About

Llanidloes is the first town on the River Severn and the source of the river can be accessed from the Hafren Forest. The area is perfect for visitors that enjoy the great outdoors, wildlife, walking and hiking, mountain-biking and cycling. The surrounding Cambrian Mountains are fantastic for stargazing, with a number of locations designated Dark Sky Discovery sites.

Nearby is the Clywedog Reservoir and Dam which is well-known for its fishing, Glyndwr's Way National Trail, Hafren Forest and many drives across the Cambrian Mountain ranges. The Source of the River Severn to Llanidloes walk is a 16 mile / 25 kilometre route and is the first stage of The Severn Way Long-Distance Path which is the longest riverside path in Britain.

The town combines a respect for its local culture and heritage, in the form of the Minerva Arts Centre for example - or the many fairs and carnivals that light up the town, with a typically alternative focus on whole-foods and fair trade, making it one of the most interesting places to shop or eat in the region.

The weekly Llanidloes Charter Market has been run in the town since 1280 and is centred around Great Oak Street in the town centre every Saturday from 9am – 4pm where you will regularly find up to 25 stalls including Local Produce, Antiques and Local crafts.

LLANIDLOES LOCAL HISTORY & CULTURE
The town was given a charter to hold a market in 1289, but the history of Llanidloes stretches back at least 400 years before that. An ancient half-timbered market hall still stands at the crossroads of the four medieval streets of the town. Built around 1600, it is the only surviving building of this type in Wales. In addition to housing markets, the hall also held Assize courts around 1605, and in 1748 John Wesley preached from a pulpit stone on the open ground floor.

Other traces of the town's medieval history can be seen in the many timber framed buildings as well as the fifteenth century parish church with its hammerbeam roof. The Church of St Idloes in the town centre incorporates some of the pure early English archways from the nearby Abbey Cwmhir which was dissolved in 1547.

The Cambrian Mountains were once important centres of lead and silver mining, and remains from this industry can still be seen on the landscape, particularly on the scenic mountain road connecting Llanidloes to Machynlleth. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the town also developed a thriving flannel industry, but this went into decline in the first half of the nineteenth century. The collapse in the local textile industry led to a campaign for democratic rights and the town became notorious as a crucible of industrial unrest during the Chartist revolt in 1839.

The town is closely linked with Laura Ashley, the fabric and dress designer. It was in Llanidloes that she began her first business, in a small shop on the main street. Perhaps fittingly therefore, the Quilt Association of Great Britain has its headquarters at the Minerva Arts Centre.

The nearby village of Llandinam is principally remembered as the home of David Davies, the 19th century industrialist and coal magnate. The home of David Davies at Plas Dinam is open to the public for self-catering and provides a fascinating insight into one of the men who 'made' modern Wales.

Pay & Display Car Park: Mount Street SY18 6BZ - long stay;
Chapel Street Car Park - Free