Places to Visit
Below are a few places we have gathered up for you to consider for your own day trips from CefnLea2026. Gather a few friends or family and make a plan that suits you.
Free space in your car? Perhaps you could reach out to others for a day trip and company.
Please note: Red Ridge Activity Centre and Powis Castle have been reserved for Saturday, 18th July, and you can book these with your Optional Items.
Day Trips to Pre-Book:
Our ‘FREE DAY’ will be Thursday 16th July. The morning session will finish sharp after the main talk, and folks with midday meal booked will be supplied with a picnic lunch. It would be a good day to travel a little further.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct & Canal World Heritage Site
About 1.5 hours away from Cefn Lea, this world heritage site has been described by UNESCO as ‘a masterpiece of creative genius’. Check out their website for how to book the Aqueduct boat trip, hire a narrowboat or just call and be amazed at the 11 miles of stunning canal. Information on how to get there and best places to park are on the website.
The Judge’s Lodging
To the southeast of Cefn Lea, the town of Presteigne comes recommended by the locals as an interesting small Welsh/English border town to roam. The Judge’s Lodging is a ‘hands on’ accredited museum which boasts being a real working Victorian House and is exceptional in allowing total freedom to touch everything! Ideal for younger visitors, those studying Victoria era and the historians among us. Save 1.5 hours for this visit and check out the website for more information on how to book.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway
The Welshpool & Llanfair Light railway are a heritage railway based in Llanfair not far from Cefn Lea. The folks there boast:
“The train negotiates a viaduct and river bridge, climbs the notoriously steep Golfa Bank and steams serenely through beautiful countryside. The line follows a river valley, twists round a mill and runs through the middle of farms. This was how our great grandparents travelled and it is a real pleasure to be able to recreate it all for you today.”
Prebooking really is recommended, especially if you did decide to go on the Saturday afternoon, it’s one of their vintage days which means there will be more going on at both stations. If you do decide to book this trip, be sure to check out the Cloverland’s model car museum at the Llanfair station, where you can see the largest model car collection in Wales.
Mid-Wales Off Road
Closer to home, just north of Newtown is Mid Wales Off road where via their user-friendly website you can book rally karting, 4 x 4 off road Land Rover trialing or excavator driving.
Llanymynnych Lime Works and Heritage Site
Lots to do in this heritage site which incorporates a nature reserve. It seems you are free to wander the site but you can also book short trips on a canal, which are reasonably priced, via details on their website
Gigrin Farm Red Kites
Gigrin is a small family run farm famous for their Red Kite feeding centre. Hundreds of Red Kites feed there every day and it is said to be a spectacle, popular with specialist photographers and BBC Springwatch. The farm opens at 12:30, the meat is put out at 3.00 but booking is recommended as they cap the number of daily visitors to elevate the experience. Closed Thursdays and Fridays. Just over half an hour away Gigrin is near the town of Rhayader.
Falconry Experience
North of Newtown, winners of many awards, the Falconry experience is accessed strictly by appointment only.
Other Day Trips:
Here are a few more interesting places to visit that wouldn’t require pre-booking.
Please note: Red Ridge Activity Centre and Powis Castle have been reserved for Saturday, 18th July, and you can book these with your Optional Items.
Chirk Castle
Heading north, and only ten minutes from the Aqueduct, Chirk Castle, a magnificent medieval fortress of the Welsh Marches, is a National Trust property that comes recommended to us by frequent visitors to Wales. The whereabouts of this landmark makes it a very good stopping point for any folks travelling to or from the Liverpool ferries.
Porth Farm
Popular on trip advisor, Porth Farm have a great Pick Your Own selection, Adventure Playground and Woodland Wander. There is also a café supporting other local small businesses. They advise to check their Facebook for updates on what’s on.
Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall
Often referred to as one of the seven wonders of Wales. If you’re only looking to see the waterfall then you can expect the walk to take approximately 30 minutes to view it from the bottom and top. Though relatively short, the walk to the top has a steep incline and an uneven, rocky pathway, so expect to be a little exerted once you reach the top of the falls. There, you’ll have a top-down view of one of Wales’s tallest waterfalls, as well as the beautiful green Tanat Valley, falling 80 meters below.
Train to Aberystwyth
The train from Newtown runs fairly regularly to Aberystwyth, a town on the west coast of Wales. It’s less than a 5 minute walk to the beach if you need to see the sea or walk the promenade. The Aberystwyth Cliff Railway can be found at the northern end of Aberystwyth promenade, where Constitution Hill rises dramatically from the sea to give spectacular and uninterrupted views of Aberystwyth, Cardigan Bay and on a clear day, 26 Welsh mountain peaks.
Looking for More Day Trips?
Do you want to see more of Wales before or after your week at CefnLea2026?
Or are you happy to travel further for your afternoons off?
Here are a few more recommendations:
Gilfach nature reserve
Part of Radnorshire Wildlife Trust, Gilfach Nature Reserve has several walking trails. Find more information on their website. 30 minutes away.
national cycle museum
30 minutes south in the town of Lladnrindod Wells is the cycle museum.
mary jones pilgrim centre
Visit Mary Jones Pilgrim Centre and discover the story of a young Welsh girl who inspired a global movement that changed the lives of millions.
hoo zoo
Hoo Farm or Zoo is rated as number 2 best zoo on trip advisor, a definite for the dinosaur fans. Tickets are expensive, maybe a good sign? There do seem to be discounted tickets for last minute booking on the website.
Montgomery castle ruin
25 minutes northeast, the Georgian town of Montgomery boasts a ruined Castle, building commenced here in 1222. The castle is free to walk up to, and the views are worth the easy hike.
dolforwyn castle ruin
Not far from Montgomery Castle and on the way back to Cefn Lea is another ruin, Dolforwyn Castle. It’s a steep path but again the entry is free and the panoramic view from this imposing stronghold from the elevated position are worth the walk.
kerry ridgeway
Block Wood car park will give you a few options to take in the Kerry Ridgeway path where you can overlook Wales on one side and England on the other.
hay on wye
Hay on Wye is over an hour away but given it’s Wales book town and also hosts a popular market on Thursdays, it may well be worth a visit.
royal welsh show
If you are planning to stay in Wales after the conference, don’t miss out on the Royal Welsh Show, from 20-23 July 2026, in Builth Wells, Powys. It is billed as “The pinnacle event in the British agricultural calendar!”.
“”And all who believed were together and had all things in common.”