Events in Mid Wales 2025

When you’re planning your holiday to Coedmor Cottages you may need some ideas for days out. Here is a handy list of events in Mid Wales 2025 including festivals, fairs and concerts to help you to make the most of your time in wonderful Wales. Events in West Wales are easily accessible from our cottages too. All these days out are doable as a day trip from our cottages and each listing is a clickable link so you can find out more about the event.

Events in Mid Wales 2025 - food and drink festivals

February & March

15th February 2025 – Lampeter Beer & Cider Festival
Lloyd Thomas Refectory at the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter

1st & 2nd March 2025 St David’s Day Food & Drink Festival
Pembrey Country Park

Date TBC March St David’s Day Food & Craft Weekend
National Botanic Garden of Wales (10:00 – 16:00)

28th-30th  March 2025 – The Laugharne Weekend
Laugharne

Events in Mid Wales 2025 - horse shows

April

12th & 13th April 2025 – Spring Steam Rally
Pembrey Country Park

19th April 2025 – Lampeter Stallion Show
Talsarn, SA48 8QB 

Date TBC April 2025 – Pride in Aberystwyth
Bandstand, Marine Terrace

26th April 2025– Barley Saturday – Horse Parade
Cardigan

Date TBC April 2025 – A Taste of Wales Spring Festival
National Botanic Garden of Wales (10:00 – 17:00)

26th & 27th April 2025- Wonderwool Wales
Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells

Mach comedy Festival Events in Mid Wales 2025

May

2nd – 4th May 2025 – Machynlleth Comedy Festival
Various venues Machynlleth

14th May 2025 – International Dylan Thomas Day

17th & 18th May 2025 – Spring Festival
Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells

Date TBC May – Ceredigion Garden, Craft & Food Festival
Alban Square, Aberaeron

Events in Mid Wales 2025 - royal welsh show

June

5th – 9th June 2025 – Westival
Manorbier, Pembrokeshire

Dates TBC  June – Pembrokeshire Street Food Festival
South Beach, Tenby

14th June 2025 – Man v Horse
Llanwyrtd Wells

14th June 2025 – Aberystwyth & Ceredigion Show 
Gelli Angharad Fields, Aberystwyth 

Date TBC June 2025 – Llandeilo Pride
Market Street, Llandeilo

Date TBC June – Towy Valley Vintage Show (Vehicles)
Pontargothi Showground, Llandeilo

Saundersfest - events west wales 2025

July

5th July 2025 – Lampeter Agricultural Show
Pontfaen Fields, Lampeter SA48 7JN

5th & 6th July 2025 – Wales National Airshow
Swansea

12th July 2025 – Tivyside Agricultural Show
Glan-Llyn Fields Newcastle Emlyn

Date TBC July 2025 – Saundersfest
Saundersfoot

12th July 2025 – Llanelli Pride
Selwyn Samual Centre, Park Crescent

17th – 20th  July 2025– Brecon Choir Festival
Brecon

Date TBC July – Aberaeron Sailing Regatta
Aberaeron Yacht Club

21st – 24th July 2025 – Royal Welsh Show 
Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells

Date TBC  July 2025 – Lampeter Food Festival
University of Wales Trinity Saint David Campus

Date TBC July 2025 – West Wales Shire Horse Annual Show
Alban Square, Aberaeron

Events in Mid Wales 2025 Royal Welsh show

August

1st – 3rd  Aug 2025 – New Quay Music Festival 
New Quay FC Parc Arthur

2nd August 2025 – Brecon County Show
Brecon County Showground

2nd August 2025 – Cardigan County Show
PantyGrwndy, Cardigan

8th -10th August 2025 – Brecon Jazz Festival
Various Venues in Brecon

9th August 2025 – Llanilar Agricultural Show
Castle Hill Fields (nr The Falcon)

16th – 24th Aug 2025 – Cilgerran Festive Week
Cilgerran

Dates TBC  Aug 2025 – Tresaith Beach Party 
Tresaith Beach

14th – 16th  Aug 2025 – Cardigan Bay Regatta
New Quay

Events West wales 2025 Aberaeron regatta

Date TBC – Aberaeron Beer & Cider Festival
Aberaeron Yacht Club (12:00 – late)

Dates TBC August 2025 – Tresaith Beach Party 
Tresaith Beach

16th Aug 2025 – Cardigan River and Food Festival
Quay Street Cardigan (10:00 – 17:00)

Date TBC August 2025 – Llandeilo Show
Cawdor Fields, Ffairfach

Date TBC Aug 2025 – Aberaeron Mackerel Fiesta
Aberaeron Yacht Club & The Harbourmaster

Events in Mid Wales 2025 bog snorkelling

24th Aug 2025 – World Bog Snorkling Championship
Waen Rhydd Bog Llanwrtyd Wells

24th August 2025 – Cruise Culture Car Show
Carmarthen Showground

Dates TBC August 2025 Aberystwyth Street Food Festival 
Aberystwyth Marina

Dates TBC August 2025 – Tresaith Regatta & Beach Party
Tresaith Beach

25th Aug 2025 – Aberaeron Carnival
Aberaeron Harbour (Parade starts at 13:45)

25th August 2025 – Tregaron Show
Tregaron

Aberglasney events in 2025 West Wales attractions

September

5th – 7th September 2025 – Rali Ceredigion
Aberystwyth

5th – 7th September 2025 – Craft Festival Wales
Cardigan Castle (10:00-17:00)

6th September 2025 – Llandysul Agricultural Show
Hengae Fields, Saron SA44 5DP 

Date TBC Sept. 2025 – Aberglasney Food & Music Fayre
Aberglasney, Llangathen

20th & 21st September 2025 – Llandovery Sheep Festival
Market Square, Llandovery (10am-4pm)

Date TBC September 2025 – Apple Weekend at Llanerchaeron
Llanerchaeron, Ciliau Aeron

Dates TBC September 2025 – Narberth Food Festival
Town Moor, Narberth (10:00-18:00/10:00-16:00)

27th & 28th Sept. 2025 – Autumn Steam Rally & Country Fayre
Pembrey Country Park (11:00 – 16:00)

Music Festival Mid and West Wales 2025

October

3rd – 5th  October 2025 – Aberystwyth Comedy Festival
Aberystwyth

17th – 20th 2025 October Brecon Baroque Festival
Brecon Cathedral/Theatr Brycheiniog

Dates TBC  October / November 2025 – Other Voices Cardigan
Various venues, Cardigan

Christmas Festivals and Fairs Mid and West Wales 2025

November & December

14th-16th November 2025 – Tenby Blues Festival
Various Venues in Tenby

14th -16th November 2025 – Llandeilo Festival of Senses
Llandeilo

Dates TBC November 2025 – Royal Welsh Winter Fair
Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells

Dates TBC November / December 2025 – Aberglasney Winter Fair
Aberglasney, Llangathen (10:00-16:30)

Date TBC November / December 2025 – Aberystwyth Lantern Parade
Aberystwyth

Date TBC November / December 2025 – Christmas Fair at Cardigan Castle
Cardigan Castle (10:00am – 4:00pm)

Dates TBC December 2025 – Polar Express Train Rides
Vale of Rheidol Railway Aberystwyth

Date TBC December 2025 – Cardigan Giant Lantern Parade & Fireworks
Cardigan (19:00 – 20:00)

Date TBC December 2025 – Lampeter Christmas Fayre
Lloyd Thomas Dining Hall, Lampeter University (10:30-15:00)

Dates TBC December 2025 – Llanercharon Christmas Fair
Llanerchaeron, Ciliau Aeron

Check available dates for our cottages: Romantic Holiday Cottages for Couples

All Images © Hawlfraint y Goron / © Crown copyright (2024) Cymru Wales.

Elan Valley – Beautiful Lakes & Dramatic Dams

Visiting Elan Valley is one of our top recommendations if you’re happy to travel a little further from The Cottages. It is about 90 minutes away, but the drive itself is a very enjoyable part of the day. Elan Valley boasts 72 square miles of unspoilt nature and reservoirs. But it is the dams that make this such a unique place to spend a day.

Visitor Centre

When you arrive, head to the visitor centre where you can get a guide with maps of the estate. There is a gift shop, cafe and loos there and they often host exhibitions. You can pay for parking (£3.00) here, then you can park in any of the car parks around the Estate. You can also hire a mountain or E-bike from the visitor centre. Either book in advance through the website or on the day.

Which Way First?

There are several routes you can take to explore the estate. You will see Caban Coch Dam first as it is close to the Visitor Centre. Caban Coch was the first dam worked on and was designed to look like a waterfall when it overflows. The stone in the quarry nearby was used inside the dams. The facing stone was a sandstone brought up from the Vale of Glamorgan. 

Caban Coch Dam - Visiting Elan Valley

Claerwen Dam

We like to visit Claerwen Dam next. There is a large car park at the bottom of the dam (with toilets and picnic benches). There is also a smaller parking space at the top of the dam. It’s worth doing both – the dam is so dramatic from the bottom, but you get great views from the top.

The construction of the Claerwen Dam, the last of the dams in the district, took six years, using a workforce of 470. It was ceremonially declared open by the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II in October 1952, in one of the first official engagements of her reign. There are walks that you can do here: More info on Claerwen

Garreg Ddu Dam

The submerged dam can only be seen at low reservoir levels. Garreg Ddu has two purposes: to hold back water to enter the Foel Tower, and to provide access to the Claerwen valley. The Foel Tower is where drinking water is extracted to start its three day journey to Birmingham. Drive across the bridge and there is a car park on the other side. Park here and there is a nice walk by the river and through woodland to the next dam – Pen y Garreg.

Visiting Elan Valley - Garreg Ddu

Pen y Garreg

Pen y Garreg is the smallest dam and reservoir. When full, it holds just over two weeks’ worth of water. The tower was built in the Birmingham Baroque style. This dam is unusual in that it houses an access tunnel to the central tower which is lit by apertures in the downstream side of the dam. This enables Pen y Garreg to be opened to the public on certain days of the year. The walk to Pen y Garreg from the car park at Garreg Ddu is steep in places, so do wear walking shoes or boots. You can drive to the top of the dam and view it from there if you don’t want to do the walk.

Pen y Garreg - Visiting Elan Valley Dams

Craig Goch

Craig Goch is the highest upstream of the series of dams in the Elan Valley and is often referred to as the ‘top dam.’ It is seen by many as the most attractive of the dams, with an elegantly curved retaining wall and a series of arches carrying a narrow roadway across the top of the dam. It has a domed valve tower and the structure is typical of the ‘Birmingham Baroque’ style of much of the waterworks scheme.

Craig Goch - Visiting Elan Valley, Mid Wales

Find Out More

The landscape is of national importance for the diversity of lower plants (mosses, liverworts and lichens) and the Estate is the most important area for land birds in Wales. It is covered by 12 separate Sites of Special Scientific Interest. 

The Estate has been awarded an International Dark Sky Park Award and it is filled with a wealth of nocturnal Wildlife which thrives under the very dark skies.

Elan Valley is good to visit all year round as the landscape changes with the seasons. Autumn is a particularly splendid time to go for the colours.

Find out more about visiting Elan Valley : Elan Valley Trust and Elan Valley Welsh Water.

Make sure your route back to the cottages takes you along the Mountain Road from Elan Valley to Devil’s Bridge – it is awesome.

Events in Mid Wales 2024

When you’re planning your holiday to Coedmor Cottages you may need some ideas for days out. Here is a handy list of events in Mid Wales 2024 including festivals, fairs and concerts to help you to make the most of your time in wonderful Wales. Events in West Wales are easily accessible from our cottages too. All these days out are doable as a day trip from our cottages and each listing is a clickable link so you can find out more about the event.

Events in Mid Wales 2025 - food and drink festivals

March

1st & 2nd March 2025 St David’s Day Food & Drink Festival
Pembrey Country Park

Date TBC March St David’s Day Food & Craft Weekend
National Botanic Garden of Wales (10:00 – 16:00)

28th-30th  March 2025 – The Laugharne Weekend
Laugharne

Events in Mid Wales 2025 - horse shows

April

12th & 13th April 2025 – Spring Steam Rally
Pembrey Country Park

19th April 2025 – Lampeter Stallion Show
Talsarn, SA48 8QB 

Date TBC April – Pride in Aberystwyth
Bandstand, Marine Terrace

26th April 2025– Barley Saturday – Horse Parade
Cardigan

Date TBC April – A Taste of Wales Spring Festival
National Botanic Garden of Wales (10:00 – 17:00)

26th & 27th April 2025- Wonderwool Wales
Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells

Mach comedy Festival Events in Mid Wales 2025

May

2nd – 4th May 2025 – Machynlleth Comedy Festival
Various venues Machynlleth

14th May 2025 – International Dylan Thomas Day

17th & 18th May 2025 – Spring Festival
Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells

Date TBC May – Ceredigion Garden, Craft & Food Festival
Alban Square, Aberaeron

Events in Mid Wales 2024 - royal welsh show

June

5th – 9th June 2025 – Westival
Manorbier, Pembrokeshire

Dates TBC  June – Pembrokeshire Street Food Festival
South Beach, Tenby

8th June – Aberystwyth & Ceredigion Show 
Gelli Angharad Fields, Aberystwyth 

15th June – Llandeilo Pride
Market Street, Llandeilo

28th-30th June – Wales Balloon Festival 
Carmarthen Showground

29th-30th June – Towy Valley Vintage Show (Vehicles)
Pontargothi Showground, Llandeilo

Saundersfest - events west wales 2024

July

6th & 7th July – Wales National Airshow
Swansea

8th July – Tivyside Agricultural Show
Glan-Llyn Fields Newcastle Emlyn

12th-14th July – Saundersfest
Saundersfoot

13th July – Llanelli Pride
Selwyn Samual Centre, Park Crescent

19th – 21st July – Brecon Choir Festival
Brecon

20th July – Aberaeron Sailing Regatta
Aberaeron Yacht Club

22nd-25th July – Royal Welsh Show 
Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells

27th July – Lampeter Food Festival
University of Wales Trinity Saint David Campus

28th July – West Wales Shire Horse Annual Show
Alban Square, Aberaeron

Events in Mid Wales 2024 Royal Welsh show

August

2nd– 4th Aug – New Quay Music Festival 
New Quay FC Parc Arthur

3rd August – Brecon County Show
Brecon County Showground

3rd August – Cardigan County Show
PantyGrwndy, Cardigan

TBC Aug – Cilgerran Festive Week
Cilgerran

9th – 11th Aug – Tresaith Beach Party 
Tresaith Beach

9th – 11th Aug – Cardigan Bay Regatta
New Quay

Events West wales 2024 Aberaeron regatta

10th Aug – Aberaeron Beer & Cider Festival
Aberaeron Yacht Club (12:00 – late)

14th-16th August – Welsh National Sheepdog Trials
Pontrhydfendigaid, Tregaron

16th-18th August – Tresaith Beach Party 
Tresaith Beach

17th Aug – Cardigan River and Food Festival
Quay Street Cardigan (10:00 – 17:00)

17th August* – Llandeilo Show
Cawdor Fields, Ffairfach

24th Aug – Aberaeron Mackerel Fiesta
Aberaeron Yacht Club & The Harbourmaster

Events in Mid Wales 2024 bog snorkelling

25th Aug – World Bog Snorkling Championship
Waen Rhydd Bog Llanwrtyd Wells

25th August – Cruise Culture Car Show
Carmarthen Showground

23rd – 25th August Aberystwyth Street Food Festival 
Aberystwyth Marina

23rd – 26th August – Tresaith Regatta & Beach Party
Tresaith Beach

26th Aug – Aberaeron Carnival
Aberaeron Harbour (Parade starts at 13:45)

26th August – Tregaron Show
Tregaron

30th August – 1st September – Rali Ceredigion
Aberystwyth

Aberglasney events in 2024 West wales attractions

September

6th – 8th September – Craft Festival Wales
Cardigan Castle (10:00-17:00)

7th & 8th Sept. – Aberglasney Food & Music Fayre
Aberglasney, Llangathen

14th & 15th September – Llandovery Sheep Festival
Market Square, Llandovery

27th September – Apple Weekend at Llanerchaeron
Llanerchaeron, Ciliau Aeron

28th & 29th September – Narberth Food Festival
Town Moor, Narberth (10:00-18:00/10:00-16:00)

28th & 29th Sept. – Steam Rally & Country Fayre
Pembrey Country Park (11:00 – 16:00)

Wales Music Festival 2024

October

4th – 6th October – Aberystwyth Comedy Festival
Aberystwyth

11th – 14th October Brecon Baroque Festival
Brecon Cathedral/Theatr Brycheiniog

31st October – 2nd November – Other Voices Cardigan
Various venues, Cardigan

Mid Wales Christmas Fayre 2024

November & December

8th – 10th November – Tenby Blues Festival
Various Venues in Tenby

15th – 17th November – Llandeilo Festival of Senses
Llandeilo

25th & 26th November – Royal Welsh Winter Fair
Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells

29th November – 1st December – Aberglasney Winter Fair
Aberglasney, Llangathen (10:00-16:30)

30th November – Aberystwyth Lantern Parade
Aberystwyth

30th November – Christmas Fair at Cardigan Castle
Cardigan Castle (10:00am – 4:00pm)

30th November – 24th December – Polar Express Train Rides
Vale of Rheidol Railway Aberystwyth

6th December – Cardigan Giant Lantern Parade & Fireworks
Cardigan (19:00 – 20:00)

7th December – Lampeter Christmas Fayre
Lloyd Thomas Dining Hall, Lampeter University (10:30-15:00)

6th – 8th December – Llanercharon Christmas Fair
Llanerchaeron, Ciliau Aeron

8th December – Nanteos Mansion Christmas Market
Nr Rhydyfelin, Aberystwyth (11:30-4:30)

Check available dates for our cottages: Romantic Holiday Cottages for Couples

All Images © Hawlfraint y Goron / © Crown copyright (2024) Cymru Wales.

Awesome Llyn Brianne & the Uk’s Tallest Dam

The drive from Coedmor Cottages to Llyn Brianne is a delight in itself. You want to take your time and savour the views as you enter the Cambrian Mountains. It is about 20 miles / 45 minutes from Coedmor Cottages.

Llyn Brianne views

There are a few places to stop and admire the views. This viewpoint is just off the Carreg Clochdy car park & picnic spot – the What3words address is ///hogs.raven.clinic
Not technically a Natural Wonder, the lake is actually a reservoir created in the late 1960’s/ early 70’s. The scenery is reminiscent of Canada or Scandinavia – just beautiful. 

Llyn Brianne Views
Llyn Brianne Roads

Fannog Farm – Fferm y Fannog

There is another small car park and picnic area at Fannog (what3words: ///self.crinkled.angel . In 2022 the water level was so low that we got to see Fferm y Fannog (Fannog Farm) which appears very rarely. This was an abandoned farm that was covered by the water when the reservoir was created. See a little Reel of Fferm y Fannog from our Instagram

Fannog Farm revealed, Fferm y Fannog, Llyn Brianne
Fannog Farm uncovered, Fferm y Fannog, Llyn Brianne

Llyn Brianne Dam

Llyn Brianne - Cambrian Mountains

The dam at Llyn Brianne is the UK’s tallest at 91m (300 ft). You can walk across the top of the dam and see martins swooping below.There is a good track to walk around part of the lake from here. There is a big car park and toilets (which are sometimes open) – what3words: ///cuddled.villas.tinkle
The woodland here is famous for being one of the last places you can see Red Squirrels. You will also likely see Red Kites and Buzzards overhead.

Llyn Brianne - Cambrian Mountains Red Squirrels.
Llyn Brianne Dam - Cambrian Mountains

If you are keen on stargazing, the car park at Llyn Brianne is also a Dark Sky Discovery Site – part of the Cambrian Mountains Astro Trail.

Llyn Brianne - Cambrian Mountains

Heading Home from Llyn Brianne

The drive around the lake is a great way to take in the scenery and for an alternative route back to the cottages the road between Llyn Brianne and Tregaron is worth a detour for spectacular Cambrian Mountain views.

If you drive back towards Llandovery, you will come across the Towy Bridge Inn – right next to the bridge on the River Towy (where else would it be!) Pop in for a drink or some food (do check opening times beforehand as they can be limited to weekends). This route also takes you past RSPB Gwenffrwd-Dinas and through Rhandirmwyn valley which is just stunning.

Cycling

If you are a keen cyclist, then the Big Wilderness Adventure takes in Llyn Brianne along the route. It is a 65 mile circular route that you can get onto just 5 minutes from our cottages. You can make it shorter by not going all the way to Llandovery!

Stargazing – Dark Sky Areas Near the Cottages

We have wonderfully dark skies here – around the cottages on a clear night it is stunning. And we also have lots of Dark Sky Discovery sites within easy reach of the cottages around the Cambrian Mountains and Cardigan Bay if you want to experience truly epic stargazing. 🤩 

Milky Way in Wales Dark Sky area.

Leigh has become pretty good at Astro Photography, capturing pictures around the cottages and our meadows.

Stargazing - dark sky areas. Dark Sky Discovery sites.

Red Kite Cottage Starlapse image.

The Milky Way taken in Picnic Meadow.

Another shot of the Milky Way from the cottages’ Picnic Meadow. The best seasons for stargazing are Spring, Autumn & Winter.

Stargazing - Dark Sky Areas in Wales

Venturing further afield, Leigh went on a night time expedition up Drygarn Fawr in the Cambrian Mountains near Tregaron for even darker skies.

Dark Sky Discovery Sites

There are plenty of great designated Dark Sky Discovery sites within easy reach of the cottages. From the map above the three easiest to get to are:

7: Llyn Brianne

8: Mynydd Llanllwni

9: Llanerchaeron

Penbryn Beach is another wonderful location for really dark skies to make the most of the stars.
Find out more: Dark Sky Discovery Sites

Check available dates for our cottages here: Dark Sky Holiday Cottages for Couples

Photos 1 & 8 – © Dafydd Wyn Morgan. All other photographs © Coedmor Cottages.

Splendid Isolation in the Cambrian Mountains

Our romantic holiday cottages are located in the foothills of the Cambrian Mountains Area of Astounding Natural Beauty. You can even see the highest mountain – Pumlumon Fawr – in the distance from our meadows.

Cambrian Mountains - Pumlumon Fawr

The natural beauty of the plateaux, valleys and gorges of the Cambrian Mountains is equal to and often greater than some British national parks. Although distributed among three counties – Powys, Ceredigion & Carmarthenshire – the Cambrian Mountains are geographically one area, and form the main watershed of Wales. 

Cambrian Mountains

The rivers Severn, Wye, Elan, Irfon, Tywi, Cothi, Teifi, Ystwyth, Rheidol, and Twymyn all have their sources here. There are only a few roads across the mountains and they are acknowledged as some of the most scenic routes in Britain.

Cambrian Mountains - Hafod Estate
Hafod Estate
Cambrian Mountains - Abergwesyn Pass
Abergwesyn Pass

The walker is king in the Cambrian Mountains and you can find many routes online, such as the ones on Walking Britain. The landscape is vast, but not featureless. There are plenty of lakes and reservoirs that will make you feel like you could be in Canada! 

Cambrian Mountains - Llyn Clywedog
Llyn Clywedog

Interesting features like Strata Florida, The Teifi Pools, Vale of Rheidol Railway and Devil’s Bridge mean that you can easily spend a week or more exploring the area. 

Cambrian Mountains - Strata Florida
Strata Florida
Cambrian Mountains - Claerddu waterfall
Claerddu Waterfall, Teifi Pools
Cambrian Mountains - Vale of Rheidol Railway.
Vale of Rheidol Railway
Cambrian Mountains - Devil's Bridge
Devil’s Bridge

There are also amazing wildlife habitats like Cors Caron Nature Reserve which has great walking trails and is recognised internationally as an important wetland reserve.

Cambrian Mountains - Cors Caron
Cors Caron

And no visit to the Cambrian Mountain is complete without stopping off at the most remote phone box in the UK! You can even post letters from the post box there (we have seen the postie collecting mail from it). 😂 To find it, the What3words is ///campsites.guarding.brain

Cambrian Mountains - Phone Box

Of course, one of the outstanding features of the Cambrian Mountains is the Dark Skies. There are a number of Dark Sky Discovery Sites within easy reach of our cottages.

Cambrian Mountains Dark Skies stargazing

The Cambrian Mountains are such a special place and still relatively unknown. They are unspoilt and always quiet and peaceful – sometimes you will hardly see another soul all day! Don’t miss out on exploring this astoundingly beautiful area if you stay with us.