from Aberystwyth, this location is renowned for its three-tiered bridges and breathtaking waterfalls.
Vale of Rheidol Railway:
You can enjoy a journey on the Vale of Rheidol Railway. This picturesque narrow-gauge steam railway offers a scenic ride through the Rheidol Valley, providing a unique perspective on the natural beauty of the region.
Elan Valley
Elan Valley is a perfect spot to have a picnic lunch surrounded by beautiful reservoirs and dams.
Mid Wales is a blend of natural beauty, charming towns, and a relaxed pace, offering the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Each day here is an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and savour the simple pleasures. Until next time, Mid Wales—diolch yn fawr!