The Welsh town with an imposing castle and a railway through a …
The great benefit of living in Wales is the surprising likelihood of your house being a stone’s throw from a medieval castle. In Welshpool this castle towers imposingly over you as soon as it enters your eyeline – and a journey along a light railway will take you through the incredible surroundings.
The historic town centre has been well maintained with restaurants and shops operating out of Georgian brick buildings on the high street, with the tops of nearby hills poking out as you look down either end of the road. It’s a beautiful town in its own right but the castle itself is something else.
Whilst some of Wales’ other castles (17 of them, including Caernarfon and Conwy[1]) were built by King Edward I after he conquered Wales in the 13th Century Powis Castle was built by Welsh prince Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn as he tried to establish his independence from the aggressive princes of Gwynedd[2], says the National Trust[3].
It was destroyed, rebuilt, attacked, and repaired again over the years in various power struggles but was remodelled by George Herbert, Fourth Earl of Powis, in the 1890s. Today it’s home not only to some spectacular views across the Severn Valley and incredible furnishings and tapestries but also to the Clive Collection of south Asian objects including looted objects from India during Britain’s colonial past.
There are several gardens on the site – from the Italianate Terraces with views across the estate to the Edwardian Formal Garden full of apple trees and seasonal flowers. Peacocks can often be seen roaming freely around the site and in an adjacent park you can spot red and fallow deer too.
Looking up at Powis Castle from the Orangery Terrace (Image: National Trust Images/John Millar)
A peacock in the grounds (Image: National Trust Images/John Millar)
A historic light railway[5] also runs through the area and will take you on a 16-mile round-trip around the area. Built in 1903, it linked farming[6] communities with Welshpool itself.
It but was closed in 1956 before it was revived by rail enthusiasts in the 1960s. Volunteers started clearing the overgrowth from the tracks and over the years got the funds to obtain trains, repair the tracks and import the materials to keep the railway going.
The train’s route takes you over a viaduct and climbs the steep Golfa Bank and is yet another opportunity for nature lovers to spot some deer, pheasants, and flowers on the Powis Estate. If you’re feeling brave there’s a “driver experience” on offer where you’ll learn to take charge of the train (though these are currently temporarily suspended).
There are also several events coming up at the railway including a beer and cider festival (July 22 and 23), a steam gala celebrating trains, classic vehicles, and model railways (September 1 to 3) and visits from children’s characters like Fireman Sam (July 15 and 16) and Paddington (September 16 and 17).
Sir Drefaldwyn, one of the most recently rebuilt engines on Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway (Image: James Brett)
A visiting Austrian engine on the tracks of Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway (Image: Anthony Haynes)
We couldn’t go without mentioning this too: an industrial estate near Welshpool is apparently home to the “world’s best” branch of McDonalds. Don’t take it from us, though – Gareth Ward is the chef of award-winning restaurant Ynyshir and named it as one of the places he loves to eat.
His other choices were Baravin in Aberystwyth[7] and Caersws Fish Bar but he also said: “I’m telling you now, Welshpool McDonald’s is on a different level. It’s just got different [elements] to everyone else. Everybody I speak to says this is, by far, the best McDonald’s in the world. Welshpool McDonald’s that’s what it’s all about.” And he should know a thing or two as his restaurant has just been named the UK’s best for the second year in a row[8].
For what it’s worth we sent one of our editors to review it and her verdict was that it was “probably the best McDonalds I’ve had” but she added: “I’m not sure by how much as I imagine there’s not a huge amount that sets them all apart.”
Elsewhere in Welshpool you can also learn about the history of Montgomeryshire at Y Lanfa Powysland Museum[9] from the Ancient Romans through to the changes in trade and life in mid Wales through the years. If you’re not tired of big fancy buildings after your visit to the castle Welshpool isn’t far from Glansevern Hall and Gardens, a Grade II*-listed property on the banks of the Severn.
The building is now home to Naissance Cafe[10] as well as a five acre lake and a walled garden. You can also stay in a modern refurbished barn[11] onsite – a two-night midweek stay in October for two guests costs £391.
References
- ^ Conwy (www.walesonline.co.uk)
- ^ Gwynedd (www.walesonline.co.uk)
- ^ National Trust (go.skimresources.com)
- ^ Isolated historic farmhouse in gorgeous countryside could be yours — but there’s a big catch (www.walesonline.co.uk)
- ^ light railway (wllr.org.uk)
- ^ farming (www.walesonline.co.uk)
- ^ Aberystwyth (www.walesonline.co.uk)
- ^ named the UK’s best for the second year in a row (www.walesonline.co.uk)
- ^ Museum (www.visitwales.com)
- ^ Naissance Cafe (www.glansevern.co.uk)
- ^ modern refurbished barn (www.airbnb.co.uk)