Things to do and places to visit in Mid Wales during half-term

Looking for family friendly places to visit and things to do this February half term?

MWT Cymru (Mid Wales Tourism) has put together the following round-up for inspiration.

All these attractions, activities and much more can be found on www.visitmidwales.co.uk, including places to stay if you’re looking for last minute, family friendly accommodation.

Powys

 

Walk and Learn Welsh – Ci a Fi Welsh Language Walk
Saturday, February 10, 10am – 11am.
Hafan yr Afon, Back Lane Car Park, Newtown, Powys, SY16 2NH

It may be half term, but the learning doesn’t have to stop! Meet 10am at Hafan yr Afon in Newtown for a unique blend of language and outdoor exploration. A dog friendly, family friendly walk, with every level of Welsh learner welcome.

You’ll not only learn the Welsh language but also immerse yourself in the local culture and history. It’s a casual, pressure-free setting where you can learn at your own pace and enjoy a cuppa and a chat afterwards in Caffi Hafan yr Afon.

Details here: https://www.visitmidwales.co.uk/whats-on/ci-a-fi-welsh-speaking-guided-walks-p2093971 . This event is very informal, no need to book in advance. If you can’t make it this Saturday, walks are also taking place on March 9 and April 13.

Be Shaken not Purred at Beyond Breakout
4th Floor, Royal Welsh Warehouse, Pryce Jones Building, Newtown, Powys SY16 1BJ

Enjoy their toughest game yet which has recently secured a coveted spot in the Top 5 Games in Wales. Imagine: you have been recruited to the F.I.S.H. Agency. One of their top agents, Bob Bing has disappeared whilst working undercover.

You and your team have an hour to follow Bing’s clues and stop the villainous Monty in his tracks before he escapes! Beyond Breakout’s escape games are great for teams of between two and six players. Under sevens are free but must be included in your room numbers.
Book here: https://www.beyondbreakout.co.uk/book.html 

 

Explore a world-famous garden
Powis Castle & Garden, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 8RF
February half term: Nature Trail February 10 – 25, 10am-4pm (last entry 3.30pm)

Visit Powis Castle this February half term for an outdoor adventure within the historic garden and find out about local wildlife. There’s something for everyone to enjoy during the school holidays.

Put on your wellies and follow the nature-themed trail to discover fascinating facts about the creatures who live in the garden. With both stepped and sloped access, buggies and pushchairs can easily take part in the trail.

Enjoy a warming drink and a slice of cake at the end of your adventure in the Courtyard Cafe. From hot and cold drinks, snacks, lunches and bakes, the team is ready to welcome you daily from 10am-4pm. The trail is free but normal admission prices apply (National Trust members enter for free, no pre-booking required).

Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust will be at Powis Castle on Thursday, February 15 to take part in a whole host of creative activities in the Orangery.

Details here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/powis-castle-and-garden/family-days-out-at-powis-castle-and-garden

Venture into Pen y Garreg Dam
Elan Valley Visitor Centre, Elan Valley, Rhayader, Powys, LD6 5HP
February 13, 1pm – 3pm

These short, self-guided tours are a perfect addition to your day’s itinerary at Elan Valley. Walk through the dam at your own pace, before emerging onto the central platform where you’ll enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the dam wall and learn about the feat of engineering that made Elan.

 

Advance booking is recommended, either online or from the Visitor Centre shop.
£5 per adult, £1 per under-18, with half the proceeds going to WaterAid.
Details and book here: https://elan-valley.co.uk/events/winter-dam-open-days/

 

Build a nest box at RSPB Ynys-hir Reserve
Eglwys-fach, Machynlleth, SY20 8TA
Wednesday, February 14, 1.30pm – 3pm.

Join the team at RSPB Ynys-hir to make your own nest box suitable for a number of garden birds. The ticket (£10.75) includes all materials to make one next box plus supervision. Children taking part must be accompanied by an adult.
Book here: https://events.rspb.org.uk/ynys-hir

Visit over 200 life-size dinosaurs
Dan-yr-Ogof, The National Showcaves Centre for Wales, Abercrave, SA9 1GJ (Bannau Brycheiniog | Brecon Beacons National Park)

Explore one of the world’s largest, award-winning dinosaur parks – see more than 220 life-sized dinosaur models and get up close and personal with some of the monsters from millions of years ago.
Book here: https://www.showcavesbookings.co.uk/  

 

Ceredigion

 

Discover a Cistercian monastery

Immerse yourself in history as The Strata Florida Trust in Ceredigion opens its new exhibition to the public free of charge on February 14 – perfect for children and families.

 

Mynachlog Fawr Exhibition will be open from Wednesday to Saturday, from 11am to 3pm. Situated in the Cambrian Mountains, close to the village of Pontrhydfendigaid – between Devil’s Bridge and Tregaron – Strata Florida nestles in a landscape that has been of immense spiritual importance to the Welsh people for 1,000 years.

Next door to the 12th century Cistercian abbey is the historic but abandoned farm of Mynachlog Fawr. Featuring a variety of objects and documents from the farmhouse and farm buildings, the exhibition provides the opportunity for visitors of all ages to explore the social and agricultural history of the house and the local area.

 

It also contains an interactive Virtual Histories educational experience, which allows visitors to travelback to see a day in the life of Mynachlog Fawr farm in 1947 and the abbey in 1238.

An activity book, digital recreation of the site in 1238 and 1946 and the chance to explore the abbey and see where the monks would have lived, are great for children.

Details here: www.strataflorida.org.uk

 

Join a Knight’s Quest
The Silver Mountain Experience, Llywernog, Ponterwyd, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3AB

Explore The Silver Mountain Experience, a place where history, myth and legend collide in a fantastic day out for the whole family. Get ready to join a Knight’s Quest, as you undertake your expedition to find a shy and secretive Dragon by the name of Grotty.

Follow the clues, crack the codes and see if you can find this friendly creature. A Dragon’s Tale is an exciting, actor-led experience, which is perfect for younger explorers under the age of eight and an adventure for all the family this half term.
Book here: https://www.silvermountainexperience.co.uk/buy-tickets/

 

Feed and hold butterflies
Magic of Life Butterfly House, Cwmrheidol, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3NB
Opening February 10, 10am-4pm.

 

A must-visit attraction in the Rheidol Valley for all nature lovers. As soon as you step inside, you’ll be captivated by the collection of fascinating insects, including beetles, spiders and stick insects, as well as the stunning marine fish tank.

 

But the real highlight is their butterfly section, where you’ll be surrounded by a diverse array of species from all over the tropics. What sets the Magic of Life Butterfly House apart is the opportunity to feed and even hold the butterflies, making for an unforgettable experience.
Details here: https://www.magicoflife.org/

 

Watch a film and support one of Mid Wales’ independent cinemas

Mwldan, Bath House Road, Cardigan, SA43 1JY
Mwldan is an independent Arts Centre and cinema based in the centre of Cardigan on the Mid Wales coast. See what’s on here: https://mwldan.co.uk/

Southern Snowdonia

The Magic Lantern Cinema, Corbett Square, Tywyn, Gwynedd, LL36 9DF

The Magic Lantern has been in Tywyn since 1893 sand it has been a cinema since the 1930s. It now boasts a state of the art Sony 4K digital projection system with Dolby 7.1 surround sound (about the best equipment any cinema could wish for!)
See films and events here: https://www.tywyncinema.co.uk/

All the attractions included in this article are members of MWT Cymru, the regional tourism trade organisation for Mid Wales which represents nearly 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia.

For more family friendly things to do in Mid Wales, see
https://www.visitmidwales.co.uk/things-to-do/family-attractions/family-days-out

For places to stay, see https://www.visitmidwales.co.uk/accommodation

Picture captions:

Dragon’s Tale at Silver Mountain Experience.

 

Hafan yr Afon in Newtown, meeting point for Ci a Fi Welsh Language Walks.

 

Inside the Mynachlog Fawr exhibition at Strata Florida n Ceredigion.

 

Dinosaurs at Dan-yr-Ogof, The National Showcaves Centre for Wales.

The Magic Lantern Cinema, Tywyn