Wales – Llanidloes (En)

Llanidloes is at the heart of the ancient medieval kingdom of Arwystli; the first town on the River Severn and the gateway to the Cambrian Mountains of mid-Wales in the UK. The focal point of Llanidloes is the distinctive 17th-century Old Market Hall, with its black and white timber structure. The town had a thriving textile industry and is famous for having been involved in the Chartist uprisings of the 19th century.

Where to stay

We stayed in the Mount Street car park in the city centre (52.447467, -3.539381 lat, long). It’s a very large car park with enough space for motorhomes. There are no services, but it is flat and quiet for sleeping. It costs £8 for the whole day and is free from 6 pm to 8 am and on public holidays and Sundays. I recommend it for seeing the city, as you can walk everywhere.

What to see

There are plenty of antique shops, delis, and independent stores to explore. The 17th-century black-and-white wooden antique market in the centre of town is its focal point. Other sites to visit include the Museum to learn more about the area’s heritage and the Minerva Arts Centre to see the beautiful antique quilts and textiles on display.

The St Idloes Church is dedicated to St Idloes, a 7th-century saint about whom very little is known. His feast day is celebrated on 6th September and this church is the only one dedicated to him. The oldest part of the present building is the tower, probably built in the 14th century and 100 years later the south and east walls were torn down and rebuilt. The most recent addition is the Millennium Window. The centrepiece represents the chaos that existed before creation and the surroundings represent the flora and fauna.

Then we went to see the Severn River and its old bridge. For us, this is the most beautiful part of the city.

Our next stop is Devil’s Bridge with its famous waterfalls and a series of three stacked bridges, which you can see in the next blog!