Shire Magazine Jan-Feb 2020

Llanidloes: River deep, mountain high

The ancient town of Llanidloes is the perfect base for lovers of the outdoors, located on the Severn and with a backdrop of the Cambrian mountains

Llanidloes is a small community in an idyllic location, sitting on the Severn within the historic county boundaries of Montgomeryshire and at the heart of Arwystli, a region of the ancient kingdom of Powys. Named for the early 7thcentury Celtic saint Idloes, to whom its parish church is dedicated, thetown received a market charter from Edward I in 1280.

Today Llanidloes is home to a population of around 3,000, and the modern street plan still reflects the 13th-century grid layout from a time when it was a thriving settlement based around a castle positioned near what is now Mount Street. Its location makes it the perfect gateway to the Cambrian mountains.

Weaving home

Llanidloes found success in the 17th and 18th centuries as a centre of weaving and flannel production, with a lucrative market for local products 50 miles away in

The well-preserved Llanidloes High Street

DID YOU KNOW? Llanidloes was voted the third most desirable postcode in Wales

Shrewsbury. Towards the end of the 18th century, Llanidloes was the largest producer in Montgomeryshire, but this declined after about 1810 with the introduction of factories. Lead mining emergedas a profitable industry when rich deposits were discovered in 1865, and within a decade the Van mines north of the town were among the most productive in the world. This proud heritage can still be seen today in the town’s ironmongery and the many fine 19th-century shopfronts.

Walk on the wild side

Perhaps the most striking appeal of Llanidloes is its stunning scenery. The town is close to the Clywedog reservoir and offers access to a splendidly scenic mountain road connecting Llanidloes with Machynlleth. Hikers visit for the popular footpaths surrounding the town, including Glyndwr’s Way, which – in conjunction with the Offa’s Dyke path – forms a 160-mile circuit around mid Wales and local passage over the spine of the Cambrian mountains. The annual Sarn Sabrina Walk, a 25-mile circular walk from Llanidloes to the source of the Severn and back, has been held every May

Some of the walkways in nearby Hafren forest

since 2006. For those who prefer to explore on wheels, the nearby Hafren Forest is used for car and motorcycle rallies throughout the year.

The building of the bypass in 1991 has protected the town from the ravages of traffic and allowed it to preserve its attractive main streets, lined with trees originally planted in 1901. The church and old market hall (which claims to be the centre of Wales) are delightful, while you can also visit the town’s impressive Minerva Arts Centre – home to the Quilt Association and its collection of heritage quilts, among other things – and see the Bryntail lead mine buildings nearby.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO

The Quilt Association Minerva Arts Centre, High Street, Llanidloes SY18 6BY; 01686 413467, www.quilt.org.uk

Cambrian Mountain Events Llani Leisure, 16-17 Long Bridge Street, Llanidloes SY18 6EE; 0168 641 4893, event-admin@llanileisure.co.uk

Yamaha Off-Road Glynhafren, Old Hall, Llanidloes SY18 6PS; 01686 413324, www.yamaha-offroad-experience.co.uk

Bryntail Lead Mine Llyn Clywedog Dam, Llanidloes SY18 6NU; cadw.gov.wales

January/February 2020 | SHIRE MAGAZINE 27