{"schemaVersion":1,"title":"Mid Wales visitor directory","description":"An editorial visitor directory of seven selected towns and outings for guests based near Newbridge-on-Wye in Mid Wales. Includes names, categories, planning notes, official source links and source-check dates. It is not a complete tourism inventory and contains no live opening times, prices, availability, coordinates or drive-time estimates.","editor":"Mid Wales Shepherds Huts","lastReviewed":"2026-10-14","fields":["id","name","kind","area","scope","description","idea","bestFor","weather","beforeYouGo","sourceUrl","verifiedOn","localUrl"],"updatePolicy":"Editorial review when content is revised. Guests must check source websites for current conditions and arrangements.","places":[{"id":"rhayader","name":"Rhayader","kind":"town","area":"Powys, Mid Wales","scope":"Regional outing","description":"A market town on the River Wye and a gateway to the Elan Valley, with independent shops and town walks.","idea":"Choose a café, browse a few shops and keep the afternoon flexible. Combine the town with one valley stop rather than a long circuit.","bestFor":"Town wandering, cafés and an Elan Valley starting point","weather":"Mix of indoor stops and outdoor walking","beforeYouGo":"Check individual shops and cafés directly. Choose any walk using current route information.","sourceUrl":"https://www.rhayader.co.uk/","verifiedOn":"2026-10-14","localUrl":"https://midwalesshepherdshuts.com/en/places-and-days-out#rhayader"},{"id":"builth-wells","name":"Builth Wells","kind":"town","area":"Powys, Mid Wales","scope":"Regional outing","description":"A Wye-side town with Groe Park for a riverside pause and Wyeside Arts Centre for cinema and live events.","idea":"Keep it simple: a suitable riverside stroll, something to eat and an event if the current programme suits your dates.","bestFor":"A gentle town visit, river views and arts","weather":"Outdoor park; indoor performances depend on the programme","beforeYouGo":"Check the Wyeside programme, tickets and opening arrangements. Riverside conditions vary.","sourceUrl":"https://www.visitwales.com/destinations/mid-wales/powys/things-do-builth-wells","verifiedOn":"2026-10-14","localUrl":"https://midwalesshepherdshuts.com/en/places-and-days-out#builth-wells"},{"id":"llandrindod-wells","name":"Llandrindod Wells","kind":"town","area":"Powys, Mid Wales","scope":"Regional outing","description":"A town with Victorian spa heritage, a Heritage Trail and indoor options including the National Cycle Museum and Radnorshire Museum.","idea":"Choose one museum or a short heritage wander. It is a useful alternative to a full outdoor day when you check what is open first.","bestFor":"Heritage, museums and a weather-flexible outing","weather":"Indoor options must be checked with each venue","beforeYouGo":"Museum schedules and access arrangements differ. Confirm a specific venue before relying on it as a rain plan.","sourceUrl":"https://www.visitwales.com/destinations/mid-wales/powys/things-do-llandrindod-wells","verifiedOn":"2026-10-14","localUrl":"https://midwalesshepherdshuts.com/en/places-and-days-out#llandrindod-wells"},{"id":"hay-on-wye","name":"Hay-on-Wye","kind":"town","area":"Powys, Wales","scope":"Wider regional day trip","description":"A town known for bookshops and independent shopping, with a compact centre to explore on foot.","idea":"Make it a dedicated book-browsing day, with time for a café. Choose this when the journey fits your weekend rather than adding it to every route.","bestFor":"Bookshops, browsing and a day with a different pace","weather":"Shops offer indoor stops; getting between them is outdoors","beforeYouGo":"Plan transport separately and check individual opening times. This is a wider outing, not a walk from the wagons.","sourceUrl":"https://www.visitwales.com/destinations/mid-wales/powys/insiders-guide-hay-wye","verifiedOn":"2026-10-14","localUrl":"https://midwalesshepherdshuts.com/en/places-and-days-out#hay-on-wye"},{"id":"elan-valley","name":"Elan Valley","kind":"landscape","area":"Near Rhayader, Mid Wales","scope":"Regional outing","description":"Reservoir and dam scenery with opportunities for walking, cycling and photography, and a visitor centre to help shape a first visit.","idea":"Select one suitable route or viewpoint, leave time to pause and return before the day becomes a race between stops.","bestFor":"Landscape, walking, cycling and photography","weather":"Outdoor routes; check current visitor-centre facilities","beforeYouGo":"Use the estate’s current route and access notices. The wagons are near Newbridge-on-Wye, not on the estate.","sourceUrl":"https://elanvalley.org.uk/visit/","verifiedOn":"2026-10-14","localUrl":"https://midwalesshepherdshuts.com/en/places-and-days-out#elan-valley"},{"id":"gilfach","name":"Gilfach nature reserve","kind":"nature","area":"Near Rhayader, Mid Wales","scope":"Regional outing","description":"A former hill farm in the Marteg Valley, now a nature reserve with waymarked trails through varied countryside.","idea":"Choose a trail that suits your abilities and spend time observing rather than trying to cover every path.","bestFor":"Wildlife watching and thoughtful walking","weather":"An outdoor visit; route conditions matter","beforeYouGo":"Read Radnorshire Wildlife Trust’s current notices. Grazing animals and closures can affect routes; the longhouse is not open to visitors.","sourceUrl":"https://www.rwtwales.org/nature-reserves/gilfach","verifiedOn":"2026-10-14","localUrl":"https://midwalesshepherdshuts.com/en/places-and-days-out#gilfach"},{"id":"gigrin-farm","name":"Gigrin Farm","kind":"wildlife","area":"Rhayader, Mid Wales","scope":"Regional outing","description":"A red kite feeding centre with viewing hides, where a visit is organised around the operator’s current arrangements.","idea":"Book with the venue and give the afternoon a single focus. Enjoy wildlife observation without expecting a guaranteed sighting.","bestFor":"Red kite watching and wildlife photography","weather":"Viewing hides provide shelter; part of the visit is outdoors","beforeYouGo":"Check current feeding times, open days and tickets directly. Advance booking is recommended by the operator.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gigrin.co.uk/","verifiedOn":"2026-10-14","localUrl":"https://midwalesshepherdshuts.com/en/places-and-days-out#gigrin-farm"}]}